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Paul Cayard honoured as winner of the 2026 Magnus Olsson Prize
Paul Cayard, among the most accomplished and respected figures in international sailing, has been awarded the 2026 Magnus Olsson Prize.
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The Long Beach Yacht Club’s crown jewel of match racing, the event that’s been serving up world-class duels since 1965, is set to light up the waters from April 30 to May 4.
Chris Poole and his Riptide Racing mob have got their work cut out for them. Two wins on the bounce and now the chance for the fabled three-peat. It’s a big ask, but Poole’s been in sizzling form, and he knows these Catalina 37s like the back of his hand. The problem? A hungry pack of sharks circling—Sweden’s Johnie Berntsson, a past champ who’s got unfinished business, and Switzerland’s Eric Monnin, a man who’s been knocking louder than a debt collector on the Congressional Cup door for years.
A Field Stacked with Talent and Attitude
The 2025 Congressional Cup roster is looking as juicy as ever. Italy’s Rocco Attili, Australia’s Cole Tapper, and Sweden’s battle-hardened Bjorn Hansen are all suiting up, alongside French dark horse Ian Garreta, fresh off a storming performance in Shenzhen last year. Local pride rests on the broad shoulders of Long Beach Yacht Club’s Dave Hood, while the final two tickets will go to the top finishers from the Ficker Cup—a proper scrap in its own right.
Poole, ever the cool customer, knows what’s at stake but isn’t getting ahead of himself. “We have a chance to go for a three-peat, which is an incredible opportunity at one of the toughest match racing events in the world. But at the end of the day, it’s about taking it one race at a time. As our late coach Dougie Pye would say, ‘Just keep on doing what you know how to do.’” A nice philosophy, but don’t be fooled—this one’s going to be a street fight.
One big name missing from the list? None other than five-time Congressional Cup champ and reigning match racing world champion Ian Williams. The Brit, a maestro of this event, had to bow out this year, leaving the door wide open for a new (or returning) name to carve themselves into the Crimson Blazer hall of fame. Williams put it simply: “The Congressional Cup is one of our favorite stops on the tour. It’s a great shame we won’t be there for the 60th anniversary, but we hope to be back next year.”
Match Racing’s Theatre at Its Absolute Best
The Congressional Cup isn’t just another match racing event—it’s a rite of passage. The roll call of past winners reads like a who’s who of yachting royalty: Ted Turner, Dennis Conner, Peter Gilmour, Dean Barker, Terry Hutchinson… the list goes on. Winning here means something, and every sailor throwing their hat in the ring this year knows it.
For those keen to catch the action, get yourself down to Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier for front-row seats to the drama. Free entry, live commentary, and match racing so tight you’ll be holding your breath. If you can’t make it, no excuses—the whole show will be streamed live from May 2 via YouTube and social media.
Sixty years of world-class match racing, and the Congressional Cup shows no signs of slowing down. With Poole gunning for the history books, former champs eager to take him down, and young guns ready to shake things up, this one’s set to be a belter. Popcorn at the ready—this is going to be box office.
