Robertson and Steele top field at Congressional Cup

Long Beach, CA (April 8, 2016) – The US Postal Service has a saying, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” That could be the new motto of the Long Beach Yacht Club Race Committee and Congressional Cup racing.

Despite three days of rain, light air, shifting breeze, drizzle, gusts, cross currents, and ultimately a saturating fog, LBYC PRO Randy Smith and his committee pulled off 66 matches, to complete the Round Robins.

The racers willingly obliged, saying, “that’s sailing” as the weird and wet weather system overtook Southern California. But there was breeze. Wafting light, but steady; from the south, but enough to complete the qualifiers.

Phil Robertson (NZL) with 10 points clung to his lead, followed by Chris Steele (NZL), Nicolai Sehested (DEN) and defending champion Taylor Canfield (ISV) at eight points each, all automatically moving into to the quarterfinals; along with Bjorn Hansen (SWE) and Sam Gilmour (AUS).

PRO Randy Smith has consulted the rulebook and decided to abandon the repechage which was underway at press time. Top 8 will now move to quarterfinals, bottom 4 are eliminated (Ian Williams, Sally Barkow, Keith Swinton and Johnnie Berntsson).

Day Four Standings
Phil Robertson (NZL) 10 – 1
Chris Steele (NZL) 8 – 3
Nicolai Sehested (DEN) 8 – 3
Taylor Canfield (ISV) 8 – 3
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) 7 – 4
Sam Gilmour (AUS) 6 – 5
Eric Monnin (SUI) 4 – 7
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) 4 – 7
Scott Dickson (USA) 4 – 7
Keith Swinton (AUS) 3 – 8
Ian Williams (GBR) 2 – 9
Sally Barkow (USA) 2 – 9

Quarter Final Pairings
Match 1 Sam Gilmour v Phil Robertson
Match 2 Scott Dickson v Chris Steele
Match 3 Eric Monnin v Taylor Canfield
Match 4 Bjorn Hansen v Nicolai Sehested

Event website – Scoreboard – Livestream – Facebook

ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL CUP
The 52nd Congressional Cup on April 6-10 features five days of yacht racing at its finest, with twelve elite teams vying for the esteemed Crimson Blazer – an honor bestowed to sailing icons like Dennis Conner, Dean Barker, Ken Read, Ted Turner, Taylor Canfield and more. Founded in 1965 and pioneering the concept of on-the-water umpiring, The Congressional Cup is regarded as the ‘granddaddy of match racing’ and is part of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT). This intense round-the-world circuit kicked off early March in Fremantle, Australia, and concludes in July in Marstrand, Sweden; where one lucky sailor will earn a sizeable purse and bragging rights – as the number one skipper at the pinnacle of the sailing game. http://www.thecongressionalcup.com/

Source: Event media