The PUFF TROPHY is awarded to the runner up in the overall scoring for the annual Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta. The trophy was presented in honor of Howard McMichael, a Past Commodore of the Larchmont Yacht Club and Fifty Year Member of the Storm Trysail Club.

The trophy name commemorates a series of three racing boats from the early 1970’s that bore the name “PUFF”. The boats were owned and sailed by the members of the AMB (Atsa My Boat) Syndicate. The syndicate members were Commodore Howard McMichael, Joseph Fontanella, Patrick O’Neal and Charles “Butch” Ulmer. All were members of both the Storm Trysail Club and Larchmont Yacht Club.

Although all the boats were successful racers, the first Puff, a Gary Mull designed Ranger 33, had the best record because it included the Everett B. Morris Memorial Trophy for the best Overall Performance at Block Island Race Week ‘71. During that week, Puff won every race in her class and was also the overall winner for all classes in the Island Sailing Club of Cowes Race around Block Island.

The second Puff, a Ranger 37 (also a Mull design) came in 1973 and the third in 1975 was an S&S Tartan 41. The Tartan 41 is the half model on the trophy.

2022 Gray Matter - US Coast Guard Academy
2023 TBD - University of Wisconsin
2024
2025 Nordyls - Brown University