Eight Skippers Set for 2026 Ficker Cup Showdown
Alexandra
Long Beach Yacht Club has scheduled berth allocations, tow-trailer arrival windows and on-water practice rotations for April 24–26, 2026, supporting an eight-boat match racing fleet that will race as part of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) Grade 2 Ficker Cup. Launch and recovery logistics will concentrate at the club’s main marina ramps, with visiting teams advised to arrive April 22–23 to secure moorings and rigging space.
Confirmed competitors and operational notes
The Ficker Cup field features four returning skippers and four first-time entrants. Race organizers will use standardized race boats and a match-race rotation format; shore-side support includes crew locker space, dedicated refueling points for chase boats, and dockhands assigned for safe crew movements. Expect increased demand for local marinas and charter fleets during the regatta window, as visiting teams and support craft occupy slips and haul-out facilities.
Returning contenders
- Scotty Dickson (Long Beach Yacht Club) — the most successful skipper in Ficker Cup history with 14 prior wins; a top-two finish here would earn him a spot at the 2026 Congressional Cup and mark his 23rd Congressional Cup attempt.
- Nicole Breault (St. Francis Yacht Club) — making her fourth Ficker Cup appearance; finished second in 2025 and has since led Vela Racing to victories in the 2025 US Women’s Match Racing Championship and the US Open Match Racing Qualifier.
- Chris Weis (Richmond Yacht Club) — 2023 Ficker Cup winner who finished ninth at the Congressional Cup; recent podiums in the 2025 California Dreamin’ Series position him as a serious threat.
- Ruairi Finnegan (Ireland) — returning for his second Ficker Cup after an eighth-place finish in 2023; climbed to #30 on the 2025 WMRT Leaderboard and is aiming for a top-two berth.
First-time Ficker Cup skippers
- Patryk Zbroja (YKP, Poland) — match racing since 2007 and sitting at #25 on the 2025 WMRT Leaderboard.
- Tom Picot (Australia) — 11 years of match racing experience and #20 on the 2025 Leaderboard; a strong Ficker Cup result could boost his WMRT season standing.
- Lennard Bal (Team Lowlands Racing, Netherlands) — ranked #19 on the 2025 Board; transitioned from keelboat fleet racing to match racing two years ago and has strong international placings.
- Oscar Engstrom (Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club, Sweden) — currently #4 on the 2025 WMRT Leaderboard; a finalist at the WMRT World Championship in Shenzhen earlier in the year.
Event implications for charters and marina operators
Regattas of this size affect local boating services: charter companies may see higher short-term demand for support vessels, captains, and crew, while marinas must manage transient slip scheduling and provisioning. If you run a charter business or rent boats in the area, plan for increased activity, especially on the weekend of April 24–26, and consider pre-booking captains and fuel services.
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Practical tips for renters and visitors
- Reserve dockage and charter vessels early — local marinas will fill up fast around race days.
- Arrange a dedicated captain or experienced helm for support-boat duties during on-course operations.
- Expect traffic and limited parking near Long Beach Yacht Club; use shuttle or arranged transport where possible.
- Coordinate provisioning and spares with vendors ahead of arrival to avoid delays during tight regatta schedules.
Lineup summary table
| Skipper | Club / Team | 2025 WMRT Rank | Ficker Cup Appearances / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotty Dickson | Long Beach Yacht Club | — | 14 prior Ficker Cup wins; 22 past Congressional Cup attempts |
| Nicole Breault | St. Francis Yacht Club | — | Fourth Ficker Cup; 2nd in 2025 Ficker Cup; recent national titles with Vela Racing |
| Chris Weis | Richmond Yacht Club | — | 2023 Ficker Cup winner; strong 2025 California Dreamin’ results |
| Ruairi Finnegan | Ireland | #30 | Second Ficker Cup entry; climbed the WMRT leaderboard since 2023 |
| Patryk Zbroja | YKP (Poland) | #25 | First Ficker Cup; match racing since 2007 |
| Tom Picot | Australia | #20 | First Ficker Cup; 11 years match racing |
| Lennard Bal | Team Lowlands Racing | #19 | First Ficker Cup; recent switch from keelboat fleet racing |
| Oscar Engstrom | Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club | #4 | First Ficker Cup; WMRT World Final runner-up |
How the Ficker Cup feeds the WMRT season
As a Grade 2 WMRT event and a Congressional Cup qualifier, the Ficker Cup awards two invites to the WMRT Championship in Long Beach later that week (April 29–May 3). That linkage raises the competitive stakes and affects team logistics: crews must be prepared to transition quickly from match racing at Ficker to the higher-profile Congressional Cup schedule if they qualify.
A short dockside note
On the dock it’s common to hear, “timing is everything,” and that couldn’t be truer here — from trailer arrival slots to race starts, tight scheduling separates winners from the also-rans. I remember watching a team scramble to replace a rudder pintle at the last minute; they still made their match, proof that good planning pays off.
In summary, the 2026 Ficker Cup in Long Beach brings eight accomplished skippers to a high-stakes, tightly scheduled WMRT Grade 2 match-race. Returning stars like Scotty Dickson, Nicole Breault and Chris Weis will face rising talents including Oscar Engstrom and Lennard Bal, while marina and charter operators should expect heightened demand for berths, captains and support boats. Whether you’re following the action from the beach or thinking about yacht charters, boat rent or captain services, plan ahead — the regatta will ripple through local marinas, yachting activities and destination services across the gulf, sea and ocean fronts, touching everything from superyacht support to small-boat boating and fishing trips.
