Monnin Victorious in Long Beach to win 60th Anniversary Congressional Cup
by World Match Racing Tour 5 May 2025 06:02 BST
April 30 – May 4, 2025
Switzerland's Eric Monnin, Capvis Swiss Match Racing, celebrate their win with crew Ute Monnin Wagner, Mathieu Renault, Jean-Claude Monnin, Simon Brügger, Julien Falxa, Maxime Mesnil win the 60th Congressional Cup © Ian Roman / WMRT
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 Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup on Sunday, stage three of the 2025 World Match Racing Tour season. Monnin defeated defending Congressional Cup champion, USA's Chris Poole 3-2 in a closely contested final.
The final series between Monnin and Poole delivered some of the closest racing of the week, with the score trading back and forth. Poole was the first to put a point on the board before Monnin responded with two wins to take the lead. Poole evened the score in race four, setting up a decisive fifth and final match for the title.
The deciding final race was about as close as it could get. Monnin was penalized off the start but stayed close in the light and variable breeze. At the first windward mark, Poole clipped the mark, earning a penalty of his own and clearing Monnin's. From there, it was a game of inches. Down the final run, with Monnin leading, the boats split gybes at the bottom of the course. Poole caught a late puff to close the gap, but Monnin held on to cross the line ahead and secure his first Crimson Blazer.
"Chris put a lot of pressure on us, and we were close to cracking under the it," explained Monnin. "But winning this regatta is a big step for us. It's a big deal, and it means a lot to do it with this crew."
The battle for the final podium spot came down to the wire as well. Australia's Cole Tapper and his CYCA Youth Sailing Academy and USA's Dave Hood, DH3 Racing, delivered an equally exciting semi-final series that went to the last race, with the young Australian team edging out as Hood picked up a costly penalty at the final top mark. Tapper's third-place finish marks a major leap from his team's eighth-place result in their Congressional Cup debut last year, as they round out the podium.
Australia's Cole Tapper, CYCA Youth Sailing Academy, crew of Jack Frewin, Max Brennan, Hamish Vass, Nathan Gulliksen, andGeorge Richardson, lead the pre-start. Photo: Ian Roman/WMRT
Earlier in the day for the semi-finals, Monnin entered with a 2-0 advantage over Hood. Hood took the first match of the day to keep the series alive, but Monnin sealed the deal in the fourth race. Hood was leading into the finish, but carrying a penalty. Their only option was to clear it around the finish pin, but Monnin stayed close enough behind and crossed the line just moments ahead to advance to the final.
It was an action-packed final day of racing in Long Beach, closing out a landmark 60th anniversary edition of the Congressional Cup. From start to finish, the event reaffirmed its status as one of the world's elite match racing regattas.
Rewatch the action on World Match Racing Tour and Congressional Cup social media and YouTube channels.
For more information, visit www.thecongressionalcup.com or wmrt.com.
Overall Results: