Line-up for 2024 Congressional Cup

The 2024 Congressional Cup returns for the 59th edition on April 24-28 in Long Beach, CA. As a leading event of the World Match Racing Tour, defending champion Chris Poole (USA) will lead the line-up of competitors which also includes four-time Congressional Cup winner Gavin Brady (USA) who returns after a dozen-year hiatus.

“The Congressional Cup is the grandfather of match racing and brings world class sailing talent to Long Beach Yacht Club each year,” said Tony Mansour, 2024 Congressional Cup Chair. “This year we literally have all of the highest ranked skippers in the world flying here to compete for the distinct honor of the Crimson Blazer.”

Racing in Catalina 37s, the roster also includes top ten ranked match racing skippers such as 2009 Congressional Cup winner Johnie Berntsson (SWE), Jeppe Borch (DEN), Eric Monnin (SUI), Mati Sepp (EST) and Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL) plus Dave Hood (USA). Two final contenders will advance from the Ficker Cup Regatta held on April 19-21.

LBYC introduced the Congressional Cup in 1965, innovating the game of match racing and pioneering on-the-water umpiring. When the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) was launched in 2000, Congressional Cup became a premier stop on the schedule. “We are delighted to continue our successful and long-term partnership with the Long Beach Yacht Club,” noted James Pleasance, Executive Director, WMRT.

“The Congressional Cup has really become a firm fixture on the international match racing calendar. It is certainly an event that every aspiring match racing champion wants to win, and add their name to the impressive list of past Congressional Cup winners.”

Defending 2023 champion Poole added, “The Congressional Cup is one of the most difficult events to get into and even more difficult to win. The who’s who of yacht racing have all competed for a Crimson Blazer and a chance to put their name on the Congressional Cup. That is why I’ve worked so hard to get here, to compete against the best on a level playing field.”

Poole first hit the Long Beach race course in 2013 and steadily ascended the leader board, finishing the 2023 event undefeated in every match.

“My approach to sailing and match racing was to never think I couldn’t be as good as my sailing heroes,” added Poole. “I have always believed I could be one of the best sailors in the world if I keep working on improvement. This is a sport that rewards those with a certain mental focus and self-criticism to know they can always be better than the day before.”

The event format begins with a double round robin stage to advance the top four teams for Semi-Final and Final matches.

Competition takes place off the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier with live commentary and free spectating. The event is live streamed starting April 26.

Tour information – Event details – Facebook

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 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 inception, 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.

Source: LBYC