World Match Racing Tour Returns to USA

(November 30, 2016) – The World Match Racing Tour has confirmed that the 53rd Congressional Cup will be the second event of the 2017 season. The WMRT Congressional Cup is hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club on March 27 to April 2 in Long Beach, CA.

“We are delighted to once again be part of the World Match Racing Tour,” said Joe Seibert, Long Beach Yacht Club’s 2017 Congressional Cup Chairman. “Together we will attract some of the absolute best match racing teams in the world. Our stadium course off the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier has seen some amazing bouts over the years and with the talent on the World Match Racing Tour this year we are sure we’ll see many more.”

The WMRT Congressional Cup, as well as the qualifying event WMRT Ficker Cup on March 24-26, will be sailed in Catalina 37s, the only Tour events not to be held in the Tour-owned M32 catamarans.

2017 Tour Schedule*
Jan 23-25 – WMRT Swan River Match Cup – Perth, Australia (Match Cup AUS Qualifier)
Feb 11-13 – WMRT Geographe Bay Cup – Margaret River, Australia (Match Cup AUS Qualifier)
March 16-18 – WMRT Perth Match Cup – Perth, Australia (Match Cup AUS Qualifier)
March 20-25 – WMRT Match Cup Australia – Perth, Australia
March 24-26 – WMRT Ficker Cup – Long Beach, USA (Con Cup Qualifier)
March 27-April 2 – WMRT Congressional Cup – Long Beach, USA

*Additional events have not yet been finalized. Events are expected in Copenhagen (DEN), Newport (USA), Marstrand (SWE), and possibly China and New Zealand.

For further information; www.wmrt.com

Background: The 2016 World Match Racing Tour is the leading professional match racing series sanctioned by World Sailing. Prize money and points are earned at each Tour event, with the top 20 teams after the penultimate event advancing to the World Finals in July to compete for the Match Racing World Championship title and a Tour bonus of $1,000,000.

Source: World Match Racing Tour, Scuttlebutt