Johnie Berntsson began his sailing career in an Optimist dinghy at the age of 9, but quickly jumped over to a keelboat broaden the competition arena, first within Sweden and then within Europe.

Johnie made his entrance to match racing in 1997 and has been progressing up the match racing ladder ever since. won Swedish (2022), Scandinavian and European championships.

In February 2012, the Swedish Sailing Federation crowned Berntsson and his team “Swedish Sailors of the Year.”

Johnie is a two-time winner of the Argo Group Gold Cup (2008, 2014) and came runner up in the Gold Cup in 2018.

Johnie is returning for his 13th Congressional Cup appearance, seeking his second Crimson Blazer.

Crew:

Herman Andersson, Martin Berntsson, Anders Dahlsjö, Robert Skarp, Patrik Sturesson

Past Results:

1 Ficker Cup ‘16

2 Ficker Cup ‘18

6 Congressional Cup ‘06

2 Congressional Cup ‘07

2 Congressional Cup ‘08

1 Congressional Cup ‘09

7 Congressional Cup ‘11

8 Congressional Cup ‘12

7 Congressional Cup ‘14

9 Congressional Cup ‘16

2 Congressional Cup ‘17

4 Congressional Cup ‘18

4 Congressional Cup ‘19

2 Congressional Cup ‘21

4 Congressional Cup ‘22

1 Swedish Championship Open MR ’22, Langedra, SWE

1 WMRT GKSS Spring Cup ’22, Langedra, SWE

1 Swedish Championship Open MR / GKSS Autumn Cup ’21, Langedra, SWE

8 Bermuda Gold Cup ’20, Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, BER

LONG BEACH YACHT CLUB 
Established in 1929, Long Beach Yacht Club is recognized as a leader in the international yachting community for its commitment to excellence in yacht racing and innovation in race management. In addition to hosting the Congressional Cup and numerous other local, national and international yachting events, the Club’s member families enjoy a year-round calendar of social, yachting and junior activities at its beautiful clubhouse on the shore of Alamitos Bay. 

WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR 
Founded in 2000, the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) promotes the sport of match racing around the world and is the longest running global professional series in the sport of sailing. The WMRT is awarded ‘Special Event’ status by the sport’s world governing body – World Sailing – and the winner of the WMRT each year is crowned World Sailing Match Racing World Champion. Previous champions include Sir Ben Ainslie (GBR), Taylor Canfield (USA), Peter Gilmour (AUS), Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Peter Holmberg (ISV), Adam Minoprio (NZL), Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Bertrand Pace (FRA), Jesper Radich (DEN), Phil Robertson (NZL) and Ian Williams (GBR).

Since 2000, the World Match Racing Tour and its events have awarded over USD23million in prize money to sailors which has helped to contribute to the career pathway of many of today’s professional sailors.