LONG BEACH, CA (13 March 2025) The prestigious Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup, this year celebrating its milestone 60th Anniversary, today confirmed the line-up of ten skippers from seven countries to compete at the anniversary event from 30 April-4 May. Defending champion USAโ€™s Chris Poole and his Riptide Racing team have their sights firmly set on a third consecutive win of the event against strong competition from past winner Johnie Berntsson from Sweden (Berntsson Sailing Team), and Switzerlandโ€™s Eric Monnin (Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team) keen to secure his first Congressional Cup win.

The pressure is on at this yearโ€™s 60th Anniversary Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup for defending champion USAโ€™s Chris Poole to clinch a โ€˜three-peatโ€™ win of the famous match racing regatta, founded in 1965 and known as the โ€˜Grandfather of match racingโ€™. Past winners and recipients of the famous Crimson Blazer read like a whoโ€™s who of the international sailing world including Ted Turner (USA), Dennis Conner (USA), Rod Davis (NZL), Harold Cudmore (GBR), Peter Gilmour (AUS), Chris Dickson (NZL), Terry Hutchinson (USA), GavinBrady (NZL), Dean Barker (NZL), Francesco Bruni (ITA), Taylor Canfield (USA), Johnie Berntsson (SWE), and Ian Williams (GBR).

โ€œ”Our team is looking forward to returning to Long Beach for the 60th Congressional Cupโ€ said Poole. โ€œWe 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.”

Dave Hood/ DH3 Racing representing the Long Beach Yacht Club ย Photo: Ian Roman/WMRT

Joining the 2025 Congressional Cup roster is Italyโ€™s Rocco Attili (RBYS Racing), Australiaโ€™s Cole Tapper (CYCA) and match racing veteran Swedenโ€™s Bjorn Hansen (Hansen Sailing Team). Also sailing his first Congressional Cup is Franceโ€™s Ian Garreta (Team Garreta) who finished fourth at 2024 WMRT Final in Shenzhen in December. The Long Beach Yacht Club will be represented by Dave Hood (DH3 Racing).

The last two places will be awarded to the top two finishers from the 2025 Ficker Cup to be hosted over the weekend of 25-27 April. The Ficker Cup is also an official stage of the World Match Racing Tour and awards points to the WMRT leaderboard. Eight teams will compete for this yearโ€™s Ficker Cup including French skippers Aureliรฉn Pierroz and Maxime Mesnil, Australiaโ€™s Zac West, Peter Wickwire from Canada, and USAโ€™s Pearson Potts, Nicole Breault and Ryan Seago.

Spectators can watch the racing with free access from the Belmont Veterans Pier, Long Beach. Photo: Ian Roman/WMRT
Belmont Veterans Pier, Long Beach. Photo: Ian Roman/WMRT

โ€œI am very proud to announce the list of skippers for the 60th Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cupโ€ added 2025 Event Chair Stephen Meyer. โ€œWe have an incredibly strong list of teams for this yearโ€™s event, half of them within the top 10 world rankings and including a mix of young and experienced match racing sailors which promises to deliver some fierce battles.โ€

A notable absence to this yearโ€™s event is five-time Congressional Cup winner and current defending match racing world champion Ian Williams from Great Britain.

โ€œIt is a great shame my team and I are unable to make it to Long Beach this yearโ€ commented Williams. โ€œThe Congressional Cup is one of our favourite events and venues on the tour and we are very sorry to be missing the 60th Anniversary of the event, I hope we can be back next year!โ€

Ian Williams at the 2024 Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cupย  ย Photo: Ian Roman/WMRT

Racing for the Ficker Cup and Congressional Cup will take in the Long Beach Yacht Clubโ€™s identical fleet of Catalina 37โ€™s with symmetrical spinnakers. Teams will consist of either six or seven crew providing they are within the maximum team weight limit of 525kg (1157.4 lbs).

Racing will also take place right in front of the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier where spectators can gain free access to watch the thrilling racing close up with live commentary. The event will be televised live from Friday 2 May and broadcast via You Tube and social media channels.

Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup Trophy. ย Photo: Ian Roman/WMRT
Long Beach Yacht Club ย Photo: Ian Roman/WMRT

2025 Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup Skippers

  1. Chris Poole, USA (Riptide Racing)
  2. Johnie Berntsson, SWE (Berntsson Sailing Team)
  3. Eric Monnin, SUI (Capvis Swiss Match Racing)
  4. Rocco Attili, ITA (RBYS Racing)
  5. Ian Garreta, FRA (Team Garreta)
  6. Cole Tapper, AUS (CYCA)
  7. Dave Hood, USA (DH3 Racing)
  8. Bjรถrn Hansen, SWE (Hansen Saiing Team)
  9. Ficker Cup 1st Place
  10. Ficker Cup 2nd Place

2025 Ficker Cup Skippers

  1. Aurรฉlien Pierroz, FRA
  2. Maxime Mesnil, FRA
  3. Pearson Potts, USA
  4. Zac West, AUS
  5. Peter Wickwire, CAN
  6. Nicole Breault, USA
  7. Ryan Seago, USA
  8. TBC

For more information on the Long Beach Congressional Cup, visit www.thecongressionalcup.com

For more information on the World Match Racing Tour, visit www.wmrt.com and via social media at Facebook and Instagram @wordmatchracingtour, and via You Tube