Southland Sailing : Gobbell Wins Series and Congressional Cup Berth

Jack Gobbell of Huntington Harbour Yacht Club won the Bill Ficker Cup in a match-racing series to determine the 10th contestant in Long Beach Yacht Club’s Congressional Cup in March.

It was the second year Gobbell has gained a berth in the Congressional Cup by way of the Ficker Series, but this year’s win was subject to the vagaries of weather. The Ficker series was scheduled Jan. 4-5-6, but winds were so light that only four races could be completed for the eight contestants. Gobbell won all four of his matches.

With Mike Elias of Voyagers Yacht Club and Jeff Madrigal, San Francisco Yacht Club, still in contention with three wins and one loss each, the deciding three races were scheduled Saturday, but gale-force winds forced cancellation and the final results were based on the four races.

Gobbell won the Ficker Cup last year but failed to win a single match in the Congressional Cup.

Others on this year’s 10-man Congressional Cup roster are Rod Davis, Newport Harbor Yacht Club; Dennis Conner, San Diego Yacht Club; John Kolius, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Yacht Club; Maurio Pelleshier, Costa de Esmeralda Yacht Club, Italy; Dave Perry Yale Corinthian Yacht Club; Ted Turner, Atlanta Yacht Club; Harold Cudmore, Royal Cork Yacht Club, Ireland; Chris Dickson, Royal New Zealand Yacht Club, and John Shadden, Long Beach Yacht Club.