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Phil Robertson's quest to win the Congressional Cup fell short when he was beaten in the semifinals and the Kiwi skipper eventually finished fourth in the 53rd sailing of the famous event.
(Photo: thecongressionalcup.com)
Fellow Kiwi Chris Steele finished eighth but didn't go away empty handed, pocketing US$2000 for winning the final fleet race. Steele had been eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual winner Ian Williams of Great Britain.
Robertson was looking to improve on the second placing he recorded in 2015 and went into the event - the second of the 2017 World Match Race Tour - after winning the first round of the World Match Race Tour in Perth a week earlier.
He still leads the overall table for the World Match Racing Tour, with a seven-point lead over Australia's Torvar Mirsky who bypassed the Congressional Cup. Steele is seventh overall, 24 points behind Robertson.
Robertson was beaten by Sweden's Johnie Berntsson 3-0 in the Congressional Cup semifinals and then Taylor Canfield 2-0 in the consolation playoff.
Williams went on to claim the Congressional Cup with a 3-2 win over Berntsson in the final, despite being black flagged in the fourth match when he picked up three penalties. Williams has now won three Crimson Blazers and joins the likes of Rod Davis, Gavin Brady, Peter Holmberg and Taylor Canfield who have won three or more Congressional Cups.
The third round of the World Match Racing Tour will be in northern Europe in June (venue to be confirmed).
Congressional Cup results
Quarterfinals
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar 3-1 Chris Steele (NZL) 36 Below Racing
Phil Robertson (NZL) China One Ningbo 3-1 Sam Gilmour (AUS) Neptune Racing
Taylor Canfield (ISV) US One 3-0 Scott Dickson (USA) Dickson Racing
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Flux Team 3-0 Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Aschenbrenner Racing
Semifinals
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar 3-0 Taylor Canfield (ISV) US One
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Flux Team 3-0 Phil Robertson (NZL) China One Ningbo
Final
Ian Williams (GBR) 3-2 Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Flux Team
Overall Results
1. Ian Williams (GBR)
2. Johnie Berntsson (SWE)
3. Taylor Canfield (ISV)
4. Phil Robertson (NZL)
5. Sam Gilmour (AUS)
6. Scott Dickson (USA)
7. Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN)
8. Chris Steele (NZL)
9. Eric Monin (SUI)
10. Harry Price (AUS)
11. Nicolai Sehested (DEN)
12. David Storrs (USA)
