Swedish Match Tour parts with Congressional Cup

by Sean McNeill on 8 Feb 2005 The Swedish Match Tour regrets to announce that the 2005 Congressional Cup will not be an event of the 2004-'05 Swedish Match Tour.

Hosted by the Long Beach (California) Yacht Club, the Congressional Cup reached a sponsorship deal that is in conflict with the Tour.

The Congressional Cup has been part of the last three Swedish Match Tour seasons.

‘We regret to have to drop the Congressional Cup; it's got a great history and volunteer base,’ said Swedish Match Tour Director Scott MacLeod.

‘However, the Tour is going in a specific direction with its sponsors that is in conflict with what the event wants to achieve. We wish them the best of luck.’

Despite the loss of the Congressional Cup, Tour officials are in discussions with other events to join the Tour this year.

American Ed Baird (St. Petersburg, Florida) leads the Swedish Match Tour standings after four of eight stages. Stage 5 of the 2004-'05 Swedish Match Tour is scheduled May 1-8 in Porto Azzurro, Italy. Events follow in Germany, May 11-16, and Croatia, May 22-28, before the season ends with the Swedish Match Cup in Marstrand, Sweden, July 4-10.

The 2004-2005 Tour commenced last July with Stage 1 in Cascais, Portugal.

Other stages were held in Copenhagen, Denmark, Hamilton, Bermuda and Hayama, Japan.

For more information on the Swedish Match Tour:
www.swedishmatchtour.com.