2025 Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta concludes at Larchmont Yacht Club
by Storm Trysail Club 14 Oct 05:08 AEDT
October 10-12, 2025
2025 Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta © Stephen R Cloutier
The 2025 Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (IOR), presented by ShopRite of Carteret, organized by the Storm Trysail Club supported by the Storm Trysail Foundation, welcomed 49 teams and 384 collegiate sailors for a weekend of spirited big boat racing — and one very memorable forecast.
Teams arrived Friday to find cool fall conditions as they took to the water for practice aboard boats generously donated by local owners. Some of those boats were delivered that morning from as far away as New Jersey — their owners bundled up in layers for the trip north.
Adapting to the Nor'easter
Given the forecast of a significant nor'easter on Sunday, organizers made the early call on Friday to cancel Sunday racing for the safety of the sailors and boats. The first warning signal on Saturday was moved up one hour to capitalize on the favorable conditions expected before the storm.
Saturday dawned gray and wet, but the rain soon eased and the breeze built steadily throughout the day. Thanks to the efficient work of the Race Committee and the addition of two race circles this year, an impressive six races were completed across six classes — four PHRF divisions, J/105s, and J/109s. (See full results).
Onshore camaraderie and community
Off the water, sailors were treated to dinners at Larchmont Yacht Club on both Friday and Saturday evenings, complete with the chance to connect with fellow competitors from 19 states and three Canadian provinces. On Sunday morning, teams gathered on the LYC lawn for a group photo and the awards ceremony before heading home ahead of the approaching gale.
2025 IOR Class Winners
- PHRF Zero: University of Michigan on Zammermoos (Swan 42)
- PHRF Large: Clemson University on Summer Storm (J/111)
- PHRF Medium: U.S. Coast Guard Academy on Stormy Petrel (Leadership 44)
- PHRF Small: Webb Institute on Sleeper (J/105)
- J/109 Class: Brown University on Nordlys, Second Overall (Puff Trophy)
- J/105 Class: College of Charleston on Kestral, Winner Overall (Hoffman Trophy), Winner Callisto Cup (Both IORs)
College of Charleston takes it all
Charleston's J/105 team not only topped their class but also earned the Paul Hoffman Trophy for the overall best performance at the 2025 IOR — with an impressive record of four firsts and two seconds in a highly competitive 12-boat fleet. The team also claimed the inaugural Callisto Cup, a new award donated by Jim and Kate Murray for the best combined performance between the Great Lakes IOR and the Larchmont IOR.
Winning skipper John Polek reflected on the victory: "We had success this weekend from lots of preparation, which really made a noticeable difference. We were able to execute maneuvers that other teams couldn't — such as gybe sets in the last three races that extended our leads. This was a new team with three sophomores and two freshmen, so we really had to work for every inch. Having our assistant coach Justin Walling with us at the event kept us sharp. As Ned Goss tells us, 'Firetrucks don't stop at red lights,' which reminds me to push for every opportunity. It feels great to be the first name on the Callisto Cup. I'm proud of my teammates and excited for what's next for the Charleston Varsity Offshore Team."
New teams, new energy
Among the many stories of the weekend was the debut of the Harvard Crimson, a powerhouse in dinghy racing but new to the offshore scene. Skipper Xavier Ayala-Vermont led the team to an impressive second place in the J/105 class behind Charleston.
"This was our first regatta sailing together — none of us had ever raced a J/105 before," said Ayala-Vermont. "All credit to the crew. Harvard doesn't have an offshore team yet, but this was a huge step toward building one with alumni support. The IOR was an unforgettable experience, and we can't wait to be back next year!"
Owners like June Kendrick, who donated Palantir 5 to sail with the University of Rhode Island team, reminded everyone of the event's spirit of generosity:
"We donate our boats to give back to the sport," Kendrick said. "It's inspiring to see so many young sailors learning offshore sailing the right way."
Great feedback and gratefulness
By Monday morning, IOR's Instagram had surpassed 300,000 views over the weekend, with many of the teams sharing photos from event photographer Steve Cloutier and expressing their gratitude to the organizers, boat owners, volunteers, Race Committee, and their own teammates and coaches. The outpouring of appreciation across social media captured the true spirit of the event — teamwork, sportsmanship, and community.
Brown University's skipper, Daniel van Heeckeren, winner of the J/109 class and second overall recipient of the Puff Trophy, summed it up perfectly:
"I would say this win is a team win. A major part of our success comes from the talent and competition throughout the whole of the Brown University Sailing Team, where every day at practice we get pushed to become the best sailors we can be. Also to our coaches, John Mollicone and Cam Giblin, for everything they've done for our team. IOR for us is the culmination of our keelboat regattas in the fall and is what we look towards every year — and we look forward to coming back."
Gratitude to sponsors and volunteers
The Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta is 100% free for all teams and sailors — made possible through the generosity of boat owners, volunteers, the Storm Trysail Foundation, and sponsors.
This year's Title Sponsor, ShopRite of Carteret, once again demonstrated its dedication to supporting the next generation of offshore sailors. The event was also proudly supported by returning sponsors Helly Hansen, Carlsberg, McMichael Yacht Yards & Brokers, UK Sailmakers, Dimension-Polyant, and Gifted of Larchmont, along with new sponsors Lemon & Line and Race Engineering.
Ahead of the event, Storm Trysail Club members and IOR alumni Charlie Enright (Brown), Jesse Fielding (URI), and Erica Lush (BU) shared their advice for the next generation of sailors in a pre-race video: Watch here.