Cole Tapper has won the 2026 Congressional Cup, defeating defending champion Eric Monnin 3-0 in a dominant final at Long Beach Yacht Club to claim the iconic Crimson Blazer.
Having already stunned round-robin leader Chris Poole in a remarkable semi-final comeback, Tapper left nothing to chance in the final, winning three straight races to deny Monnin any path back into the match. The Swiss skipper, who had himself staged a memorable comeback against Johnie Berntsson in the semis, had no answer to the Australian’s precision on the water.
In the petit-final, Poole accounted for Berntsson 2-0 to take third place.
Tapper’s victory crowns a remarkable week for the Australian. He entered the semi-finals ranked fourth after the double round robin, went two races down against the competition’s dominant performer, and then won five of his last six races to take the title. It is a result that announces him as one of match racing’s elite performers on the world stage.
