On Friday October 8th, 29 college teams descended Larchmont Yacht Club to check in and practice ahead of the 2-day regatta planned for the weekend. Spread over 40 boats, the teams had the chance to learn the boats and check out Long Island Sound. Sailors traveled from as far as Wisconsin, Georgia, and Maine to participate in the annual event that gives college students the opportunity to race on big boats donated by local sailors from Storm Trysail and Larchmont Yacht Clubs. Experience vary from dinghy sailors to accomplished offshore teams who also bring their own boats like the Coast Gaurd Academy, Kings Point, and Naval Academy.

To learn more about the event and who was in attendance check out the 2021 Program.

On Saturday, the teams headed out on Long Island Sound around 10am and were greeted with 15 knots and 3-5 foot seas. As local sailors can tell you, when the wind blows from the East, the sea state can be quite rough. As the Race Committee, started to set up the racecourse and the sailors prepared, the wind quickly increased above 20-knots, the limit for the regatta. The wind limit is a safety requirement due to the experience of the sailors and the preservation of the donated boats. So while, the RC did manage to start a race, they quickly abandoned before the windward mark to send all the boats in.

"The sailors were blasting around having a great time," said regatta co-chair Doug Lynn "but we just wanted to be safe when it came to executing maneuvers in these large boats - kindly donated - around marks and the starting line. That is why we put in the safety wind limits."

The teams headed in and gathered that evening at Larchmont Yacht Club for a keynote presentation from America's Cup sailor and commentator, Gary Jobson, who delivered an inspiring talk for the young sailors.

Then on Sunday, the sailors gathered again on the lawn of LYC in anticipation of another day of sailing.

Regretfully, the Race Committee then hoisted N over A onshore at the flag pole. The RC volunteers went out in the morning to check the conditions on Long Island Sound and with wind velocities well above the limit and a volatile sea state fetching down from the East still, the racecourse was determined not safe for our sailors and the generously donated race boats.

Storm Trysail Club wants to thank all the owners who volunteered their boats this weekend, the college sailors who traveled far to join us for the friendly competition, and the sponsors behind the scenes who make IOR possible. We are glad the teams got great practicing sailing in on Friday, fun on the water in the sporty conditions blasting around yesterday, and the party last night with wise insights from our keynote speaker, Gary Jobson. Lastly, we want to thank Larchmont Yacht Club and all the volunteers who dedicated their time.

We hope to see you all again in 2022!

Photos: Steve Cloutier