Forty-seven collegiate teams gathered at Larchmont Yacht Club October 9–11 for the Long Island Sound Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta, marking the 25th anniversary of Storm Trysail Club organizing an event built around a generous idea: local boat owners and members sharing their boats, time and knowledge to introduce college sailors to big boat racing. Organized with Larchmont Yacht Club and supported by the Storm Trysail Foundation, the IOR has grown from just seven teams back in 2001. The regatta now offers opportunities for a range of college sailing programs, from established collegiate offshore programs to club teams with sailors whose racing experience has primarily been in dinghies. For some schools, the weekend is an opportunity to develop a growing offshore team. For others, it is a first chance to take on the different roles, teamwork and challenges of racing a larger keelboat. At the heart of that experience are the boat owners and designated Safety Officers, who welcome students aboard and help them build knowledge and experience throughout the weekend. Their commitment makes this distinctive format possible, connecting the next generation of sailors with an experienced and enthusiastic sailing community. Most teams began Friday with practice aboard their assigned boats, working alongside their Safety Officers to become familiar with sail handling, maneuvers and crew responsibilities before racing began. Saturday and Sunday brought competition across two race circles and six classes: the ORC National Team Class, two PHRF divisions, and three one-design divisions. The National Team Class is new for 2026 and brings together schools participating in all three stops of the expanding IOR Series. The weekend delivered two very different tests. Saturday’s sunshine and light breeze rewarded patience, careful boat handling and finding pressure, with most classes completing four races. Sunday brought strong winds and torrential rain, putting the sailors through their paces and shifting the focus to decisive maneuvers, clear communication and coordinated teamwork. Seven races were completed over the weekend. Class honors included:
J/105: Columbia University aboard Lou Lou, skippered by Eva DeCastro, with 18 points, finishing the regatta with four consecutive race wins.
Columbia University secured the Paul Hoffmann Trophy as the best overall team, winning the J/105 division—the regatta’s largest class. The Lions, who sail out of Larchmont Yacht Club, finished with four consecutive race wins aboard Lou Lou, edging the University of Vermont and Princeton University. Lou Lou owner Paul Beaudin received the Edward du Moulin Trophy, for the top-performing yacht. “Winning the regatta was a major milestone for our team, and we couldn’t be more excited! This was my first time helming an offshore regatta, and much of our team is also new to keelboats, so our goal at the regatta was to come in with a positive mindset and focus on working together as a team to sail this new kind of boat,” said Columbia’s skipper Eva DeCastro. “This win is extra special for Columbia because just four years ago, our team was inactive and wasn’t sailing. Our results at this regatta really show how far we’ve come. We’re super excited to build on this momentum and hope to be at many more IORs! We are so thankful for Storm Trysail, Larchmont Yacht Club, and Paul Beaudin for making this possible.” Long Island Sound was the second stop of the 2026 IOR Series, following the Great Lakes IOR in Chicago two weeks earlier. The series next heads to Seattle for the inaugural Pacific Northwest IOR, with racing November 14–15, extending this opportunity to collegiate sailors on both coasts and the Great Lakes. The College of Charleston leads the standings for the coveted Callisto Cup, awarded to the top National Team across the series. Brown University, the University of Michigan and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy remain close behind, keeping the title very much in play heading into the Seattle finale which will be held entirely in J/105s. Twenty-five years into Storm Trysail Club’s stewardship, the Intercollegiate Offshore Regattas continue to demonstrate the value of opening boats—and doors—to young sailors. These events have no entry fee, thanks to generous donations through the Storm Trysail Foundation, the dedication of boat owners and volunteers, and the support of sponsors ShopRite of Carteret, Lemon & Line, Helly Hansen, Carlsberg (Sheehan Family Companies), McMichael Yacht Yards & Brokers, UK Sailmakers Northeast, Dimension-Polyant, and RACE Coastal Engineering.
Full results: https://www.yachtscoring.com/event_results_detail/50628/5
Regatta photos: https://stormtrysail.org/regattas/iors/larchmont/ior-photos/