Semifinals set for Ficker Cup

Long Beach, CA (March 25, 2017) – Storm clouds threatened the second day of the 38th Ficker Cup regatta today, but the only tempest on the track was Long Beach Yacht Club’s Scott Dickson and team who stormed the scoreboard with an 11-3 record, following up yesterday’s powerful start with a 6-1 run today.

The Ficker Cup is a World Match Racing Tour Grade Two event, and feeder to the prestigious Congressional Cup regatta. Both are hosted by LBYC, and raced in the waters adjacent the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier.

Dickson’s only loss today was to San Diego’s Nevin Snow, who also logged six wins, bowing to David Storrs. Both Snow and Storrs stand at 9 wins, 5 losses.

Snow credited “another day on the boat” with the improvement over yesterday when his team finished 3-4. Racing the customized fleet of identical Catalina 37s is “more tactical than technical,” Snow explained. “You have to know the rules, be more thorough and think ahead. The racing is slower – but good.”

Harry Price and his Down Under Racing Team rebounded today with five wins, admitting he was “struggling” during yesterday’s Ficker Cup kick-off. Although he’d handily won the USA Grand Slam – a series of match race regattas held in Detroit, Chicago and New York – he has more familiarity with smaller boats, saying it was only his second opportunity steering with a wheel (vs. a tiller).

“Yesterday we ironed out quite a few mistakes,” noted Price. “We’re glad to have this time on the bigger boat and a couple of extra days to iron things out.“ Price, ranked 3rd in the world, is among the field that will be competing next week in the Congressional Cup.

Tomorrow’s semifinals will have Dickson, Storrs Snow, and Price.

Officials noted today was rife with excitement, between collisions, mixed breeze, dolphins, sea lions, and “a first.”

“I thought I’d seen everything in match racing,” said LBYC Waterfront Director Rick Roberts, until he noticed a private boat stopping in the midst of the course during a pre-start dial-up. Although warned about their precarious position, the boater refused to move … and continued with a hasty burial at sea: scattering their beloved’s ashes as David Hood and Peter Holz’ team barreled through.

Ficker Cup racing continues tomorrow, Sunday March 26, at noon. The top two finalists will advance to the Congressional Cup, held March 28 to April 2.

Day Two Standings (after double round-robin)

Event details – Scoreboard – Crew lists – Facebook

Background: The Ficker Cup which was established by Long Beach Yacht Club in 1980 to honor Bill Ficker, who recently passed at the age of 89. An architect by trade, Ficker was a renowned yachtsman who won the Star Class World Championship in 1958 and helmed Intrepid to victory in the 1970 America’s Cup. Four years later, he won the Congressional Cup. The 2017 Ficker Cup will be held March 24 through 26, also in the vicinity of Belmont Pier with the top two finalists advancing to the Congressional Cup.

Source: LBYC