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Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Poole and Monnin seize control ahead of Congressional Cup finals
LONG BEACH, California - Under leaden skies and the lightest of breeze, the 60th Congressional Cup served up high-stakes drama on Saturday as four skippers secured semi-final berths in contrasting style. Chris Poole, of the U.S., and Switzerland's Eric Monnin advanced smoothly to the knockouts, while Long Beach's Dave Hood and Australia's Cole Tapper needed must-win races to reach the final four. Poole and Monnin now lead their respective semi-finals 2-0 over Tapper and Hood going into Sunday's finale. In Congressional Cup sailing, the skipper who finishes first in the round-robin stage can choose their semi-final opponent from three options, and Poole selected Tapper's Sydney crew before taking full advantage of pre-start chaos, with Tapper picking up multiple red-flag penalties. "We're back to where we were last year," said Poole. "Our plan is to keep improving one race at a time. We've been here twice before and feel like all the pieces are there." In the other semi, Monnin capitalised on light airs to secure a two-race cushion over Hood. "We weren't locked into the semi-finals to start the day, so it was a relief to win against Johnie Berntsson and then Chris Poole," Monnin said. "Now we hope to keep the momentum up." Hood remained undeterred: "We needed to come out and get it done and had a good race with Bjorn Hansen to make it through. We'll come out swinging against Eric tomorrow." Sunday's final will decide the winner of the Crimson Blazer at a regatta that has shaped match racing since 1965. Crews of six or seven compete in identical Catalina 37s, with 10 teams from seven nations taking part this year. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Poole and Monnin dominate as sailing's Congressional Cup nears climax
Summary Poole and Monnin lead semi-finals with 2-0 advantage Tapper and Hood secure semi-final spots with must-win races Congressional Cup concludes on Sunday with finals for Crimson Blazer LONG BEACH, California, May 4 (Reuters) - Under leaden skies and the lightest of breeze, the 60th Congressional Cup served up high-stakes drama on Saturday as four skippers secured semi-final berths in contrasting style. Chris Poole, of the U.S., and Switzerland's Eric Monnin advanced smoothly to the knockouts, while Long Beach's Dave Hood and Australia's Cole Tapper needed must-win races to reach the final four. Poole and Monnin now lead their respective semi-finals 2-0 over Tapper and Hood going into Sunday's finale. In Congressional Cup sailing, the skipper who finishes first in the round-robin stage can choose their semi-final opponent from three options, and Poole selected Tapper's Sydney crew before taking full advantage of pre-start chaos, with Tapper picking up multiple red-flag penalties. "We're back to where we were last year," said Poole. "Our plan is to keep improving one race at a time. We've been here twice before and feel like all the pieces are there." In the other semi, Monnin capitalised on light airs to secure a two-race cushion over Hood. "We weren't locked into the semi-finals to start the day, so it was a relief to win against Johnie Berntsson and then Chris Poole," Monnin said. "Now we hope to keep the momentum up." Hood remained undeterred: "We needed to come out and get it done and had a good race with Bjorn Hansen to make it through. We'll come out swinging against Eric tomorrow." Sunday's final will decide the winner of the Crimson Blazer at a regatta that has shaped match racing since 1965. Crews of six or seven compete in identical Catalina 37s, with 10 teams from seven nations taking part this year.
The Star
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Sailing–Four-way dogfight for Congressional Cup semis as Berntsson surges
LONG BEACH, California (Reuters) -Four teams are locked in a knife-edge battle for the final semi-final slots at the 60th Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup, with just two flights remaining in the double round-robin stage. A single point separates four skippers in a high-stakes contest that has turned one of yacht racing's most prestigious events into a nautical cliffhanger. Johnie Berntsson, the 2009 champion, roared back into contention with six wins from seven races in the second round-robin. A crucial victory over local favourite Dave Hood handed the Swede a vital head-to-head advantage, lifting him into a tie for fifth on a 9–7 record alongside compatriot Björn Hansen. 'We're happy with how the progress is going, and we're going to build on that to get to the semi-finals, and then from there, we'll just keep getting better,' said Berntsson. 'But first, we have two important races. I'm not sure about the math and what we need to do, or if it depends on the outcome of others. It's all quite open. And that's great in some kind of way, but it means we need to be on our game to win.' Australia's Cole Tapper and the USA's Hood are tied for third and fourth with identical 10–6 records. With only two races remaining per team, the race for the final four remains wide open. 'We had a really strong start to the regatta, so we're happy with that. We are chasing more performance, we're not thinking too much about who we're racing or the points,' said Tapper. 'We're just trying to raise our level every day, and I think we've done that for the most part. But we're still making a few mistakes. So, if we can make fewer mistakes than today, we'll be happy.' Saturday's matches will be decisive, with Hansen facing Hood while Berntsson meets Switzerland's Eric Monnin. Currently second overall, Monnin will also race front-runner Chris Poole and Berntsson in pivotal contests for the final standings. The day concluded with the annual Junior Congressional Cup at Long Beach Yacht Club, where junior LBYC sailors were paired with Congressional Cup skippers for a lively fleet race in Flying Juniors — a traditional highlight of the week. Spectators packed the club's balcony, cheering with occasional blasts from air horns as LBYC junior Otto Wehner and Pete Nicolas of the Berntsson Sailing Team claimed victory. Racing continues on Saturday with the remaining semi-finals ahead of the final match, where the top two teams will duel for the coveted Crimson Blazer. The Congressional Cup, a cornerstone of the World Match Racing Tour since 1965, is a high-octane sailing showdown that helped shape the sport's modern rules and umpiring. Crews of six or seven compete in identical Catalina 37s for the Crimson Blazer, making it both a fan favourite and a launchpad for future America's Cup stars - all while keeping team weight under 525 kg. Ten teams from the United States, Switzerland, Australia, Sweden, France, Canada and Italy are competing in this year's Cup. (Writing by Ossian Shine; editing by Mark Heinrich)
Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Sailing–Four-way dogfight for Congressional Cup semis as Berntsson surges
LONG BEACH, California - Four teams are locked in a knife-edge battle for the final semi-final slots at the 60th Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup, with just two flights remaining in the double round-robin stage. A single point separates four skippers in a high-stakes contest that has turned one of yacht racing's most prestigious events into a nautical cliffhanger. Johnie Berntsson, the 2009 champion, roared back into contention with six wins from seven races in the second round-robin. A crucial victory over local favourite Dave Hood handed the Swede a vital head-to-head advantage, lifting him into a tie for fifth on a 9–7 record alongside compatriot Björn Hansen. 'We're happy with how the progress is going, and we're going to build on that to get to the semi-finals, and then from there, we'll just keep getting better,' said Berntsson. 'But first, we have two important races. I'm not sure about the math and what we need to do, or if it depends on the outcome of others. It's all quite open. And that's great in some kind of way, but it means we need to be on our game to win.' Australia's Cole Tapper and the USA's Hood are tied for third and fourth with identical 10–6 records. With only two races remaining per team, the race for the final four remains wide open. 'We had a really strong start to the regatta, so we're happy with that. We are chasing more performance, we're not thinking too much about who we're racing or the points,' said Tapper. 'We're just trying to raise our level every day, and I think we've done that for the most part. But we're still making a few mistakes. So, if we can make fewer mistakes than today, we'll be happy.' Saturday's matches will be decisive, with Hansen facing Hood while Berntsson meets Switzerland's Eric Monnin. Currently second overall, Monnin will also race front-runner Chris Poole and Berntsson in pivotal contests for the final standings. The day concluded with the annual Junior Congressional Cup at Long Beach Yacht Club, where junior LBYC sailors were paired with Congressional Cup skippers for a lively fleet race in Flying Juniors — a traditional highlight of the week. Spectators packed the club's balcony, cheering with occasional blasts from air horns as LBYC junior Otto Wehner and Pete Nicolas of the Berntsson Sailing Team claimed victory. Racing continues on Saturday with the remaining semi-finals ahead of the final match, where the top two teams will duel for the coveted Crimson Blazer. The Congressional Cup, a cornerstone of the World Match Racing Tour since 1965, is a high-octane sailing showdown that helped shape the sport's modern rules and umpiring. Crews of six or seven compete in identical Catalina 37s for the Crimson Blazer, making it both a fan favourite and a launchpad for future America's Cup stars - all while keeping team weight under 525 kg. Ten teams from the United States, Switzerland, Australia, Sweden, France, Canada and Italy are competing in this year's Cup. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Sailing-Monnin surges into second at Congressional Cup
LONG BEACH, California (Reuters) - -Switzerland's Eric Monnin delivered a masterclass in match racing at the 60th Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup on Thursday, sweeping all three races to surge into second place. The Swiss skipper, twice a third-place finisher at the prestigious event, now sits at 10–2 behind defending champion Chris Poole of the United States (11–1) as the second qualifying round-robin gets underway. "We had some tight matches and tight situations, but everything went well today, which we're really happy about and is a big credit to the crew," said Monnin, whose flawless day included a victory over tournament leader Poole. "There's a lot of racing left, so we need to keep the momentum going," he said. While Monnin found his groove, Sweden's Johnie Berntsson also discovered a rich vein of form, winning all three of his second round-robin matches after finishing the first round in seventh position. "We're learning a lot, and everyone is working really hard from the front to the back of the boat," Berntsson said. "Today we got some more points, and I'm happy with how we're developing. But there are still things to do and improve on." The leaderboard continues to tighten, with Australia's Cole Tapper and local hopeful Dave Hood remaining firmly in contention after strong first-round performances, while Sweden's Björn Hansen hovers within striking distance in fifth. Poole's Riptide Racing team, meanwhile, remains the benchmark, with just a single defeat marring their title defence so far. Only the top four teams after the double round-robin format – where each skipper faces every opponent twice – will advance to the semi-finals and have a chance to don the tournament's coveted Crimson Blazer. The Congressional Cup, a cornerstone of the World Match Racing Tour since 1965, is a high-octane sailing showdown in Long Beach that helped shape the sport's modern rules and umpiring. Crews of six or seven battle it out in identical Catalina 37s for the Crimson Blazer, making it both a fan favourite and a launchpad for future America's Cup stars — all while keeping team weight under 525 kg. (Reporting by Ossian Shine; Editing by Joe Bavier)
