Eric Monnin, from Switzerland, delivered a masterclass of match racing on Thursday at the 60th Long Beach Yacht Club Congressional Cup. He won all three races and surged into second place.

As the second round of qualifying begins, the Swiss skipper is now 10-2 in front of the United States' defending champion Chris Poole (11-1), who has won the event twice.

Monnin's flawless day culminated in a win over the tournament leader Poole.

He said, "There are still a lot more races to be run. We need to keep up the momentum."

Monnin's form was matched by that of Johnie Berntsson, who won all three of his matches in the second round of the round-robin after finishing seventh place in the first round.

Berntsson stated, "We are learning a great deal and everyone works really hard. From the front of the boat to the rear." "We got more points today, and I am happy with our progress." "But there is still work to be done and improvements to make."

After strong performances in the first round, Australia's Cole Tapper, and local hopeful Dave Hood remain firmly in contention, while Sweden's Bjorn Hanssen hovers in striking distance at fifth.

Poole’s Riptide racing team remains the benchmark with only one defeat in their title defense so far.

The top four teams in the double-round-robin format, where each captain faces every opponent twice, will make it to the semi-finals. They'll also have the chance to wear the Crimson Blazer.

The Congressional Cup is a sailing competition in Long Beach, California that has been a part of the World Match Racing Tour ever since 1965. It helped to shape the modern rules for the sport and the umpires.

The Crimson Blazer is a competition between teams of six to seven identical Catalina 37s. It's a great way for America Cup hopefuls to get their start, and it also makes it a popular event for fans. (Reporting and editing by Joe Bavier; Ossian shine)

(source: Reuters)