LONG BEACH, California (Reuters) - -Switzerland's Eric Monnin delivered a masterclass in match racing at the 60th Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup on Thursday, sweeping all three races to surge into second place.
The Swiss skipper, twice a third-place finisher at the prestigious event, now sits at 10–2 behind defending champion Chris Poole of the United States (11–1) as the second qualifying round-robin gets underway.
"We had some tight matches and tight situations, but everything went well today, which we're really happy about and is a big credit to the crew," said Monnin, whose flawless day included a victory over tournament leader Poole.
"There's a lot of racing left, so we need to keep the momentum going," he said.
While Monnin found his groove, Sweden's Johnie Berntsson also discovered a rich vein of form, winning all three of his second round-robin matches after finishing the first round in seventh position.
"We're learning a lot, and everyone is working really hard from the front to the back of the boat," Berntsson said. "Today we got some more points, and I'm happy with how we're developing. But there are still things to do and improve on."
The leaderboard continues to tighten, with Australia's Cole Tapper and local hopeful Dave Hood remaining firmly in contention after strong first-round performances, while Sweden's Björn Hansen hovers within striking distance in fifth.
Poole's Riptide Racing team, meanwhile, remains the benchmark, with just a single defeat marring their title defence so far.
Only the top four teams after the double round-robin format – where each skipper faces every opponent twice – will advance to the semi-finals and have a chance to don the tournament's coveted Crimson Blazer.
The Congressional Cup, a cornerstone of the World Match Racing Tour since 1965, is a high-octane sailing showdown in Long Beach that helped shape the sport's modern rules and umpiring.
Crews of six or seven battle it out in identical Catalina 37s for the Crimson Blazer, making it both a fan favourite and a launchpad for future America's Cup stars — all while keeping team weight under 525 kg.
(Reporting by Ossian Shine; Editing by Joe Bavier)
