Scuttlebutt Photos:

LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 24, 2004) — Ed Baird vaulted into fifth overall on the Swedish Match Tour Championship Leaderboard with his come-from-behind victory today (Saturday) at the 40th annual Congressional Cup.

Baird, the American skipper of Team Musto, defeated fellow American Terry Hutchinson and his Team Annapolis Volvo crew by 1:41 to win the Congressional Cup, the symbolic Crimson Blazer and $6,000 of the $25,000 prize purse. - Complete story at Swedish Match Tour website

Additional event information at the Congressional Cup website

Photos by Rich Roberts

Ed Baird got away with two poor starts against Gavin Brady, including this one, to win their semifinal, 2-1.

Terry Hutchinson waves the protest flag in pre-start incident against Peter Gilmour in semifinals. Gilmour's bowman is Alan Smith.

Both skippers protest after Peter Gilmour (foreground) luffed Terry Hutchinson in their semifinal. Umpires ruled the foul was on Gilmour, who finished half a length ahead but still owed the penalty turn.

Terry Hutchinson appeals fairness of the course to principal race officer Bobby Frazier after losing the title match to Ed Baird.

Ed Baird, wearing his new Crimson Blazer, poses with his crew around the Congressional Cup. Clockwise from bottom left are Rob Myles, Eric Doyle, Jon Ziskind, Baird, Brett Jones and Andy Horton.

Click on the images below to view the round-robin series from April 20-23. The top four from the round-robin series moved on to the Semifinal and Final matches on Saturday, April 24.