Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts Leaderboard 2024 3

Fight for Ficker Cup begins April 14 at Long Beach Yacht Club

by Betsy Crowfoot 13 Apr 2022 17:12 PDT April 14-16, 2022
Ficker Cup Regatta © Bronny Daniels

Blustery winds are expected to make way to idyllic conditions for the Ficker Cup Regatta hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club. Racing for the prestigious Ficker Cup trophy, and a shot at a berth in the Congressional Cup, begins tomorrow April 14 through Saturday April 16 on the Congressional Cup Stadium racecourse off the Veterans Memorial Belmont Pier.

Mild, sunny conditions and 10 to 15 knot breezes are forecast for the eight teams competing from around the nation and across the seas, in this World Match Racing Tour Grade 2 qualifier event.

Leading the pack is 2021 Ficker Cup winner Emil Kjaer (DEN), plus Jeffrey Petersen (USA) and David Wood (USA) — all of whom advanced to compete in the Congressional Cup last year. Also returning are Peter Holz (USA) and Dave Perry (USA), while Jeppe Borch (DEN), Christopher Weis (USA) and Anna Östling (SWE) make their Ficker Cup debut.

Three days of heated match racing will take place starting at 1130AM daily with excellent viewing from the Belmont Pier. There spectators can watch the thrilling play-by-play as the teams duel on the water, dazzling and defying their rivals in the hunt for points, and a scramble up the leaderboard. The top four finishers will then battle it out to see who's name will be etched on the Ficker Cup trophy. And then the victor and runner-up will advance to the Congressional Cup, to be held April 19 to 23.

Qualifying for the Congressional Cup is no doubt a noble achievement — but the prestige and providence of winning the Ficker Cup itself cannot be ignored. The regatta was established by Long Beach Yacht Club to honor Bill Ficker, a renowned yachtsman, Star Class World Champion, and America's Cup and Congressional Cup victor. Winning the Ficker Cup is a both an honor, and a portent of good things to come.

After a two-day break in race action, the Congressional Cup will kick off Tuesday April 19 with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, rededicating the Congressional Cup Stadium course. Racing will continue daily through Saturday April 23. Representing more than a half century tradition of sailboat racing at the highest level in the world, the Congressional Cup is also organized and hosted by LBYC, and is a one of the flagship championship events of the World Match Racing Tour.

For further information on Ficker Cup please go to www.lbyc.org; visit wmrt.com for details on the WMRT.

Related Articles

Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week overall
Class Leaders Win Big at 20th Edition There were few surprises on the final day of racing at Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week as class leaders who took control on Day 1 skillfully navigated the unusual-for-Long Beach conditions to prevail in their respective classes. Posted on 23 Jun
Something for Everyone
At Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week Steve George is a good sport; after Day 1 Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week he was at the back of the fleet in Random Leg B class but he has a great sense of humor and was quite okay about that, understanding that his luck is in the hands of the universe. Posted on 22 Jun
Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week Day 2
Another day of not-so-classic Long Beach conditions Day 2 of the 20th edition Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week, co-organized by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) and Long Beach Yacht Club (LBYC) dished up another day of not-so-classic Long Beach conditions. Posted on 22 Jun
Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week Day 1
Leaders emerge in all 10 classes in a lighter than usual breeze Day 1 of the 20th edition Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week, co-organized by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) and Long Beach Yacht Club (LBYC), challenged those used to the bigger breeze that the venue usually dishes out. Posted on 21 Jun
Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week starts Friday
115+ competitors race ready for 20th edition of legendary West Coast event With some 115 boats signed up to participate in the 20th edition of Ullmans Sails Long Beach Race week, the regatta is thrilled to welcome plenty of newcomers to enjoy three days of world-class sailing in the best racing conditions Posted on 19 Jun
Behind the scenes at Long Beach Race Week
The inside scoop on the LBRW Race Management Team To pull off not just a good but a great regatta requires both a passion for the sport but also solid knowledge of sailboat racing and a healthy appetite for fun. Posted on 14 Jun
1D35 "Relentless" to Race 2025 LBRW with new owner
First-time owner Derek Williamson eager to join the fleet for premier event As Derek Williamson prepares to race in his first regatta - Long Beach Race Week (LBRW) - where he'll be helming his own boat, Williamson acknowledges that he's new to the game and has a lot to learn. Posted on 30 May
Register now for Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week
LBRW is open to multiple classes and in 2025 the event is proud to host the Catalina 37 Nationals Exciting racecourses with flat water offerings inside of the Long Beach breakwater, and big waves and big breeze on the outside are just a few of the factors that make the Long Beach Race Week regatta one of the most enjoyable on the west coast. Posted on 14 May
Monnin Victorious in 60th Congressional Cup
Defeating defending champion Chris Poole 3-2 in a closely contested final Switzerland's Eric Monnin and his Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team of Ute Monnin Wagner, Mathieu Renault, Jean-Claude Monnin, Simon Brügger, Julien Falxa, and Maxime Mesnil clinched a long awaited win of the 60th Anniversary Congressional Cup on Sunday. Posted on 5 May
60th Anniversary Congressional Cup Day 4
High-stakes racing on the penultimate day Light airs and overcast conditions brought high-stakes racing to the penultimate day of the 60th Congressional Cup in Long Beach as the final four teams advanced to the semi-finals. Posted on 4 May
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP BOTTOMHenri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeZhik 2024 December