After four days of tightly contested match racing in Long Beach, California, the 60th Congressional Cup culminated in a dramatic final showdown between Switzerland’s Eric Monnin and the United States’ Chris Poole. Monnin and his team emerged as champions in a nail-biting best-of-five final, winning 3–2 and claiming one of the most prestigious trophies in the sport.
The regatta began with a double round-robin format, delivering surprises from the outset. Day 1 saw defending champion Chris Poole surge to the front with an 8–1 record, his only loss coming at the hands of Monnin. Close behind, Monnin and Australia’s Cole Tapper posted solid 7–2 performances, while local Long Beach sailor Dave Hood rounded out the top four with a 6–3 showing. Further down the field, Canada’s Peter Wickwire and Sweden’s Johnie Berntsson scored unexpected wins that reshuffled early predictions.
Momentum began to shift on Day 2. Monnin remained undefeated, most notably claiming another win over Poole, underlining his crew’s strength in execution and tactics. Berntsson clawed his way back into contention with a clean sweep of his three matches, bouncing up from seventh place. In contrast, Tapper and Hood stumbled, each only securing a single win, which put pressure on their semi-final hopes. Sweden’s Björn Hansen began a quiet push forward with two important wins.
Day 3 proved decisive for the final semi-final spots. Berntsson capitalised with six wins from seven matches, including a key victory over Hood. Hansen matched him on points, setting up an all-Swedish tie-breaker. While Poole and Monnin continued to lead the standings with consistent results, Tapper and Hood found themselves slipping in the rankings.
By Day 4, the field had solidified. Poole finished the round robin with just two losses, topping the table and heading into the semi-finals as the favourite. Monnin followed closely in second, having delivered a well-balanced campaign. Berntsson and Hansen clinched the final two places, edging out Tapper and Hood, who had started strongly but couldn’t sustain their early performance.
In the semi-finals, Poole made short work of Tapper, sweeping the Australian 3–0. Monnin had a tougher path, overcoming Hood 3–1 in a series that showcased his strategic depth. The Petit Final saw Tapper’s crew bounce back with a 2–0 win over Hood, securing third place and salvaging a strong finish after their semi-final disappointment.
The final series between Monnin and Poole was a thrilling encounter. Both skippers traded wins, taking the match to the fifth and final race. Monnin’s Swiss team—comprising Ute Monnin-Wagner, Simon Brügger, Jean-Claude Monnin, Julien Falxa, Mathieu Renault, and Maxime Mesnil—held their nerve in the decider, demonstrating precision and cohesion under pressure to seal the title. It was a deserved win for a team that had shown poise throughout the regatta.
Poole, backed by Malcolm Parker, Harry West, Joachim Aschenbrenner, Rob Scrivenor, and Ben Lamb, delivered a strong defence of his title, falling just short in the final hurdle. Their performances across the week confirmed their standing among the elite of international match racing.
Behind the top four, Sweden’s Berntsson and Hansen finished fifth and sixth respectively. France’s Ian Garreta came in seventh, followed by Canada’s Wickwire in eighth. USA’s Nicole Breault placed ninth, while Italy’s Rocco Attili rounded out the top ten.
The 60th edition of the Congressional Cup upheld its legacy for competitive, high-stakes match racing. Monnin’s name now joins a distinguished list of past champions, with a full event report set to explore the week’s key tactical moments and team strategies in more depth.
