The Long Island Sound Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta marked a milestone anniversary as 47 collegiate teams gathered at Larchmont Yacht Club from October 9 to 11, celebrating 25 years of Storm Trysail Club organizing an event rooted in generosity. The concept is simple but powerful: local boat owners and club members share their vessels, time and expertise to introduce college sailors to the world of big boat racing.
Organized in partnership with Larchmont Yacht Club and supported by the Storm Trysail Foundation, the IOR has grown remarkably since its humble beginnings with just seven teams in 2001. Today the regatta welcomes a wide spectrum of college sailing programs, from established collegiate offshore teams to club squads whose racing backgrounds are primarily in dinghies. For some schools the weekend represents a chance to develop a maturing offshore program, while for others it offers a first taste of the different roles, teamwork and challenges that come with racing a larger keelboat.
At the core of the experience are the boat owners and designated Safety Officers who welcome students aboard and help them build knowledge and confidence 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 sessions aboard their assigned boats, working alongside their Safety Officers to get comfortable with sail handling, maneuvers and crew responsibilities before racing got underway. Saturday and Sunday featured 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 competing in all three stops of the expanding IOR Series.
The weekend served up two dramatically different conditions. Saturday’s sunshine and light breeze rewarded patience, careful boat handling and an ability to find pressure, with most classes completing four races. Sunday delivered strong winds and torrential rain, putting sailors through their paces and shifting the emphasis to decisive maneuvers, clear communication and coordinated teamwork. Seven races were completed across the weekend.
Columbia University claimed the Paul Hoffmann Trophy as the best overall team, winning the J/105 division, the regatta’s largest class. Sailing aboard Lou Lou and skippered by Eva DeCastro, the Lions finished with 18 points after reeling off four consecutive race wins to edge 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,” said DeCastro. “This was my first time helming an offshore regatta, and much of our team is also new to keelboats, so our goal was to come in with a positive mindset and focus on working together to sail this new kind of boat. This win is extra special for Columbia because just four years ago, our team was inactive and wasn’t sailing. Our results 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 scheduled for November 14 to 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 carry 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.
