Scotty Dickson of Long Beach Yacht Club has claimed the Ficker Cup for a record-setting 15th time, rounding out three days of international match racing on the Congressional Cup Stadium Course in Long Beach, California.
The Ficker Cup dates to 1980, established in honour of Bill Ficker, the helmsman who guided Intrepid to America's Cup glory in 1970 and won the Congressional Cup in 1974. The phrase "Ficker is Quicker" has since become one of the most enduring expressions in match racing.
Dickson was dominant from the outset, compiling a 6-1 record on day one and finishing the double round robin at 11-3 to sit at the head of the fleet going into the knockout rounds. His form held through Sunday's finals. Theo Westerlind of Sweden was swept aside 3-0 in the semi-final, and Dickson then accounted for compatriot Oscar Engström (SWE) 3-0 in the final, completing the knockout rounds without dropping a single race.
Engström had reached the final by edging out Christopher Weis (USA) in the other semi-final, while Weis secured third place with a 2-0 win over Westerlind in the petit final. The trophy was presented by Deon McDonald, daughter of Bill Ficker, the legendary yachtsman the event honours.
Congressional Cup Chairman Tom Camp spoke to the significance of Dickson's achievement: "We are incredibly proud to have one of our own not only qualify, but dominate the Ficker Cup and earn his place in the Congressional Cup. It is something truly special. His performance this week was exceptional, and it reflects the standard of excellence this event, and this club, have represented for decades. He will be a strong contender as he lines up against the world's best in our flagship event."
The final day brought testing conditions on the Belmont Shore course, with winds exceeding 20 knots prompting an early switch from genoas to jibs. As the breeze continued to build, spinnakers were packed away altogether. The club's new mark-set bots performed without fault throughout.
Both Dickson and Engström earned invitations to the 61st Congressional Cup, scheduled from 29 April to 3 May at the same venue. The Congressional Cup is the World Match Racing Tour's championship event and the longest-running match racing event of its kind in North America.
All three days of racing were live streamed with commentary, and the viewing area at the end of Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier drew strong crowds across the regatta.
