Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

Lineup confirmed for 58th Congressional Cup

by Betsy Senescu 4 Feb 2023 12:46 GMT April 18-22, 2023
Congressional Cup © Betsy Senescu

The world's top match racing skippers will return to Long Beach, Calif. April 18 to 22, 2023 for the 58th Congressional Cup regatta - presented by Long Beach Yacht Club, and a founding event on the prestigious World Match Racing Tour.

Reigning 2022 Congressional Cup Champion Ian Williams (GBR) will return to defend his title and clinch the crown as the winningest skipper in Congressional Cup history. But it won't be without challenge! Rivals include the world's number-one ranked match racing skipper Eric Monnin (SUI): back after a 2022 'babymoon' hiatus. A perennial Congressional Cup favourite, in 2021 Monnin captured his first podium finish, and is poised to continue his ascent.

Also climbing the Congressional Cup ladder is Chris Poole (USA). Poole finished second in the 2022 WMRT championship, after a third-place finish in the Spring 2022 Congressional Cup - edging out past champion (2009) Johnie Berntsson (SWE), who is still eager to add another Crimson Blazer to his wardrobe.

The list goes on! The roster includes Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL) who was recently crowned 2022 World Sailing Match Racing World Champion and is ranked number three in the world; plus Harry Price (AUS), Jeppe Borch (DEN) and hometown favorite David Hood (USA) - all veterans of Congressional Cup racing.

Rounding out the Congressional Cup lineup will be the top two finishers in the April 13 to 15 Ficker Cup regatta. A Grade Two WMRT event in its own right, the Ficker Cup also serves as a qualifier for the Congressional Cup. The 2023 field is fiery, and competition promises to be thrilling when racing begins April 18.

Congressional Cup is recognized as the 'grandfather' of modern world-class match racing. Founded by Long Beach Yacht Club in 1965, the event set the standard for top-level match racing worldwide, pioneering the concept of on-the-water umpiring in a spectator-friendly venue.

After a practice day April 17, 2023, racing will commence April 18 off Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier at roughly 11:30 am each day. Five days of racing will see the sailors compete in a double-round robin format that gives competitors twice the chance to familiarize with the boats and conditions, and sharpen their skills. Famed for turning the leader board upside down, the 10-boat double-round robin format promises spirited contests as teams pair off and battle round the course: a delight to racers and spectators alike.

Matches are held directly off the pier where spectators can enjoy live commentary and camaraderie from roughly 11:30am to 5:00pm. After three days of round-robins the leaders will advance into semi-finals and petit finals, culminating with the final matches Saturday April 22, where the winner of the Congressional Cup will receive the coveted Crimson Blazer. The Crimson Blazer is yacht racing's equivalent to the Masters Tournament Green Jacket: a symbol of victory in one of the most prestigious yacht racing events in the world, and a gateway to the America's Cup.

Visit www.thecongressionalcup.com or @CongressionalCup on Facebook.

For complete information on the WMRT go to www.wmrt.com

Related Articles

Notice of Race posted for 60th Congressional Cup
Recognized as the 'Grandfather' of modern world-class match racing The Long Beach Yacht Club today posted the Notice of Race for its milestone 60th Anniversary of The Congressional Cup, the club's flagship event, from April 30 - May 4, 2025. Posted on 20 Oct
59th Congressional Cup at Long Beach overall
Back-to-back wins for Chris Poole and his Riptide Racing team The intensity of the 59th Congressional Cup, the opening event for the 2024 World Match Racing Tour, reached its peak today as USA's Chris Poole and his Riptide Racing team won his second consecutive Congressional Cup and Crimson Blazer. Posted on 29 Apr
59th Congressional Cup at Long Beach Day 4
Williams and Poole lead their semi-finals 2-0 Day 4 of the 59th Congressional Cup in Long Beach, CA concluded the quarter-final stage of the event, advancing the top four teams to the semi-finals led by defending Congressional Cup champion USA's Chris Poole. Posted on 28 Apr
59th Congressional Cup at Long Beach Day 3
Australia's Cole Tapper advances to Quarter-Finals Australia's Cole Tapper, sailing with his CYCA Youth Sailing Academy team from Sydney Australia, today secured a crucial spot in the quarter-finals of the 59th Congressional Cup, the opening stage of the 2024 World Match Racing Tour. Posted on 27 Apr
59th Congressional Cup at Long Beach Day 2
First four advance to quarter-finals Closing out the opening round-robin stage of the 59th Congressional Cup today in Long Beach, the top four teams - Ian Williams/ GBR, Jeppe Borch/ DEN, Dave Hood/ USA and Gavin Brady/ USA, each advance to the Quarter-final stage of the event. Posted on 26 Apr
59th Congressional Cup at Long Beach Day 1
Strong start for Jeppe Borch on opening day Denmark's Jeppe Borch leads the 12-team international line-up after Day One with an impressive six wins and one loss, signalling a promising start in his pursuit of the coveted Crimson Blazer. Posted on 25 Apr
Topflight international field set for Ficker Cup
Sailors to vie for trophy and advancement to the Congressional Cup Long Beach Yacht Club (LBYC) has announced an outstanding lineup for the Ficker Cup regatta which will be held here 19 to 21 April, 2024. Posted on 22 Feb
Williams in expanded lineup for Congressional Cup
World champion Ian Williams gets late invite for the 2024 edition California's Long Beach Yacht Club has announced the addition of two invitations for this year's 59th edition of the Congressional Cup Regatta being sailed from 24 to 28 April 2024. One of those is current world champion Ian Williams (GBR) Posted on 26 Jan
Thrilling lineup for 59th Congressional Cup
Defending champion Chris Poole (USA) will lead the fiery line-up of competitors The 2024 Congressional Cup promises action and excitement when Long Beach Yacht Club hosts the 59th edition. Posted on 10 Jan
58th Congressional Cup overall
Invincible! Chris Poole undefeated champion Invincible! Chris Poole (USA) and Riptide Racing have swept the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup, sailing undefeated in five days of thrilling competition. Jeppe Borch (DEN) finished second, Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL) third. Posted on 23 Apr 2023