Please select your home edition
Edition
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic Range

Long Beach Yacht Club Ficker Cup - Day 2

by Betsy Crowfoot 31 Mar 2019 13:48 HKT 29-31 March 2019

Chris Poole (USA) edged past Harry Price (AUS) in the final match of today's Ficker Cup round robins, to cap the leaderboard at the conclusion of two days of Stage 1 racing. Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) found his form and solidified his third place position, with Dave Hood (USA) fourth, rounding out the quartet who will advance to semi-finals.

Tomorrow, an international field of sailors battle for the esteemed Ficker Cup trophy and an invitation to the Congressional Cup, during the final stages of this perennial Long Beach Yacht Club event. Moderate southwesterly wind and warm temperatures are expected for Sunday's semi-finals, petit finals, and finals.

Light conditions had the fleet of eight boats on dock hold this morning, until the westerly filled in and delivered a pleasant 12 to 16 knot breeze.

Poole and his Riptide Racing Team had a flawless day, winning all seven matches. "It was a good day for us. We improved on a couple of things we wanted to from yesterday, and there were a couple of races that were a little closer than we liked. But it was good to put some pressure on the crew, and get the crew work down now, instead of in the semis."

"The crew is doing a phenomenal job," Poole added, "and we're looking forward to seeing how tomorrow goes."

Price had an unblemished record coming into today's races. But in Match 11 against Charlie Lalumiere (USA), Price was OCS at the start. Lalumiere, close abeam, blocked Price from cracking off and returning to the line. By the time Price peeled off and atoned, Lalumiere had a solid headstart. Price and the Down Under Racing Team were reeling in Lalumiere, but ran out of race course. Lalumiere won by a boat length: his only win of the day. Price logged an overall record of 11-3.

The top two Ficker Cup finishers go on to the Congressional Cup which starts April 3. But in addition to being a qualifier for that event, Ficker Cup is a Grade 2 match race; meeting strict criteria established by World Sailing, the governing body for the sport. It stipulates everything from race management and formats to judging and scoring, the types of boat used, on-the-water maintenance and repair, hospitality, and the level of racing.

"The competition is stiff," declared Pearson Potts Jr., who enjoyed just one victory today. "Every mistake is capitalized. It's definitely whoever makes the least mistakes, wins." His team Guardians of the Monohull is one of four non-professional crews competing this weekend. "We're trying to be the real true amateurs who make it to the Congressional Cup."

But first, he conceded, there's Ficker Cup. "This is helping us learn the boat. It requires a lot more teamwork and coordination, and is a lot less forgiving than other boats we sail." The one-design fleet of Catalina 37s was designed and built exclusively for the Congressional Cup.

Qualifying for that, he said, remains the aspiration. "One hull, one dream, is our motto."

Racing for the Ficker Cup continues tomorrow, Sunday March 31, at 11:30AM adjacent to the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, at 15 39th Place, in Long Beach, where spectators are invited to enjoy the action, free-of-charge.

A prize giving will be held at Long Beach Yacht Club Sunday after races, and presentation of the Ficker Cup trophy, honoring the legendary America's Cup helmsman Bill Ficker.

Follow Ficker Cup online at www.lbyc.org and on Facebook @CongressionalCup.

Follow Congressional Cup, April 3 to 7, at www.thecongressionalcup.com and on Facebook @CongressionalCup. Races will be live-streamed April 5 through 7. Coverage will include skipper interviews, results and daily highlights, press conferences and special events. For broadcast schedules and more information visit www.thecongressionalcup.com.

Related Articles

GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D3
Surprise exits in Marstrand as Quarter-Finalists decided The qualifying round-robin stages at GKSS Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand finished today with the surprise departure of defending champion USA's Chris Poole/ Riptide Racing and Switzerland's Eric Monnin/ Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team from the Open Class. Posted on 2 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D2
A challenging southerly breeze and short three-lap course put teams to task A challenging southerly breeze and short three-lap course put teams to task on the second day of racing at the GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy in Marstrand, Sweden. Posted on 1 Jul
RYA Harken Youth Match Racing Championships 2025
Nine teams duelled for supremacy in glamour conditions at the WPNSA The 2025 RYA Harken Youth Match Racing Championships saw nine teams duelling for supremacy in glamour conditions at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy. Posted on 1 Jul
GKSS Match Cup Sweden & Nordea Women's Trophy D1
Sunday's storm winds cleared to deliver ideal conditions for the opening race day Sunday's storm winds cleared to deliver ideal conditions for the opening race day of the 2025 GKSS Match Cup Sweden and Nordea Women's Trophy, official championship stages of the World Match Racing Tour and Women's World Match Racing Tour. Posted on 1 Jul
Aspen renews sponsorship for Women's Match Race
As title sponsor of the 2025 Bermuda Women's Match Racing Regatta The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and World Match Racing Tour has announced the return of leading speciality insurer and re-insurer ASPEN as title sponsor of the 2025 Bermuda Women's Match Racing Regatta to be held from 21-26 October. Posted on 20 Jun
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA overall
A tense light-air final on the Severn River USA's women's match racing team Team Baam skippered by Allie Blecher from California won the 2025 Santa Maria Cup today, defeating Vela Racing team skippered by Nicole Breault 3-0 in a tense light-air final on the Severn River. Posted on 8 Jun
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 3
Nicole Breault and Allie Blecher to meet in the final USA's Nicole Breault / Vela Racing and Allie Blecher / Team Baam have both advanced to the final of the Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, the second stage of the 2025 Women's World Match Racing Tour championship. Posted on 7 Jun
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 2
Final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage A thrilling second day of racing at the 2025 Santa Maria Cup saw the final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage. Posted on 6 Jun
CYCA and RFBYC announce partnership
To host Australia's premier match racing events The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club are pleased to announce a joint partnership between the two Clubs to host Australia's premier match racing events in January each year. Posted on 5 Jun
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 1
Racing in Women's World Match Racing Tour Event 2 underway Perfect conditions graced the opening day of the 2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA, Stage 2 of the 2025 Women's World Match Racing Tour following the tour season opener in San Francisco last week. Posted on 5 Jun
Armstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOMNavico Asia Zeus3S FOOTERVetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTER