Kiwis crumble at Congressional Cup

Long Beach, CA (April 9, 2016) – Congressional Cup defending champion Taylor Canfield (ISV) dispatched Eric Monnin (SUI), and Nicolai Sehested (DEN) eliminated Bjorn Hansen (SWE) one-two-three, in the early matches of the Quarter Finals here today, in Stage Two of the World Match Racing Tour.

But it was a different story for Phil Robertson (NZL) and Chris Steele (NZL) – Kiwi compatriots who were placed number one and two, at the end of the Round Robins yesterday.

Robertson selected to race Sam Gilmour (AUS), a pairing that presented stunning starts and finishes to the crowds lining the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. Robertson won the first match, but Gilmour returned with two wins, before Robertson triumphed in the fourth.

In freshening but unstable breeze from the southeast they embarked on a final, sudden death match. Robertson had a clear start and carried a small advantage at the top mark, but the lead changed on the downwind leg, even as Gilmour fouled Robertson at the gate. Splitting tacks, Gilmour went right, surging ahead to a 25-second lead.

Still ahead, but carrying a penalty, the 22-year-old from Fremantle threw in a final penalty turn as Robertson approached the finish line: but too late. Gilmour took match point, eliminating Robertson from the Quarter Finals, saying he was “ecstatic to make it this far, in some of the most exciting racing I’ve ever done.”

A similar duel ensued between ‘frenemies’ Steele and Scott Dickson (USA). Steele won the first two matches, but Dickson – who earned his way into the Ficker Cup Presented by Porsche qualifier as Long Beach Yacht Club rep, then advanced to Congressional Cup, evened the score, as the home crowd roared.

There was an early penalty on Dickson in the pre-start, but Steele was OCS at the start. Dickson went left, Steele right: a risky move in the shifty breeze, and by the top mark, Dickson’s lead opened up to a 30 second advantage. The rest was history, as Dickson did his penalty turn and crossed the line a half a boat length ahead of Steele: a thrilling five-match Quarter Final, with three back-to-back wins; beating the odds and booking his place in the Semi Finals.

The first matches of the Semi Finals commenced in the late afternoon, but were quickly curtailed as the wind dropped off. PRO Randy Smith announced an early start to tomorrow’s conclusion of Congressional Cup racing: 1100AM Sunday April 10.

One of the unique aspects of LBYC’s Congressional Cup is the extravagant breakfast buffet, served by a bevy of smiling volunteers, and Larry Lane, AKA “Bagel Boy.”
There are foods for all tastes: homemade casseroles and deviled eggs; pastries, cheese and meat trays; and a selection of bagels, “freshly made, and lovingly toasted to order,” served by Lane, between 7:15 to 10:30AM.

Each day Lane, 78, serves an average of eight dozen bagels with about six pounds of cream cheese and 10 pounds of lox. That’s a lot of bagels and a lot of schmear, announces Lane, who says his only pay is, “all the bagels I can eat.” During his tenure as the king of carbs, he’s says, “You name them: all the best sailors in the world have come through to get my bagels.”

“They’re all such polite, nice guys,” Lane adds, but he does have his favorites and forecasts. This year, he was pulling for Chris Steele, who worked his way up through the 2015 Ficker Cup qualifier the 2016 year’s event. Steele was eliminated in today’s racing, by Dickson.

And last year, Lane predicated Ian William to win. The British champion however finished third, behind Taylor Canfield, and Phil Robertson. Perhaps Lane should stick with bagels.

Results: Quarter Finals
Scott Dickson (USA) 3 – 0
Sam Gilmour (AUS) 3 – 0
Taylor Canfield (ISV) 3 – 0
Nicolai Sehested (DEN) 3 – 0
Phil Robertson (NZL) 2 – 1
Chris Steele (NZL) 2 – 1
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) 0 – 3
Eric Monnin (SUI) 0 – 3

Semi Final Pairings:
Match 1 Sam Gilmour (AUS) v Nicolai Sehested (DEN)
Match 2 Scott Dickson (USA) v Taylor Canfield (ISV)

Event website – Scoreboard – Livestream – Facebook

ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL CUP
The 52nd Congressional Cup on April 6-10 features five days of yacht racing at its finest, with twelve elite teams vying for the esteemed Crimson Blazer – an honor bestowed to sailing icons like Dennis Conner, Dean Barker, Ken Read, Ted Turner, Taylor Canfield and more. Founded in 1965 and pioneering the concept of on-the-water umpiring, The Congressional Cup is regarded as the ‘granddaddy of match racing’ and is part of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT). This intense round-the-world circuit kicked off early March in Fremantle, Australia, and concludes in July in Marstrand, Sweden; where one lucky sailor will earn a sizeable purse and bragging rights – as the number one skipper at the pinnacle of the sailing game. http://www.thecongressionalcup.com/

Source: Event media