{"id":3811,"date":"2023-04-25T07:14:30","date_gmt":"2023-04-25T07:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/?p=3811"},"modified":"2023-04-30T02:32:28","modified_gmt":"2023-04-30T02:32:28","slug":"chris-poole-wins-the-congressional-cup-at-lbyc-undefeated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/2023\/04\/25\/chris-poole-wins-the-congressional-cup-at-lbyc-undefeated\/","title":{"rendered":"Chris Poole wins the Congressional Cup at LBYC  &#8211; undefeated!"},"content":{"rendered":"<body>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230418_1999.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3813\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230418_1999-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230418_1999-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230418_1999-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230418_1999-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230418_1999-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Congressional Cup, Day One. Long Beach Yacht Club, Belmont Pier, Long Beach, CA. 18th April 2023.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"(Audio 213) Sail Sport Talk with Karen Lile and Rick Tittle: America's Cup Spotlight; Chris Poole\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/821122534?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_220423_5071.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3814\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_220423_5071-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_220423_5071-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_220423_5071-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_220423_5071-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_220423_5071-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">57th Congressional Cup, Finals, Day Five. Belmont Pier, Long Beach, CA. 22nd April 2022.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_6749.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3815\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_6749-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_6749-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_6749-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_6749-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_6749-scaled.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_5912-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3816\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_5912-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_5912-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_5912-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_5912-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_5912-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_5912-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230421_2700.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3817\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">LONG BEACH, CA\u00a0\u00a022 April 2023 \u2013\u00a0\u00a0Invincible! Chris Poole (USA) and Riptide Racing have swept the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup, sailing undefeated in five days of thrilling competition. Jeppe Borch (DEN) finished second, Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL) third.\u00a0<br><br>The Congressional Cup \u2013 a Grade One match race and World Match Racing Tour event, hosted annually by Long Beach Yacht Club since 1965 \u2013 wrapped up today in the waters off the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier.\u00a0Five days of picture-postcard weather; over one hundred rousing, exacting matches; 10 of the\u00a0world\u2019s top ranked match racing skippers; one victor. The final score: 24-0.<br><br>For decades the most talented\u00a0sailors from around the globe have convened to compete in this prestigious one-design match race regatta. And no-one can recall a time in history that any skipper has won every single match. Until now.<br><br>\u201cI\u2019m still in disbelief that we sailed the perfect regatta: I don\u2019t think it gets any better than that,\u201d said Poole, who claimed victory in his fifth attempt at the Congressional Cup trophy. \u201cTo be a part of the winner\u2019s circle of this event, at this club, is an incredible honor. It\u2019s the only Grade One in the U.S. and one of the most historic match races in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sailing with Poole, under the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club burgee, were Matt Cornwell, Luke Payne,\u00a0\u00a0Malcolm Parker, Bernardo Freitas, and tactician Joachim Aschenbrenner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">World Sailing ranks Poole as the number one match racing skipper in the world. But a Congressional Cup title has evaded him in a decade of trying.\u00a0Poole first arrived at LBYC in 2013 where he finished seventh in the Ficker Cup. He was remembered by some as an over-eager, even abrasive, 24-year-old. \u201cWhen he first came to LBYC he would yell and scream at everybody,\u201d chuckled Bob Piercy, Chairman of the 2023 Congressional Cup. \u201cI\u2019ve watched Chris mature over the years to where he is now: so polite, cool and collected. It\u2019s been a treat to watch that evolve.\u201d<br><br>\u201cAnd this whole season, almost everywhere he went, he seemed to be coming out on top,\u201d Piercy added. \u201cAs the 2022 winner of the Grand Slam series his was my first invitation to the 2023 Congressional Cup. I got the letter out that evening: my only regret was I didn\u2019t get to hand it to him in person. And now this result: it\u2019s amazing!\u201d<br><br>In fact Long Beach Yacht Club and Congressional Cup take some pride in Poole\u2019s metamorphosis. This event is more family and fraternity, than callous rivalry.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019ve definitely enjoyed this journey, from my first Ficker Cup 10 years ago,\u201d Poole said. \u201cAnd 2019 was a pivotal year for me, a big shift and a big evolution, and that has kept progressing.\u201d Finishing third in 2022, he vowed to return to \u2018finish what they started last year,\u2019 adding, \u201cI would love to have a Crimson Blazer,\u201d \u2013 an icon similar to the green jacket at The Masters.\u00a0<br><br>Donning that sport coat at the prizegiving tonight, to a standing ovation, Poole choked up. \u201cTo sail a perfect regatta, and at this event, is truly a moment that will stay with me for the rest of my life. It\u2019s a humbling experience.\u201c<br><br>At this high level of competition, it\u2019s nearly unheard of to have one team dominate the entire event. \u201cThis was just a phenomenal effort by Chris Poole and Riptide Racing,\u201d said James Pleasance, Executive Director of the World Match Racing Tour. \u201cHe\u2019s been working on this tour a number of years and done a load of events, getting better and better. I\u2019m so pleased for him to get a win of a tour event, in his home country, and one as prestigious as the Congressional Cup. And to go undefeated the whole way through is a testament to his work, his crew\u2019s work, and everything he\u2019s put into this: the effort and time and travel. What an amazing achievement!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today\u2019s racing took place after a two-hour postponement, with the first match commencing in six knots of wind from the southwest. The breeze was light but not the action. Egnot-Johnson had slipped into the semifinals in a tiebreaker with Eric Monnin (SUI) and bowed to Borch in yesterday\u2019s semis. Squaring off against Ian Williams (GBR) in today\u2019s first match of the petit final, Egnot-Johnson trailed Williams around the course. Splitting on the downwind leg, they approached the finish line on opposite boards. Out of the blue came the Kiwis, sailing a hotter angle, to capture the first win. They would see victory in the second match as well, to secure bronze in the 2023 Congressional Cup.<br><br>Poole and Borch\u2019s matches started fiery as well. Within seconds of entering the box Poole had a protest on Borch. Spinnakers up and down, picking their way through the spectator fleet \u2026 Poole was off the line precisely with Borch astern. Poole took the first\u00a0\u00a0match with seeming ease.<br><br>\u00a0In the second match Borch returned the favor, delivering Poole a penalty in the prestart. It was immaterial. Riptide Racing was smoother, faster, higher, from pole to pole. Between races the teams had even swapped boats \u2013 a custom fleet of Catalina 37s \u2013 to guarantee evenness. Poole dispensed swift justice in all three matches to take the victory in the final.<br><br>\u201cIt\u2019s been a great week for us and the boys have showed they can really be at the top level of the sport,\u201d said 25-year-old Borch, whose second-place finish in his second Congressional Cup appearance was impressive.\u00a0\u201cChris Poole and his team were amazing: they had the speed, they had the tactics, and we just didn\u2019t have an answer for them today. But that\u2019s why we\u2019re here, to get beaten sometimes so we can learn a thing or two and then we can come back stronger.\u201d<br><br>Third place Egnot-Johnson\u00a0declared, \u201cWhat an amazing feeling it is to make it on the podium! This has been a most amazing week for us; we are so stoked to be here.\u201d<br><br>As a traditional consolation event for the six teams who didn\u2019t make the semifinals LBYC holds a fleet race: a scenic sail around Long Beach harbor, with prize money at the end. In light zephyrs and bright sunshine, with Lionel Ritchie warbling from speakers on the pier where hundreds of spectators had gathered, Eric Monnin (SUI) graced across the finish line of that race with a handsome lead. Megan Thomson (NZL) and Johnie Berntsson (SWE) followed second and third.<br><br>As much as the world-class competition and dedication to race management is the hallmark of Congressional Cup, the event is not just about the on-the-water matches. It\u2019s the venue. It\u2019s the yacht club. It\u2019s the people.<br><br>An army of over 300 volunteers pitch in to make the Congressional Cup a success each year. \u201cMy job is easy because of all the volunteers who so generously donate their time, year after year, to make this one of the most remarkable, sought-after events on the circuit,\u201d said Piercy.\u00a0<br><br>Congressional Cup is like an all-inclusive vacation (with the addition of competition) for sailors. LBYC club members accommodate racers and officials in their homes. Meals, transport and encouragement are provided, friendships form. It\u2019s a holistic approach to the sport, from post-race massages to family-style dinners to the Junior Congressional Cup: which pairs up LBYC Junior sailors with Congressional Cup skippers for fun but serious CFJ racing on the bay. The warmth and welcome are legendary.<br><br>\u201cI\u2019ve felt spoiled, honestly spoiled, during my time at LBYC,\u201d said Megan Thomson (NZL)\u00a0\u00a0whose second place finish in Ficker Cup qualified her for Congressional Cup. \u201cSeriously I\u2019ve had a blast!\u201d<br><br>\u201cLBYC has been fantastic as usual,\u201d added Poole. \u201cEveryone loves to race here: the conditions are phenomenal and the hospitality, parties, are second to none. We have never come here and not had a great time.\u201d<br><br>Harry Price (AUS) even gave a shout-out to \u2018Larry the Bagel guy\u2019 \u2013 one of the servers at the lavish breakfast buffet offered each morning. It is a home-away-from-home for the participants who come each year, making it the most coveted regatta in the world.\u00a0<br><br>Complete results and highlights of the 2023 Long Beach Congressional Cup regatta can be found at\u00a0www.thecongressionalcup.com\u00a0\u00a0For more information on the World Match Racing Tour go to\u00a0www.wmrt.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SST: Taking the world of Sail\u00a0into International Main\u00a0Stream 24\/7 Sports Talk\u00a0broadcasting since 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LONG BEACH, CA\u00a0\u00a022 April 2023 \u2013\u00a0\u00a0Invincible! Chris Poole (USA) and Riptide Racing have swept the Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup, sailing undefeated in five days of thrilling competition. Jeppe Borch (DEN) finished second, Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL) third.\u00a0 The Congressional Cup \u2013 a Grade One match race and World Match Racing Tour event, hosted annually by Long Beach Yacht Club since 1965 \u2013 wrapped up today in the waters off the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier.\u00a0Five days of picture-postcard weather; over one hundred rousing, exacting matches; 10 of the\u00a0world\u2019s top ranked match racing skippers; one victor. The final score: 24-0. For&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3815,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,181],"tags":[577,576,142,45,143,53,44,119],"class_list":["post-3811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-long-beach-yacht-club","category-recognitions","tag-bravo-zulu","tag-chris-poole","tag-karen-lile","tag-racing","tag-rick-tittle","tag-sail-sport-talk","tag-sailing","tag-sailing-community"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sailsporttalk.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Roman_230422_6749-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3811"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3811\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3825,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3811\/revisions\/3825"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sailsporttalk.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}