LONG BEACH, CA — After a thrilling weekend of intense match racing, the field was officially set for the 60th annual Congressional Cup, hosted by the Long Beach Yacht Club. Maxime Mesnil of France captured the Ficker Cup title with a commanding 3 to 0 victory over Nicole Breault (USA) in the final. However, with Mesnil already committed to competing in the Congressional Cup alongside Switzerland’s Eric Monnin, it was Breault and third-place finisher Peter Wickwire (CAN) who advanced to join the prestigious main event.
The Congressional Cup, recognized as one of the premier match racing regattas in the world, kicked off on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, and runs through Sunday, May 4, 2025. Racing takes place off Belmont Pier in Long Beach, offering spectators free, up-close viewing daily from 11:30 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m. Coverage will also be broadcast live on YouTube beginning Friday, May 2, with updates shared throughout the week on Congressional Cup and World Match Racing Tour social media channels.
Breault and Wickwire joined an elite international line-up of skippers, including 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/Med Racing), Cole Tapper (AUS/CYCA), Dave Hood (USA/DH3 Racing), and Björn Hansen (SWE/Hansen Sailing Team).
Established in 1980 by the Long Beach Yacht Club, the Ficker Cup honors legendary yachtsman Bill Ficker, a member of Newport Harbor Yacht Club who left a lasting mark on sailing history. Ficker’s accomplishments included winning the Star Class World Championship in 1958 and famously steering Intrepid to a victory in the 1970 America’s Cup over Gretel II. It was during that campaign that Ted Turner coined the famous phrase, “Ficker is Quicker,” a motto that lives on in the spirit of the Ficker Cup and is reflected in the regatta’s logo. Just four years later, Ficker went on to win the Congressional Cup in 1974.
As the Congressional Cup celebrated its 60th anniversary, the 2025 event promised another exciting chapter in match racing history, with world-class competitors battling it out for one of the most prestigious titles in the sport.
For more information on the Congressional Cup, visit www.thecongressionalcup.com. To follow the World Match Racing Tour, visit www.wmrt.com or follow @worldmatchracingtour on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
