“J/Fest” Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta Preview

ByStuart Johnstone

(Larchmont,  NY)- Initially established in the early 1970s by The Corinthians, the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta for college sailors is held annually out of Larchmont Yacht Club and brings together sailboat owners and young sailors for an opportunity to go head-to-head each fall.

This weekend, October 12th to 13th, the de-facto “J/Fest” Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (IOR) will take place at Larchmont Yacht Club, co-hosted by Storm Trysail Club. The event will see 42 schools from 19 U.S. states and 3 Canadian provinces come together for a unique offshore sailing experience, designed to give collegiate sailors a new challenge beyond their typical dinghy racing.

This year’s regatta features 30 of 42 teams that are J/Boats owners- 71.0% of the fleet! J/Boat owners have been enthusiastic participants in this event as they support their alma maters from across the USA. It’s quite extraordinary to see J/Teams supported from California to Maine and Minnesota to Texas!

PHRF Large Division
Five J/Teams are participating in this eight-boat division. Featured are two J/44s- US Naval Academy’s MAXINE and Univ. of Rhode Island’s PALANTIR 5. Joining them are Univ. Maryland’s J/124 TENEBRAE, Mass Maritime’s J/122 DIRE WOLF,  and Clemson Univ.’s J/111 SUMMER STORM.   

PHRF Medium Division
This eight-boat fleet will see two J/Teams on the starting line. One is Northeastern University’s J/112E REBELLE and the other is Michigan State’s J/42 ATALANTA. 

PHRF Small Division
This half-dozen boat fleet is predominated by J/crews. Two J/100s are sailing- Rochester Univ.’s GALATRONA and Texas A&M’s. AVOCET. Joining them are Webb Institute’s J/105 SLEEPER, Univ.  Vermont’s J/88 ONE TOO MANY, and Syracuse Univ.’s J/99 THIN MAN. 

J/109 Class
Five teams are sailing this one-design class. They include Brown University’s NORDLYS, and Embry-Riddle College’s AVIATO, Queen’s Univ (Canada) QUICKSILVER,  SUNY Maritime’s RESOLUTE, and Univ. Wisconsin’s TBD. 

J/105 Class
The largest fleet in the event, the twelve-boat fleet includes top teams like College of Charleston’s KESTREL, Princeton Univ.’s MAGIC, and South Carolina’s ECHO. 

For more STC Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta sailing results  For more STC Intercollegiate Regatta sailing information