LONG BEACH, CA. — The Long Beach Yacht Club has announced the full slate of competitors for the 2026 Ficker Cup, confirming an international lineup of eight accomplished skippers set to compete April 24 to 26 on the waters off Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. As a Grade 2 event on the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT), the Ficker Cup once again serves as a critical qualifier for the prestigious Congressional Cup, with the top two finishers earning invitations to the championship regatta scheduled for April 29 through May 3, 2026.
Named in honor of legendary yachtsman Bill Ficker — winner of the 1970 America’s Cup as skipper of Intrepid and the 1974 Congressional Cup — the Ficker Cup has long been recognized as one of the most competitive and consequential match racing events in the United States. Each year, it draws a mix of seasoned veterans and rising international talent, all vying for a place on the Congressional Cup starting line.
“We have an amazing lineup for the 2026 Ficker Cup,” said Tom Camp, Ficker Cup Event Chair. “All of the skippers selected have proven their mettle either in previous Ficker Cups or on the World Match Racing Tour. Any of the eight could win it.”
Among the returning competitors is Long Beach Yacht Club’s own Scotty Dickson, the most successful skipper in Ficker Cup history with 14 victories. A fixture of the event, Dickson will be making another run at qualifying for the Congressional Cup — an event he’s entered 22 times to date, finishing second on two occasions but never claiming the title. Should Dickson place first or second at the Ficker Cup, 2026 would mark his 23rd Congressional Cup appearance, adding another chapter to one of the longest-running competitive careers in match racing.
Also returning is Nicole Breault of St. Francis Yacht Club, who will be making her fourth Ficker Cup appearance. Breault finished second in the 2025 Ficker Cup and went on to place ninth at last year’s Congressional Cup. Since then, she has continued to elevate her program, capturing wins at both the 2025 U.S. Women’s Match Racing Championship and the U.S. Open Match Racing Qualifier with her Vela Racing team. Ranked 26th on the 2025 WMRT leaderboard, Breault enters the 2026 regatta as a strong contender and could make history as the first woman skipper to win the Congressional Cup should she advance.
Chris Weis of Richmond Yacht Club returns to the Ficker Cup after winning the event in 2023 and subsequently finishing ninth at the Congressional Cup. Weis has maintained strong momentum since then, securing first place at the second stop of the 2025 California Dreamin’ Series at St. Francis Yacht Club and second place at the third stop at Balboa Yacht Club. This will mark his third Ficker Cup appearance, and his recent results suggest he remains a serious threat in the match racing arena.
Rounding out the returning competitors is Irish skipper Ruairi Finnegan, who will be making his second Ficker Cup appearance. After finishing eighth in the 2023 event, Finnegan has steadily climbed the WMRT rankings and now sits at 30th on the 2025 leaderboard. With three additional years of international competition under his belt, he will be looking to secure one of the two qualifying positions in 2026.
The 2026 field also features four first-time Ficker Cup competitors, bringing fresh energy and international depth to the regatta.
Patryk Zbroja of Poland will make his Ficker Cup debut sailing with his YKP team. A veteran of the match racing circuit since 2007, Zbroja is currently ranked 25th on the 2025 WMRT leaderboard and has previously reached as high as sixth overall. His experience and consistency make him a formidable addition to the fleet.
Australia’s Tom Picot will also compete in his first Ficker Cup. With 11 years of match racing experience and a current WMRT ranking of 20th, Picot has steadily climbed the international standings. A strong showing at Ficker Cup, followed by success at Congressional Cup, could position him as a leading contender for the 2026 season.
Lennard Bal of the Netherlands enters the event ranked 19th on the 2025 WMRT leaderboard. Sailing with Team Lowlands Racing, Bal transitioned to match racing just two years ago after a background in keelboat fleet racing. Since then, he has competed in approximately 15 international match racing events, consistently posting strong results. The Ficker Cup will be his first appearance at the Long Beach venue.
Perhaps the most closely watched newcomer is Oscar Engström of Sweden. Representing the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club, Engström is currently ranked fourth on the 2025 WMRT leaderboard. After developing his skills in high-performance dinghies such as the 29er and 49er, Engström turned his focus to match racing in 2021. Earlier this year, he finished second at the WMRT World Championship Final in Shenzhen, China, losing only to reigning champion Ian Williams. A top-two finish at the Ficker Cup could set up a compelling rematch on the Congressional Cup stage.
Racing for the Ficker Cup will take place on the Congressional Cup Stadium course, just offshore of Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. Spectator viewing will be free and open to the public each day from the end of the pier, offering close-up access to world-class match racing action.
The Ficker Cup will be immediately followed by the Congressional Cup, Long Beach Yacht Club’s flagship event and a World Match Racing Tour Championship regatta. Practice racing for the Congressional Cup begins April 28, with championship racing running April 29 through May 3, 2026. Ten of the world’s top match racing skippers are expected to compete.
For additional information about the Ficker Cup and Congressional Cup, visit thecongressionalcup.com. More details on the World Match Racing Tour are available at wmrt.com.
2026 Ficker Cup Skippers
(World Sailing rankings as of February 1, 2026)
- Oscar Engström (SWE) — WS Rank #16
- Nicole Breault (USA) — WS Rank #17
- Lennard Bal (NED) — WS Rank #18
- Patryk Zbroja (POL) — WS Rank #19
- Tom Picot (AUS) — WS Rank #26
- Ruairi Finnegan (IRL) — WS Rank #33
- Chris Weis (USA) — WS Rank #68
- Scotty Dickson (USA) — WS Rank #210
