FIGHT FOR FICKER CUP BEGINS 14 APRIL AT LONG BEACH YACHT CLUB

Top two will advance to Congressional Cup, April 19 to 23

LONG BEACH, CA  13 APRIL 2022  – –  Blustery winds are expected to make way to idyllic conditions for the Ficker Cup Regatta hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club. Racing for the prestigious Ficker Cup trophy, and a shot at a berth in the Congressional Cup, begins tomorrow April 14 through Saturday April 16 on the Congressional Cup Stadium racecourse off the Veterans Memorial Belmont Pier.

Mild, sunny conditions and 10 to 15 knot breezes are forecast for the eight teams competing from around the nation and across the seas, in this World Match Racing Tour Grade 2 qualifier event.

Leading the pack is 2021 Ficker Cup winner Emil Kjaer (DEN), plus Jeffrey Petersen (USA) and David Wood (USA) — all of whom advanced to compete in the Congressional Cup last year. Also returning are Peter Holz (USA) and Dave Perry (USA), while Jeppe Borch (DEN), Christopher Weis (USA) and Anna Östling (SWE) make their Ficker Cup debut.

Three days of heated match racing will take place starting at 1130AM daily with excellent viewing from the Belmont Pier. There spectators can watch the thrilling play-by-play as the teams duel on the water, dazzling and defying their rivals in the hunt for points, and a scramble up the leaderboard. The top four finishers will then battle it out to see who’s name will be etched on the Ficker Cup trophy. And then the victor and runner-up will advance to the Congressional Cup, to be held April 19 to 23.

Qualifying for the Congressional Cup is no doubt a noble achievement — but the prestige and providence of winning the Ficker Cup itself cannot be ignored. The regatta was established by Long Beach Yacht Club to honor Bill Ficker, a renowned yachtsman, Star Class World Champion, and America’s Cup and Congressional Cup victor. Winning the Ficker Cup is a both an honor, and a portent of good things to come.

After a two-day break in race action, the Congressional Cup will kick off Tuesday April 19 with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, rededicating the Congressional Cup Stadium course. Racing will continue daily through Saturday April 23. Representing more than a half century tradition of sailboat racing at the highest level in the world, the Congressional Cup is also organized and hosted by LBYC, and is a one of the flagship championship events of the World Match Racing Tour.

* Rankings based on performances at World Sailing Graded events over the 24-month period.

Follow the Ficker Cup online at www.lbyc.org and on Facebook @CongressionalCup. For full details on the Congressional Cup go to https://thecongressionalcup.com; visit www.wmrt.com for the WMRT.

LONG BEACH YACHT CLUB

Established in 1929, Long Beach Yacht Club is recognized as a leading club in the international yachting community for its commitment to excellence in yacht racing and innovation in race management. Congressional Cup, the club’s signature event, now in its 57th year, is the preeminent match racing regatta in the United States and considered the Gateway to the America’s Cup. In addition to hosting numerous local, national and international yachting events, the Club’s member families enjoy a year-round calendar of social, yachting, and junior activities at its beautiful clubhouse on the shore of Alamitos Bay.

WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR

Founded in 2000, the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) promotes the sport of match racing around the world and is the longest running global professional series in the sport of sailing. The WMRT is awarded ‘Special Event’ status by the sport’s world governing body – World Sailing – and the winner of the WMRT each year is crowned World Sailing Match Racing World Champion. Previous champions include Sir Ben Ainslie (GBR), Taylor Canfield (USA), Peter Gilmour (AUS), Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Peter Holmberg (ISV), Adam Minoprio (NZL), Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Bertrand Pace (FRA), Jesper Radich (DEN), Phil Robertson (NZL) and Ian Williams (GBR). Since 2000, the World Match Racing Tour and its events have awarded over USD23million in prize money to sailors which has helped to contribute to the career pathway of many of today’s professional sailors.   www.wmrt.com