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The Long Beach Yacht Club has announced the 2022 dates for the prestigious Congressional Cup and Ficker Cup regattas, according to President Lisa Meier.
The Congress Cup kicks off on Monday, April 18, 2022 with a day of training, followed by five days of lively, world-class match racing. From April 19 to 23, eight elite invited competitors will compete for the Crimson Blazer, joined by the top two finalists in the Ficker Cup, scheduled for April 13 to 16.
LBYC announced the dates, riding a wave of glory from the 2021 event. After a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Congress Cup races resumed in mid-September 2021 with resounding success . The regatta had a theme “A Summer Without End” and the atmosphere and conditions were met; with sunny and windy days ideal for sailing and balmy evenings for mingling by the pool.
“The 2022 Congress Cup will return in April, with exceptional conditions for very competitive race matches between the best skippers and crews in the world! Meier announced. The Congress Cup has long been seen as a gateway to the America’s Cup and advancement in the sport, and Meier added: the legendary Crimson Blazer.
LBYC has a warm tradition of welcoming visiting officials and sailors, she continued. “We invite competitors from all over the world to make Long Beach their home during the Ficker Cup and the Congressional Cup; and invite the Long Beach community to watch the action, with stunning views from the Veterans Memorial Pier at Belmont Shore.
“The Congress Cup takes place on the very waters where Olympians will participate in the 2028 Olympiad,” said Meier. Long Beach has a long history with the Olympics: organizing water events for the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932 and 1984; and the yacht club and community are already gearing up for the success of the 2028 Games, she said.
Founded by LBYC in 1965, the Congressional Cup features five days of world-class competition in the waters off Long Beach, California. The Congressional Cup is recognized as the “grandfather of match racing”, and LBYC has further revolutionized the game with the introduction of the water umpire. One of the flagship events of the World Match Racing Tour championship, the 57th Congress Cup will kick off the 2022 WMRT season.
Match racing is exciting and unique in that it involves competitors racing in pairs in identical boats, making each match a test of pure strategy and skill. The skippers try “any trick in the book” to outsmart their opponents on the water, while the on-water referees keep a close watch to ensure fair play.
And the Congress Cup is pure excitement for spectators as well, with races taking place directly off the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. Competitors graze so closely that spectators can practically reach out and touch the sails! Viewers can enjoy stadium seating, a refreshment bar, live commentary and a rare opportunity to experience one of the world’s major sporting events for free.
In the 2021 Congress Cup, Taylor Canfield (USA) rushed out the gate to win 16 of 18 races in the doubles round robin and advance to the semi-finals, where he continued his domination of the event. The conquest of his fifth Congress Cup title made him the most victorious skipper in history, as he donned the Crimson Blazer: the green-jacket yacht racing equivalent of the Masters.
Mark your calendars for more Congress Cup excitement April 18-23, 2022 – and stay tuned for updates on https://thecongressionalcup.com.
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