Ficker Cup Match Racing at Long Beach Yacht Club

Bill Ficker presents his namesake trophy to Johnie Berntsson and Team FLUX - Ficker Cup presented by Porsche © Betsy Crowfoot

Umpire Stephen Van Dyck – who called winning tactics for America's Cup skipper Bill Ficker – called it some of the most impressive Ficker Cup presented by Porsche racing he's seen.

"This is an extremely high level of competition; as great as I've seen in this event," said the America's Cup Hall of Famer. As racers jockeyed for the esteemed trophy into the late afternoon, Van Dyck added, "It's very impressive, the standards the competitors have risen to."

Spectators agreed: it was some of the most thrilling, and unpredictable racing, in the 16 year history of the Grade Two regatta. In the end, Johnie Berntsson (SWE) slid by Scott Dickson (USA) in a final, tenuous match – where leads changed at every mark – to win the Ficker Cup Presented by Porsche trophy, and a berth in the Congressional Cup, April 6 to 10.

"It's a very good preview of what's to come next week," conceded Dickson, who as first runner up also earns a spot in the Congressional Cup. "We knew Johnie would be hard to beat, but it's been a wonderful weekend of racing, with great weather, competition, and a great job by the Race Committee."

While Berntsson may be the first Congressional Cup winner (2009) to come back through the ranks to earn a berth via the Ficker Cup Presented by Porsche, Dickson may also be approaching a record-breaker, as he enters the Congressional Cup for the 16th time.

"We always know, whatever teams come out of the Ficker Cup Presented by Porsche, have battled hard, and are well-prepared for Congressional Cup," Dickson said, pleased with his team's results, and looking forward to next week.

Sunday's weather and competition was brisk from the get-go. As winner of the round robins, Berntsson had elected to race Matthew Jerwood (AUS): at 23, already ranked 6th in the world.

But David Storrs (USA) was wielding a secret weapon: Taylor Canfield and his USOne Sailing Team were crewing for the Pequot Yacht Club skipper; so Berntsson left Storrs to square off against Dickson. Almost immediately Storrs lured Dickson into a foul. Dickson quickly followed suit, evening the score. It would set the tone for the day's races, a series of contentious battles beneath hazy California skies with breezes that built to the mid-teens, before shifting and waning in the final flights.

It was a day of close finishes, and close calls – with boats sparring so close to the 490-meter pier, spectators were on their tippy toes, reaching out to touch the sails. The breath-taking starts were made even more exciting by Peter Holz – eliminated from Ficker Cup Presented by Porsche in the round robins – who provided an enthusiastic and animated commentary alongside emcee Steve Steiner.

In the semi-finals Berntsson' prowess on the helm dispatched Jerwood 3-1; but Dickson and Storrs would go a full five matches before Dickson triumphed at last.

A radical wind shift saw the postponement of the finals, and a reduction to 'best of three' races. Berntsson took the first, Dickson the second, but as the sea breeze yielded to the offshore puffs, it became "a minefield," said Dickson. "Conditions were anything but predictable," he added, as he and Berntsson traded leads 'til the final downwind leg, when fate handed the win to Berntsson.

"It took a while for us to get into the time zone and race mode and this configuration," Berntsson said, referring to the custom designed fleet of Catalina 37 sloops. "I was struggling a bit with my starts, and not happy with getting off the line." "Our gaol is to win the Congressional Cup," he added, admitting it will be "tough" – but feeling his Swedish Team FLUX has an edge, with three days of racing under their belt.

At the prize giving at Long Beach Yacht Club (LBYC), a dapper Bill Ficker – wearing his Crimson Blazer from his 1974 Congressional Cup win victory – greeted the sailors and presented his namesake trophy. The Ficker Cup Presented by Porsche was established by LBYC in 1980 to honour Ficker, winning skipper of the 1970 America's Cup and Star boat champion, and is a highly regarded World Sailing Grade Two and World Match Racing Tour event.

Berntsson and Dickson will go on to compete in the 52nd Congressional Cup regatta, to be held here April 6 to 10.

Final results of Ficker Cup presented by Porsche:

1. Johnie Berntsson SWE
2. Scott Dickson USA
3. David Storrs USA
4. Matthew Jerwood AUS
5. Evan Walker AUS
6. Dustin Durant USA
7. Steve Natvig USA
8. Peter Holz USA