October 2nd, 2018 - Larchmont, NY - The Storm Trysail Foundation and the Larchmont Yacht Club (Larchmont, NY) will be holding the largest intercollegiate big boat regatta in North America when 45 colleges, universities, and academies gather October 6-7 for the 2018 Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta.

With 49 boats being crewed by almost 450 sailors on team, this year’s IOR is shaping up to be one of the largest to date. Sailors will be joined by the owners of the boats or safety officers from the two host clubs. In all, six classes will race including J/44s, J109s, J/105s and three PHRF classes.

IOR Event Chair and PRO Charlie “Butch” Ulmer has been working with his committee to organize the fleet of borrowed boats, safety officers, hospitality, and sponsors for this regatta that is uniquely offered to college sailing teams with no entry fee.

“This is an extremely high-value regatta for these sailors,” noted Ulmer. “The IOR will open their eyes to the fact that there is a lot of excellent sailing ahead of them when they have outgrown dinghies.”

Teams are coming to Larchmont from as far away as Florida, Michigan, and Maine with many collegiate rivalries usually contested on a field or floor about to be brought to the Long Island Sound. There are also three Canadian and one French team sailing, giving the regatta an international flare.

It should be noted that for many of the participating sailors, this will be the first time they race a boat larger than a 420 or an FJ. For them, the two days of racing, with a favorable forecast and the opportunity to enjoy the gracious hospitality of the Larchmont Yacht Club will give them a regatta experience they will remember for a lifetime.

Photos - 2018 Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta - Courtesy of Howard McMichael