Feature Article from Magnus Wheatley @ Rule69 Blog
The clocks went forward in the UK on Sunday and we said goodbye and good riddance to another northern hemisphere winter. Every year I vow to myself that I won’t do another winter in England but as winter gives way, hope springs eternal and plans are afoot for a busy sailing season ahead. I’ve bagged a ride on a Farr 727 and couldn’t be happier. Next weekend I dust down the Laser that I haven’t sailed in two years and I’m pretty happy to be getting back into it. Not looking forward to hiking and it’ll be a miracle if I know the bow from the stern, but how hard can it be? Also, this time next week, the golfing Masters start in Augusta with the famous green jacket up for grabs and no doubt Rory McIlroy, the perennial choker, will have a shocker – it’s an annual ritual.
Whilst golf has it green jacket, in sailing we have the crimson jacket of the Congressional Cup and mighty fine and prestigious it is too. Look down the past winners of the Congressional Cup and it’s a veritable who’s who of our sport: Ficker, Conner, Turner, Perry, Davis, Cudmore, Warden-Owen, Gilmour, Dickson, Hutchinson, Davis, Barker, Holmberg, Brady, Baird…the list just goes on and on and on. None of those need any introduction by first name. You mark your name in history and it becomes a calling card forevermore – just like at the Masters.
This year’s line-up in Long Beach however sees five-time serial winner Ian Williams, sit it out on the sidelines as SailGP’s Rio jamboree clashes with the Con Cup and his commitment to coaching the Danish team, who should be back by then after their foil damage, takes precedence.
That’s a shame for Ian and a shame for the event but the line-up is strong with the American Chris Poole, sailing for Seawanhaka Yacht Club, attempting to do something that only Taylor Canfield has achieved in the long history of the event that stretches back to 1965 – namely, three in a row.
It would be a huge achievement were Poole to ace it with his semi-pro Riptide Racing team as he says: “Our team is looking forward to returning to Long Beach for the 60th Congressional Cup. We have a chance to go for a 3-peat which is an incredible opportunity at one of the toughest match racing events in the world. But we are mainly focused on our team philosophy of putting together a good team. As our late coach Dougie Pye would say just ‘Just keep on doing what you know how to do’ so with that in mind it’s just one event at a time, one day at a time, one race at a time.”
Ranged against the Riptiders are some coming names in Match Racing, sailors that have big futures with the likes of Italy’s Rocco Attili (RBYS Racing), Australia’s Cole Tapper (CYCA) and match racing veteran Sweden’s Bjorn Hansen (Hansen Sailing Team).
Also sailing his first Congressional Cup is France’s Ian Garreta (Team Garreta) who finished fourth at 2024 WMRT Final in Shenzhen in December. The Long Beach Yacht Club will itself be represented by Dave Hood (DH3 Racing). For Attili and Tapper, this is their huge chance to shine on the biggest stage in match-racing. Both are fast. Both are mercurial. Both need a good one and it’s all about building momentum through the opening flights.
Tapper has the eye of the tiger and is one of the stand-out talents coming through the ranks of sailing. In Barcelona he was a sensation and still holds the record for the best submarining ever recorded on film in an AC40. I like the path that Cole is taking, concentrating on match-racing and seeing it as the perfect schooling ground before no doubt a Cup or SailGP team will come calling. He’d be the perfect replacement for Tom Slingsby in a few years time on SailGP and it’s interesting that he hasn’t been brought into that fold sooner. A few years on the World Match Racing Tour will do wonders for his stock, and I firmly believe that it’s a path that more young sailors who are wanting a shot at glory at the top table, pinnacle events, don’t take. It’s like the ultimate investment in yourself.
On form though, it’s hard to look beyond Riptide Racing to complete the three-peat, especially with Williams benching himself for Long Beach. Competition will come from past winner Johnie Berntsson who last won back in 2009 and would love another crimson jacket for his locker.
It’ll be a tough event and those Catalina 37’s will be thrashed like pack donkeys in front of the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier – truly one of the iconic venues in our sport. Perfect for spectators viewing the action but the WMRT will once again be broadcasting live on YouTube for us sailing junkies that would love to be there in person.
All eyes on the superb Long Beach Yacht Club from the 30th April – 4th May. Stories will be written, legend-status attained and the chance for someone to get their hands on one of the most stunning pieces of silverware in a our sport. The United States does these events so well. Long may the Congressional Cup retain its status in our sport. Good luck to the competitors. We’ll be watching. Like hawks.
Magnus Wheatley
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