Monnin finally gets the Crimson Blazer

Switzerland’s Eric Monnin and his Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team of Ute Monnin Wagner, Mathieu Renault, Jean-Claude Monnin, Simon Brügger, Julien Falxa, and Maxime Mesnil clinched a long-awaited win of the 60th Congressional Cup, held April 30-May 4 in Long Beach, CA.

As the third stage of the 2025 World Match Racing Tour season, Monnin defeated defending Congressional Cup champion, USA’s Chris Poole 3-2 in a closely contested final. This was Monnin’s 11th appearance at the Congressional Cup after finishing third in 2024, with his victory denying Poole’s quest to be a 3-peat champion.

During the final series between Monnin and Poole, the American was the first to put a point on the board before Monnin responded with two wins to take the lead. Poole evened the score in race four, setting up a decisive fifth and final match for the title.

Monnin was penalized off the start but stayed close in the light and variable breeze. At the first windward mark, Poole clipped the mark, earning a penalty of his own and clearing Monnin’s. Down the final run, with Monnin leading, the boats split gybes at the bottom of the course. Poole caught a late puff to close the gap, but Monnin held on to cross the line ahead and secure his first Crimson Blazer.

“Chris put a lot of pressure on us, and we were close to cracking under the it,” explained Monnin. “But winning this regatta is a big step for us. It’s a big deal, and it means a lot to do it with this crew.”

A double round robin series for the ten teams advanced the semifinalists, in which Monin beat Dave Hood who represented host Long Beach Yacht Club, while Poole beat Australia’s Cole Tapper.

The battle for the final podium spot came down to the wire in the Petit Final as Tapper and Hood were even after two races, but the Australian got the win after Hood picked up a costly penalty at the final top mark.

Tapper’s third-place finish marks a major leap from his team’s eighth-place result in their Congressional Cup debut last year.

Tour information – Event details – Results

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.