The 60th annual the Congressional Cup regatta, an iconic competition dubbed the “granddaddy” of modern match racing, will return to Long Beach’s coastline for five days of action next week.
The Long Beach Yacht Club established the Congressional Cup in 1965. It’s the longest-running regatta of its kind in North America — and helped set the standard for world-class match racing across the globe.
“It is an incredible honor to be the person in charge of such a highly respected event,” regatta Chair Stephen W. Meyer wrote in an email. “With the 60th running of the Congressional Cup, we have been doing an archive review and that history just reinforces to me how special the event is.”
The Congressional Cup will run from Wednesday, April 30, to May 4.
Top-ranked skippers from across the world will come to Long Beach — as they do every year — to compete for the prestigious Congressional Cup trophy and the coveted crimson blazer, which is often compared to the green jacket golfers receive for winning the Masters Tournament.
“I am looking forward to some incredible competition this year,” said Meyer, who, as chair, personally chose and invited eight of the skippers. “We have a great mix of experienced veterans, familiar faces and new rising talent.”
Ten skippers and their crews will compete in the Congressional Cup this year, though the final two won’t be known until this weekend’s Ficker Cup. The Ficker Cup, which will take place from Friday to Sunday, April 25-27, is a qualifier for the Congressional Cup — with the top-two finishers advancing to the main event.
As for the confirmed skippers, they are:
Two-time defending champion Chris Poole (USA). 2009 winner Johnie Berntsson (Sweden). Eric Monnin (Switzerland). Rocco Attili (Italy). Dave Hood (United States). Cole Tapper (Australia). Ian Garreta (France). Björn Hansen (Sweden).Registration and practice for the Congressional Cup will take place on Tuesday, April 29 — and matches will begin on Wednesday, April 30. The competition will end on May 4.
The competition will take place just off the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, 35 39th Place, often referred to as the “pit row seats” of match racing. The water area in front of the pier is officially designated “Congressional Cup Stadium”.
“The Congressional Cup Stadium course is one of sailing’s most unique venues, combining a spectator-friendly, near-shore racing area, free of any adverse current or kelp obstacles found in other areas of the LA/LB Port and Harbor venues,” Randy Smith, this year’s principal race officer, wrote in an email. “The prevailing sea breeze follows a dependable pattern each day but does provide enough variation to offer constant tactical challenges and opportunities.”
Several of this year’s competitors agree with Smith.
“To sail the 60th anniversary makes us even more aware about the outstanding history of this event,” Monnin said. “We tend to take the competitions day by day to not be distracted and in contrary, the fact we are on the 60th anniversary, reminds us that we are only a very small part of the story.”
Hansen, meanwhile, will return to Long Beach for the first time in nearly a decade — and said he’s thrilled.
“It feels great to be back in Long Beach after almost 10 years,” he said. “We have some unfinished business in Congressional Cup and are really looking forward to racing the best match racers in the world again.”
Smith — who has competed in, umpired and conducted more than 2000 races on the Congressional Cup Stadium Course during his career — also noted that in 2028, the Congressional Cup will also act as a preview of sorts for the Summer Olympics. Long Beach has been chosen as the venue for sailing, among other events, during the Olympics.
“We are pleased to represent the city of Long Beach on the world stage,” Smith said in his email.
Long Beach being the Olympics sailing venue is also not lost on the Congressional Cup sailors.
“With all of the 2028 Olympic water sports announcements and hearing sailing will be hosted in Long Beach, it’s exciting,” Poole said, “especially as the Olympians that make the medal races will get the unique opportunity that we match racers are afforded every year of racing off the Belmont Pier and the natural stadium sailing it provides.”
Public viewing is free. There are grandstands, restrooms and free golf cart shuttles. To park at the lot adjacent to the pier, download the Passport Parking App for your phone and follow the prompts to pay, extend and manage your parking session.
The Congressional Cup will also be livestreamed starting on Friday at thecongressionalcup.com.
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