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    Ficker Cup, qualifier for Congressional Cup regatta, begins in Long Beach
    • April 14, 2023

    The race for the final two spots in the “grandfather of match racing” has set sail.

    The Ficker Cup, a three-day regatta in Long Beach that acts as a qualifier for last available slots in next week’s Congressional Cup, got underway on Friday, April 14.

    The Ficker Cup will continue on Saturday and Sunday.

    The teams of Pearson Potts and Megan Thomson try to avoid colliding during round robin match racing on Friday, Apr. 14, 2023, at the Ficker Cup in Long Beach. The top two finishers this weekend will compete here in next week’s Congressional Cup. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

    The teams of Jeffrey Petersen and Chris Weis compete in round robin match racing on Friday, Apr. 14, 2023, at the Ficker Cup off the Belmont Pier in Long Beach. The top two finishers this weekend will compete here in next week’s Congressional Cup. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer) (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

    A crew member raises the spinnaker for skipper Jeffrey Petersen’s team on Friday, Apr. 14, 2023, at the Ficker Cup off the Belmont Pier in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

    The teams of Ruairi Finnegan and Jeffrey Petersen compete in round robin match racing on Friday, Apr. 14, 2023, at the Ficker Cup off the Belmont Pier in Long Beach. The top two finishers this weekend will compete here in next week’s Congressional Cup. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer) (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

    Skipper Jeffrey Petersen, right, and his crew compete in round robin match racing on Friday, Apr. 14, 2023, at the Ficker Cup off the Belmont Pier in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

    Round robin match racing begins on Friday, Apr. 14, 2023, at the Ficker Cup off the Belmont Pier in Long Beach. The top two finishers this weekend will compete here in next week’s Congressional Cup. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

    Round robin match racing begins on Friday, Apr. 14, 2023, at the Ficker Cup off the Belmont Pier in Long Beach. The top two finishers this weekend will compete here in next week’s Congressional Cup. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

    Round robin match racing begins on Friday, Apr. 14, 2023, at the Ficker Cup off the Belmont Pier in Long Beach. The top two finishers this weekend will compete here in next week’s Congressional Cup. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

    Round robin match racing begins on Friday, Apr. 14, 2023, at the Ficker Cup off the Belmont Pier in Long Beach. The top two finishers this weekend will compete here in next week’s Congressional Cup. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

    Round robin match racing begins on Friday, Apr. 14, 2023, at the Ficker Cup off the Belmont Pier in Long Beach. The top two finishers this weekend will compete here in next week’s Congressional Cup. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

    Round robin match racing begins on Friday, Apr. 14, 2023, at the Ficker Cup in Long Beach harbor. The top two finishers this weekend will compete here in next week’s Congressional Cup. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

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    Eight sailing crews took their Catalina 37 yachts on to the waters off the Belmont Pier for the first of two round robins on Friday. A second round robin — during which every team sails against each of the other competitors one at a time — will take place on Saturday.

    The semifinals and the finals will take place on Sunday.

    Through Saturday’s first five flights — there are seven total in each round robin — only the crew led by American Jeffrey Petersen had a perfect record, as of about 3 p.m. Five other crews — those captained by Peter Holz (USA), Nicole Breault (USA), Pearson Potts (USA), Megan Thomson (New Zealand) and Christopher Weis (USA) — were tied with three wins each.

    The teams led by Dave Hood (USA) and Ruairi Finnegan (Republic of Ireland) had not yet won a match.

    But there was still plenty of time for them to catch up.

    The Congressional Cup, meanwhile, will take place from Tuesday to Saturday, April 18 to 22.

    ​ Orange County Register 

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