The Congressional Cup, a match sailboat racing competition, is a highlight of the event, as is the free viewing from the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier in Long Beach. The sport is described as a "test of man against man," with the boats being placed on a level playing field. The prestart of match racing is a five-minute dance before the race, which determines who will have the best wind position. The Congressional Cup chair, Ken Mattfeld, compared the sport to curling, noting that the athletes are yelling at each other in languages they don't understand.