One of the world’s most demanding multidisciplinary water sports competitions, the 21st edition of Master of the Ocean, has officially launched in the coastal town of Cabarete, Dominican Republic. The annual event draws elite and amateur athletes from more than 12 countries, who gather to test their versatility across five distinct ocean-based disciplines: kitesurfing, wing foil, surfing, stand up paddle (SUP), and windsurfing.
The opening ceremony, held on September 16 at Coconuts Restaurant on Cabarete’s Hideaway Beach, set a vibrant tropical tone for the competition. The gathering brought together competing athletes, event organizing committees, local government officials, and tourism industry guests to mark the start of the week-long event.
Organizers faced an early challenge from unpredictable weather, as unstable northeast winds and intermittent rain showers disrupted the originally planned competition schedule, forcing last-minute adjustments to heat timings. Once meteorological and ocean conditions stabilized, the opening rounds of kitesurf, wing foil, surf, and SUP got underway, with competitors navigating consistent 1- to 3-foot breaking waves.
What sets Master of the Ocean apart from single-discipline water sports events is its unique format and focus on all-around athletic ability. Each heat features four competitors, with only the top two advancing to subsequent rounds. Athletes must demonstrate seamless adaptability, switching between five vastly different disciplines over the course of the competition and adjusting their technique to match shifting ocean swells and wind patterns.
In the opening kitesurf heats, two-time defending overall champion Maxime L’Huillier of France claimed a decisive victory in Heat 1. Additional opening heat wins went to Tom Court of England, local favorite Joselito del Rosario from the Dominican Republic, and Germany’s Lucas Matthes.
L’Huillier and Court carried their momentum into the opening wing foil rounds, where they notched another pair of wins, while Jan Malte Claus and Matthes secured victories in the two remaining opening wing foil heats. In the opening surf heats, wins went to Mad Max Tullet, Tom Court, Jan Malte Claus, and Dominican athlete Francis Gonzalez. For the opening SUP rounds, first-place finishes went to L’Huillier, Deni Blondet of Peru, local competitor Sammy Perez Hults, and Gonzalez.
The windsurfing discipline got underway after stronger winds moved into the Cabarete coast, though official results for its opening rounds remain pending as wind conditions weakened again before heats could be completed.
The competition is set to continue through the coming days at the Cabarete venue, far beyond just a sporting event. The competition blends elite water sports action with laid-back Caribbean beach culture, live music, and community engagement, while also positioning the Dominican Republic as a leading global destination for sustainable adventure tourism and world-class water sports.