As the people are eagerly awaiting the Long Beach Grand Prix the waterfront will be transformed to a battle arena for the water giants as the Long Beach yacht club is set to host its 50th Annual Congressional Cup this year. Also known to most as the “Granddaddy of Match Racing”. This is one of the most famous and the oldest yacht racings held in America and have some of the biggest names on the contender list.
In 1977, the Crimson Blazer was seized by Ted Turner, the current billionaire and founder or CNN. Seems like this was just his warm-up, since he went on to win the America’s Cup the very same year. “Mr. America’s Cup”, San Diegan Dennis Conner won the first Congressional Cup in 1974 and then in 1976. This is a race that brings together word’s best sailors in long beach this time of the year.
This tradition started in 1965, all along it has been a Grade 1 level match, which implies that it can include only the very best sailors and sailing teams from all over the world in the competition. So in totality, about some 60 odd sailors from as far as Australia and as close as Long Beach Yacht Club, will compete in absolutely identical boats off the beach of the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. They will compete in multiple match races starting this Monday and running throughout the week. This shall culminate in the semi-final and final races on the 13th of April. The entire credit of the success and the longevity of the race rest, till date, in the hands of the nearly 300 volunteers, who put it together each year. And only due to their effort, what had started out as a small local event gained world importance and interest.