LONG BEACH— The storied waters of Long Beach are set to witness a battle of sailing prowess as the prestigious Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup, celebrating its 60th anniversary, unveils a formidable lineup of ten skippers from seven nations. From April 30th to May 4th, 2025, these elite sailors will vie for the coveted Crimson Blazer, a symbol of match racing supremacy.
(credit: Ian Roman)
Defending champion Chris Poole of the USA, leading his Riptide Racing team, aims to secure an unprecedented third consecutive victory. However, he faces stiff competition from a field brimming with talent, including past winner Johnie Berntsson of Sweden’s Berntsson Sailing Team and Switzerland’s Eric Monnin, leading the Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team, who is eager to claim his first Congressional Cup title.
(credit: Ian Roman)
The pressure is palpable as Poole seeks to etch his name further into the annals of this historic regatta, known as the “Grandfather of Match Racing.” The Congressional Cup’s legacy boasts a who’s who of sailing legends, including Ted Turner, Dennis Conner, Rod Davis, and Dean Barker.
“Our team is looking forward to returning to Long Beach for the 60th Congressional Cup,” Poole stated, emphasizing their focus on teamwork and a race-by-race approach. “We have a chance to go for a three-peat, which is an incredible opportunity at one of the toughest match racing events in the world. But we are mainly focused on our team philosophy of putting together a good team. As our late coach Dougie Pye would say, ‘Just keep on doing what you know how to do.’ So with that in mind, it’s just one event at a time, one day at a time, one race at a time.”
(credit: Ian Roman)
The 2025 Congressional Cup roster also includes Italy’s Rocco Attili (RBYS Racing), Australia’s Cole Tapper (CYCA), and match racing veteran Bjorn Hansen of Sweden’s Hansen Sailing Team. Adding to the international flair, France’s Ian Garreta (Team Garreta), fresh from a fourth-place finish at the 2024 WMRT Final, will make his Congressional Cup debut. Representing the host Long Beach Yacht Club is Dave Hood (DH3 Racing).
The final two slots in the Congressional Cup will be determined at the 2025 Ficker Cup, a World Match Racing Tour event held from April 25 to 27, 2025. Eight teams, including French skippers Aurelién Pierroz and Maxime Mesnil, Australia’s Zac West, Canada’s Peter Wickwire, and Americans Pearson Potts, Nicole Breault, and Ryan Seago, will battle for these coveted positions.
The 60th Congressional Cup promises to be a thrilling spectacle, showcasing the pinnacle of match racing skill and strategy. Sailing enthusiasts worldwide will be watching as these elite sailors navigate the challenging Long Beach waters, vying for the prestigious Crimson Blazer and a place in sailing history.
2025 Congressional Cup Skippers
- Chris Poole (USA, Riptide Racing)
- Johnie Berntsson (SWE, Berntsson Sailing Team)
- Eric Monnin (SUI, Capvis Swiss Match Racing)
- Rocco Attili (ITA, RBYS Racing)
- Ian Garreta (FRA, Team Garreta)
- Cole Tapper (AUS, CYCA)
- Dave Hood (USA, DH3 Racing)
- Björn Hansen (SWE, Hansen Sailing Team)
- Ficker Cup 1st Place Finisher
- Ficker Cup 2nd Place Finisher
2025 Ficker Cup Competitors
- Aurélien Pierroz (FRA)
- Maxime Mesnil (FRA)
- Pearson Potts (USA)
- Zac West (AUS)
- Peter Wickwire (CAN)
- Nicole Breault (USA)
- Ryan Seago (USA)
- One additional competitor to be announced
For more information, visit www.thecongressionalcup.com.
