STC Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta Preview

(Larchmont, NY)- On this Columbus Day holiday weekend, October 10-12, the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (IOR) will take place at Larchmont Yacht Club, co-hosted by Storm Trysail Club.

The event will see 47 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. Notably, this event has become by far the largest collegiate sailing event on the annual college sailing calendar in both the spring and fall!

This year’s regatta features 47 boats generously donated by local sailors or schools. In fact, 34 of them are passionate J/Boats owners- 72.0% of the fleet!! In total, 400+ college sailors will participate, supported by 90 volunteers who will serve in roles from Race Committee to Safety Officers on the donated boats. The event, supported by the Storm Trysail Foundation and powered by generous donations from club members, sponsors, and partners, remains free for all student competitors.

Key sponsors include ShopRite of Carteret, IHG Hotels & Resorts, The Moorings, Helly Hansen, Risk Strategies-Gowrie Group, Harken Derm, Carlsberg (Sheehan Co), McMichael Yachts, UK Sailmakers Northeast, Dimension-Polyant, and Gifted of Larchmont.

The fleet will be divided into six classes (PHRF Zero, PHRF Large, PHRF Medium, PHRF Small, J/105s, and J/109s). The teams will be competing for class prizes and the prestigious Paul Hoffman Trophy, awarded to the overall winner based on points.

The regatta attracts teams from across the USA and Canada. Months of preparation from the Storm Trysail Club have gone into making this regatta a reality; it’s truly an enormous undertaking to manage the care & feeding of 400+ ravenous college kids! With good weather on the horizon, it promises to be a thrilling weekend of offshore racing and great social activities on shore. Here are some highlights of the college teams participating in various J/Boats.

PHRF Large Division
This half-dozen boat fleet features 100% J’s! So, without a doubt, J’s will sweep the podium. Hahaha. Clemson is sailing the J/111 SUMMER STORM, Mass Maritime is on the J/122 DIRE WOLF, and four J/44s are being raced by the US Naval Academy, Embry-Riddle, URI, and US Merchant Marine Academy. In the past, the well-trained Navy crew was nearly unstoppable as they had one of the best “big boat” college sailing programs in the world. They won class last year on the J/44 MAXINE and will be racing her again this year.

PHRF Medium Division
This seven-boat fleet features three J teams. On the J/112E REBELLE is Northeastern University, RIT is on the J/120 M-SQUARED, and Western Michigan is sailing the J/120 DUET.

PHRF Small Division
This eleven-boat fleet will have to contend with seven pretty well-trained college teams. The two J/100s will have Miami on AVOCET and South Carolina on GALATRONA. Webb is sailing their modified J/105 SLEEPER. Michigan State is on the J/42 ATALANTA. Vermont is racing the J/88 ONE TOO MANY. And, the two J/99s are being sailed by Syracuse on THIN MAN and Grand Valley on SAVE THE SOUND.

J/105 Class
The dozen-boat fleet always has close competition. However, due to having their own J/105s, it always seems that the College of Charleston holds the upper hand in this fleet. They’ve won the J/105s twice before. This year, they are sailing KESTREL. Princeton’s offshore sailors are not exactly “wallflowers”; it seems they give the Charleston team fits in other regattas, and they will be sailing MAGIC.

J/109 Class
This seven-boat fleet has several contenders. Having won in other divisions in previous STC IOR Regattas, watch out for Ohio State on MOCHI FANTA to be a leading contender. Others will be Brown racing the well-known NORDLYS and SUNY Maritime on LEADING EDGE.

Sailing photo credits- Steve Cloutier (@BlockIslandSteve on Instagram)

For STC Intercollegiate Regatta results
https://www.yachtscoring.com/event_scratch_sheet/50498

For more Storm Trysail Club’s Intercollegiate Regatta sailing information
https://stormtrysail.org/regattas/intercollegiate-regatta/