A bold idea, backed by a Deed of Gift by the United States Congress and the desire to create the best sailing match race in the world, is celebrating its Diamond anniversary in 2025.
Called the Congressional Cup and hosted by the Long Beach Yacht Club, it was an instant success, drawing competitors from prestigious yacht clubs such as the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, the California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey and the Larchmont Yacht Club in New York.
The first event was held in February of 1965 and today it has top skippers and teams from throughout the world, eager to show off their sailing skills in identical boats owned and prepared by the Long Beach Yacht Club. As a result, it has become the Masters of match race sailing with winners getting not a green jacket but a coveted Crimson blazer. The 2025 event is April 30-May 4 and is held in Long Beach, CA. There is spectacular, open-to-the-public free viewing from the Belmont Pier.
Through the years the sport’s best sailors have competed in it, several of whom went on to win the America’s Cup: Dennis Conner, Ted Turner, Bill Ficker and Ian Williams.
“It really launched my America’s Cup career,” Conner said.
This year’s event features teams from six countries: 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).
“The America’s Cup, the Canada Cup and others were all two-boat races and we were thinking it would be good to have a regatta with 10 contestants,” said Congressional Cup co-founder Bill Dalessi.
Originally slated to be called the President’s Cup it was changed to the Congressional Cup after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, it started with skippers and crews being able to make modifications to their boats. Now, however, it’s a level playing field that truly brings out the very best sailing skills.
“We’ve seen a lot of match races in the United States come and go,” said Terry Hutchinson, the 1992 winner, “but the Congressional Cup has always been the stalwart event.”
The Congressional Cup has also proven to be innovative when it comes to managing races. It was the first regatta to use judges in a formal way, which eliminated a lot of the protests that previously plagued other events.
“It’s a great achievement to win,” said 2007 winner Mathieu Richard. “It’s a prestigious event. When you look at the list of winners, you have the biggest stars in match racing and it’s really amazing to be on that list.”
“Thank you Long Beach Yacht Club!,” for the Congressional Cup, exclaimed Ed Baird, who won a Crimson blazer in 2004. “It’s a great event.”
Photos Provided by Congressional Cup
