The “granddaddy” of match racing, Congressional Cup, was established in 1965 and pioneered the concept of on-the-water umpiring. This year, 2018, marks 30 years of dispensing instant on-the-water justice.
The 1988 umpire team included Long Beach Yacht Club’s own Kirk Brown and Pete Ives as well as chief umpire Tom Ehman, Bryan Willis, Bob Fisher, Robbie Haynes, Dick Deaver and Göran Petersson.
Congressional Cup runs April 17-22 this year with an all-star, international lineup. Five of the world’s Top 10-ranked match-racing skippers will compete, including three-time Congressional Cup winner from the U.S. Virgin Islands Taylor Canfield, New Zealand’s Chris Steele, and Aussies Harry Price and Sam Gilmour. Swiss sailor Eric Monnin also will return, plus Denmark’s Joachim Aschenbrenner and hometown favorite Scott Dickson.
The reigning Congressional Cup champion, Great Britain’s Ian Williams, will be back to defend his 2017 title.