Webb Institute and College of Charleston Take Top Honors Among 41 Schools at 2024 Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta Hosted by Storm Trysail Club and Larchmont Yacht Club

Larchmont, NY - The 2024 Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (IOR), co-hosted by Storm Trysail Club and Larchmont Yacht Club, concluded this past weekend after two days of intense racing on Long Island Sound. The event saw participation from an impressive 313 sailors representing 41 schools, spanning 19 U.S. states and 3 Canadian provinces. With six divisions competing, each completed six or seven races, showcasing the talent and spirit of college sailors from across North America.

Saturday delivered perfect conditions for the sailors, with sunny skies and a steady breeze of 8-12 knots, ideal for racing. All classes completed four windward-leeward races over a 5-nautical mile course, making the most of the favorable weather. Sunday started off with overcast skies, but the clouds soon parted, allowing for an early start and two additional races to round out the weekend. The sailors enjoyed solid competition across both days, thanks to the great weather and race management.

The prestigious Paul Hoffman Trophy, awarded to the overall winner with the highest winning percentage, went to Webb Institute's modified J/105 Sleeper, skippered by Rayne Duff. Duff credited their victory to "consistently good starts, a team that works great together, and a fun-focused attitude were the most important things this weekend." Webb Institute, known for its strong offshore program, delivered a stellar performance throughout the event, not losing a single race.

The IOR is a monumental undertaking, relying on the generous donation of boats and time from owners and club members who offer college sailors a unique opportunity to experience offshore racing. While some schools, like Webb, have dedicated offshore teams, many of the participating schools only sail keelboats once a year, with a primary focus on dinghy sailing. Despite this, teams traveled from as far as Texas A&M in Galveston, the University of Wisconsin, and Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia to compete in this annual event.

Yet despite the logistics, the event continues to grow, and organizers were thrilled to welcome new schools this year: Clemson University, Middlebury College, Olin College of Engineering, Rutgers University, Texas A&M, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

The Puff Trophy, awarded to the team with the second-highest winning percentage, went to the College of Charleston Cougars for their outstanding performance in the J/105 Kestrel, owned by CofC alum Chuck McCarthy. Skipper Luke Tougas reflected on the weekend, sharing, "Larchmont IOR is an event that we look forward to every year because of the many opportunities it provides. This event for us really came down to how bad we wanted it." Tougas credited the team’s success to crew work and teamwork, explaining, "It’s easy to drive the boat in the right direction, but it’s not easy to keep the sails in the perfect spots at all times." He also expressed gratitude to the McCarthy family for providing the team with a J/105 and thanked their safety officer, Ned Goss, for keeping the team motivated with his mantra, “Firetrucks don’t stop at red lights!”

In the Swan 42 division, the University of Michigan's Zammermoos, skippered by River Severia, took first place in their class. Severia highlighted the importance of communication and teamwork, noting, "These are very large boats with lots of power, so as a team, we needed to really talk to one another about what we were doing and when. With this mindset, we really honed in on the boat's speed and tactics all weekend." Severia also praised the IOR as a standout regatta, saying, "It’s truly a unique opportunity as collegiate sailors to be out on the racecourse sailing against one another on keelboats rather than the usual dinghy racing."

A highlight of the regatta was the camaraderie, both on and off the water. The regatta hosted a lively social under the tent on Saturday, thanks to the generous hospitality of Larchmont Yacht Club, creating an unforgettable experience for the participants.

The success of this event would not have been possible without the support of the Storm Trysail Foundation and the generous support from its partners who believe in the mission: ShopRite of Carteret, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Helly Hansen, Risk Strategies-Gowrie Group, Harken Derm, Carlsberg (Sheehan Co), McMichael Yacht Yards and Brokers, UK Sailmakers Northeast, Dimension-Polyant, and Gifted of Larchmont.

The IOR came to a close on Sunday with all smiles as teams were already looking ahead to future events and asking when 2025 sign-ups will open. The 2024 IOR solidified its place as a must-attend regatta, offering college sailors an invaluable opportunity to sharpen their offshore racing skills and build lasting connections.

Photos can be found at stormtrysail.org/ior-2024-photos

Results on YachtScoring: https://yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=16938