Long Beach Yacht Club to host Ficker Cup, April 12-15

Racing kicks off April 13 and pits eight skippers against each other in a round robin event.

LONG BEACH — The eyes of the sailing world will be looking at Long Beach during the middle stretch of April, as Long Beach Yacht Club’s Ficker Cup returns to Southeast Los Angeles County. The offshore racing event will be held April 12-15 in Long Beach, just ahead of the 54th annual Congressional Cup.

Racing at this year’s Ficker Cup will officially begin on April 13 and continue until April 15; the race office will open April 12.

Only eight skippers – all invited by the organizing committee – will participate in the Ficker Cup, which is a World Sailing Grade 2 competition.

The top two winners will receive invitations to the Congressional Cup, which takes place April 17-22.

All teams will compete against each other in Catalina 37 (to be provided by Long Beach YC). Each team will have a crew of 6 or 7.

Stage 1 of the race will be a double round robin, followed by the semifinals in Stage 2 and Petit Final in Stage 3. The fourth stage will be the final.

“The course will be windward/leeward with starboard rounding, finishing downwind,” the event’s Notice of Race stated. “The intended course area will be off Belmont Memorial Pier on the Congressional Cup Stadium Course.”

Prizes and honors will be awarded immediately after racing on April 15. The top three finishers will receive medals, while the first place team will have its name engraved on the Ficker Cup.

Scott Dickson (Dickson Racing Team) won the 2017 Ficker Cup; David Storrs and his Pequot Racing Team finished second.

Long Beach YC established the Ficker Cup of Bill Ficker, who won the 1970 America’s Cup with Intrepid; Ficker also won the Congressional Cup in 1974.

Contact Event Chair Arleen Tolle at 562-433-6669 or tolle161@aol.com for more information; other contacts are Long Beach YC Waterfront Director Rich Roberts, 562-493-5173, or Principal Race Officer John Busch, 562-412-1043.

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