Ireland’s Ruairi Finnegan placed seventh at the Ficker Cup in Long Beach, California, as local skipper Scotty Dickson secured a record 15th title. Finnegan, racing with Craic’n Racing, competed in a strong international fleet but missed out on the knockout stages after the round robin series. Dickson dominated the three-day Grade 2 match racing event from the outset. He posted a 6–1 record on day one and advanced to the semi-finals as the top seed with an 11–3 tally.
The Long Beach Yacht Club sailor maintained control through the finals. He defeated Sweden’s Theo Westerlind 3–0 in the semi-final before overcoming fellow Swede Oscar Engström by the same margin in the final.
Engström took second place after beating American Christopher Weis in their semi-final. Weis secured third overall with a 2–0 win against Westerlind. With their top-two finishes, Dickson and Engström both received invitations to the 61st Congressional Cup, which begins later this week. Event chairman Tom Camp said Dickson’s performance “was exceptional” and added he “will be a strong contender” in the upcoming championship.
The regatta was sailed in winds exceeding 20 knots on the final day. Crews adapted quickly, reducing sail area as conditions intensified on the Congressional Cup Stadium Course.
Racing took place in Long Beach Yacht Club’s fleet of identical Catalina 37 yachts, ensuring close and tactical competition throughout. The event attracted a large shoreside audience and a global online viewership via live streaming.
Ireland was represented by Craic’n Racing, led by skipper Ruairi Finnegan. The crew included Tom Higgins (main and tactics), Graham Curran (upwind trim), Geoff Power (downwind trim), Andrew Kingston (pit) and Noah McCarthy Fisher (bow), representing WHSC and RStGYC.
Established in 1980, the Ficker Cup is a key qualifier for the Congressional Cup and honours America’s Cup-winning skipper Bill Ficker. The 61st Congressional Cup runs from April 29 to May 3, featuring many of the world’s leading match racing skippers.
