FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jan Harley, Media Pro Int’l, 401-849-0220,
Jan.Harley@MediaProNewport.com or Marcy Trenholm, Storm Trysail
Club, 914-834-8857,
stormtry@aol.com
Storm Trysail Club Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta
Perpetual Trophy to Recognize Paul Hoffmann
LARCHMONT, N.Y. (April 9, 2008) —The Storm Trysail Club
(STC) and Larchmont Yacht Club have announced the establishment
of a new perpetual trophy, the Paul Hoffmann Trophy, which will
be awarded to the winner of the annual fall intercollegiate regatta
which they run on Long Island Sound. The trophy will be presented
for the first time at the STC’s 2008 Intercollegiate Offshore
Regatta presented by Prestige Toyota, which is scheduled for Columbus
Day weekend (October 11-12, 2008) and hosted at Larchmont Yacht
Club (Larchmont, N.Y.).
Donated by the family of Paul Hoffmann Jr. (Larchmont,
N.Y.), the trophy memorializes the man who was not only a prominent
member (1958 to 1996) of Larchmont Yacht Club, but also a Commodore
of the Storm Trysail Club (1973-74). During a sailing career that
spanned more than 65 years, Hoffmann was a dominant force in cruising
boat racing on Long Island Sound. He scored back-to-back wins
(1957, 1958) of the challenging Stamford-Vineyard Race; was awarded
the DeCoursey Fales Trophy – presented to the cruising boat
with the best cumulative performance on the sound – three
times; and was also a key player in the establishment of Block
Island Race Week.

Storm Trysail Club Past Commodore Paul Hoffmann at
the helm
of Thunderhead during the 1968 Newport-Bermuda Race
“Paul Hoffmann had a huge presence in the Long Island racing
community,” said STC Commodore John Fisher. “As both
a promoter of the sport and a great competitor who always had
a mix of crew ages on his boats, it is apropos for the STC Intercollegiate
Offshore Regatta to present a perpetual award in his honor.”
The STC Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta brings together boats
and their owners with college sailors to expose the latter to
the challenges and teamwork required in big-boat racing. Organizers
expect to see participation at this popular event reach an all-time
high this coming fall (33 teams consisting of 235 college sailors
competed in 2007) when racing will be held in five classes (J/44,
J/122, J/109, J/105 and Level 72). The winning percentage of each
class winner will be calculated and the boat with the highest
percentage will be awarded the Paul Hoffmann Trophy.
Joining Prestige Toyota in supporting the regatta are Vineyard
Vines, Rolex Watch U.S.A., Safe Flight, UK-Halsey Sailmakers,
J/Boats, Gill and Dax One Touch Winch Handles.
About the Storm Trysail Club - The Storm Trysail
Club (STC), reflecting in its name the sail which must be shortened
when facing adverse conditions, is one of the world’s most
respected sailing clubs, with its membership comprised strictly
of skilled blue water and ocean racing sailors. In addition to
holding various prestigious offshore racing events (including
the Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race, Block Island Race Week presented
by Rolex and Block Island Race), STC also hosts the Intercollegiate
Offshore Regatta and annual junior safety-at-sea seminars. It
also has developed the Storm Trysail Transpac 65 and the Box Rule
that will govern its design.
Additional information is available at www.stormtrysail.org.
Teams wishing to enter should contact Regatta Chair Adam Loory
at: adam@ukhalsey.com
-end-