Long Beach Yacht Club moves prestigious Congressional Cup sailing races to fall
By Orange County on January 14, 2021
The Congressional Cup, the most prestigious sailing match on the West Coast, will return in 2021 from a one-year, coronavirus-induced hiatus for its 56th running — but will be pushed to September.
The Congressional Cup, hosted by the Long Beach Yacht Club, will be delayed from its usual spring running to allow it to clear various public health restrictions, such as bans on gatherings, meant to stem the spread of the coronavirus, said Cup Chairman Chip Macy.
The Ficker Cup qualifier will take place Sept. 10 to Sept. 12 off the Long Beach coast, between the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier and the Port of Long Beach, the Yacht Club announced Wednesday, Jan. 13. Congressional Cup matches will run from Sept. 15 to Sept. 19.
Ian Williams stays ahead of Scott Dickson in the finals of the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup Sunday, April 7, 2019. The Congressional Cup will return to Long Beach Yacht Club for its 56th year in September 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Ian Williams makes a turn near the pier as he competes in the finals of the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup Sunday, April 7, 2019. The Congressional Cup will return to Long Beach Yacht Club for its 56th year in September 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
L-R Teams Williams and Poole at the start of day three of competition in the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup held off the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier in Long Beach on Friday, April 5, 2019. The Congressional Cup will return to Long Beach Yacht Club for its 56th year in September 2021. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Day three of competition in the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup held off the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier in Long Beach on Friday, April 5, 2019. At the start of the day team Berntsson is in the lead winning 11 of their races. The Congressional Cup will return to Long Beach Yacht Club for its 56th year in September 2021. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Spectators takes in the start for teams Price and Berntsson during the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup held off the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier in Long Beach on Friday, April 5, 2019. The Congressional Cup will return to Long Beach Yacht Club for its 56th year in September 2021. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Scott Dickson and crew take a victory lap past the Belmont pier after taking second place in the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup Sunday, April 7, 2019. The Congressional Cup will return to Long Beach Yacht Club for its 56th year in September 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
With spinnakers out the fleet race heads for the finish line with the skyline of Long Beach as the background at the start of the 50th Congressional Cup Sunday, April 10, 2014. The Congressional Cup will return to Long Beach Yacht Club for its 56th year in September 2021. (Michael Goulding, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Crew members guide the skippers through a tight start of the consolation fleet race which started the events Sunday at the 50th Congressional Cup in Long Beach April 10,2014. The Congressional Cup will return to Long Beach Yacht Club for its 56th year in September 2021. (Michael Goulding, Orange County Register/SCNG)
L-R Teams Dackhammar and Canfield at the start of day three of competition in the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup held off the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier in Long Beach on Friday, April 5, 2019. The Congressional Cup will return to Long Beach Yacht Club for its 56th year in September 2021. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Scott Dickson and Ian Williams boats get a little two close as they compete in the finals of the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup race Sunday, April 7, 2019. The Congressional Cup will return to Long Beach Yacht Club for its 56th year in September 2021. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
A clear beautiful day for a racing competition at the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup held off the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier in Long Beach on Friday, April 5, 2019. The Congressional Cup will return to Long Beach Yacht Club for its 56th year in September 2021. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The races are free to spectators, with the best view from the pier, where the Yacht Club sets up a grandstand. A play-by-play announcer, also based on the pier, explains what’s going on during the races.
There will be more races the weekend after the Congressional Cup, but on land: The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, also normally a springtime event, is scheduled to take place from Sept. 24 to Sept. 26 after its own one-year hiatus.
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