Switzerlandâs Eric Monnin and his Capvis Swiss Match Racing Team of Ute Monnin Wagner, Mathieu Renault, Jean-Claude Monnin, Simon BrĂźgger, Julien Falxa, and Maxime Mesnil today clinched a long awaited win of the 60th Anniversary Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup, stage three of the 2025 World Match Racing Tour season.
Monnin defeated defending Congressional Cup champion, USAâs 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 Monninâs. 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.
âChris put a lot of pressure on us, and we were close to cracking under the it,â explained Monnin. âBut winning this regatta is a big step for us. Itâs a big deal, and it means a lot to do it with this crew.â
The battle for the final podium spot came down to the wire as well. Australiaâs Cole Tapper and his CYCA Youth Sailing Academy and USAâs 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. Tapperâs third-place finish marks a major leap from his teamâs eighth-place result in their Congressional Cup debut last year, as they round out the podium.
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 worldâs elite match racing regattas.
