Congressional Cup Match Racing Event

The 48th annual running of the Congressional Cup, one of the oldest and most prestigious match race sailing events in the world, is scheduled March 27-31 (Tuesday through Saturday). The one-on-one match race format, as used in the America’s Cup, is raced over a short course with intense action as close as physically possible to spectators on the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. Admission to the pier is FREE and open to the public, with limited grandstand seating. Snacks, refreshments and comfort stations are available. For most of its history, the Congressional Cup has been the only Grade 1 match race regatta sailed in the United States. Each boat sails against every other boat at least twice in a round-robin format, starting at five-minute intervals, for 90 total races over five days to determine the four semifinalists. The final four will race for the event's unique prize---the Crimson Blazer---on Saturday. Racing starts daily at 12 noon and usually runs until 5 p.m. The boats, provided by the Long Beach Sailing Foundation, are identical Catalina 37s, with crews of six. There are no technical advantages. Close calls and extreme boat maneuvering in the pre-start sequence are essential in establishing the lead advantage at the start. Follow the thrilling action of these world-class athletes with live commentary!