Jeffrey Petersen undefeated on day one of ficker cup regatta

Jeffrey Petersen (USA) was undefeated on Day One of the Ficker Cup: a Grade Two regatta hosted by Long Beach Yacht Club, precursor to Congressional Cup, and 2023 World Match Racing Tour opener. Eight teams are competing in the three-day event and also include: Nicole Breault (USA): Ruairi Finnegan (IRL), Peter Holz (USA), Dave Hood (USA), Pearson Potts (USA), Megan Thomson (NZL), and Christopher Weis (USA).

Ficker Cup racing commenced this morning beneath sunny skies: an end, hopefully, to the interminable rain that has doused Southern California this year. In cool breezes of 6 to 9 knots Principal Race Officer Wendy Corzine and team pulled off eight matches, "as many races as possible," as she had promised the crowd at the skippers meeting.

Petersen was in top form today, finishing 8-0 and holding at bay Weis, and four-time US Women's Match Race Champion Breault - both of whom finished the day 5-3. No newcomer to Ficker Cup, Petersen's second place finish in Ficker Cup 2021 earned him a spot in Congressional Cup that year, where he finished mid-fleet. Now he hopes to return to the Congressional Cup field and vie for the legendary Crimson Blazer.

Winds remained light and shifty throughout the day as the sailors got into their grooves. Although no-one was shut-out on Day One, it wasn't without challenges.

"We sail mostly smaller boats at home, and this is only my second time driving a boat with a wheel," explained Thomson, who is racing in her first Ficker Cup. "Normally back home we sail Elliott 7s," a seven-meter keelboat with a crewed of three to five, and steered with a tiller.

"But Nick Egnot-Johnson and the KNOTS crew gave me a bit of a nudge to come to Ficker Cup," said Thomson. "They're here for Congressional Cup next week, so it's great practice for them and a terrific opportunity for me to learn off them too. It's a win-win." Her team finished the day with an even 4-4 score.

Also making a Ficker Cup debut was Finnegan and his multi-national team. Combining crew from Spain, Thailand, New Zealand, the US and Ireland has proved no difficulty for Craic'n Racing. Despite multiple tongues the crew has competed in numerous events together. Regarding the Ficker Cup, Finnegan said, "I've heard such good things: the fantastic yacht club, good hosts, sunny weather and obviously great competition. And we're eager to get into the Congressional Cup. It is the 'grandfather of match racing,' they say; with all the best skippers," he emphasized, "So we want to be a part of that!"

This year marks the 43rd running of the Ficker Cup regatta: established by Long Beach Yacht Club to honor sailing legend Bill Ficker, who began his yacht racing career in Newport Beach and helmed Intrepid to victory in the 1970 America's Cup. In addition to being an established and challenging Grade Two sailing event, the Ficker Cup also serves as a qualifier for the Congressional Cup, and will launch the top two finishers into next week's competition April 18 to 22.