Schedule set for 58th Congressional Cup

The Congressional Cup has been regarded as the ‘grandfather of match racing’ since 1965. The event established Long Beach Yacht Club as an innovator in the game of match racing; pioneering on-the-water umpiring and setting a world-wide standard that endures today.

As a paragon on the global match racing circuit and Championship level stop on the World Match Racing Tour, the Congressional Cup is guaranteed the hottest sailing talent and action on the waters off Long Beach each year.

Dates in 2023 have been confirmed for the 58th Congressional Cup on April 18 to 22, preceded by the qualifying event – Ficker Cup – on April 13 to 15, 2023. Both are hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club in Long Beach, CA.

“I am both honored and a bit intimidated to be chairing this esteemed, world-class event,” admits 2023 Chair Bob Piercy. “The Congressional Cup is known as an elite competition and LBYC, the past chairpersons and volunteers have raised the bar even higher. However, after working on the Executive Board for the past four years, I am ready and eager to take on the challenge of the 58th Congressional Cup regatta!”

The format for Congressional Cup 2023 will continue as a 10-team, double round robin series, followed by semi- and petit finals, with a final stage to determine the victor of the trophy and prestigious Crimson Blazer.

In Congressional Cup 2022 Ian Williams (GBR) evened the score on decades-long rival Taylor Canfield (USA) when he triumphed in the finals after a lively five-day series in breezy conditions. Williams now matches Canfield with five Congressional Cup titles each – and hopefully both will return for the chance to get one up on the other.

The 2023 line-up will be announced later this year, with the final two entrants advancing from the Ficker Cup. “We will continue the process we instituted last year of combining the Congressional Cup and Ficker Cup selection committees, to choose the best contenders possible for both events and guarantee the highest level of competition,” explains Piercy.

Congressional Cup is challenged in a fleet of identical 37-foot Catalina sloops designed specifically for LBYC’s match racing series, with racing held directly off the city’s Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier which is planned to also host the Sailing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

• Congressional Cup: www.thecongressionalcup.com
• World Match Racing Tour: www.wmrt.com