Over the weekend of October 11–12, nearly 50 collegiate teams and 384 student sailors from 19 American states and three Canadian provinces gathered at Larchmont Yacht Club for the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (IOR), co-hosted with the Storm Trysail Club and presented by ShopRite of Carteret. The event has long been one of North America’s most distinctive collegiate sailing competitions, and this year delivered both thrilling action on the water and lasting connections ashore.

Saturday dawned gray and drizzly, but the breeze filled in beautifully, setting the stage for a full day of racing. With a nor’easter predicted for Sunday, organizers had made the proactive decision on Friday to cancel the second day of racing and start Saturday an hour earlier. Two race circles, manned by 120 volunteers, guided crews through six races across six classes, including four PHRF divisions, J/105s, and J/109s.

The first race saw Clemson University aboard Summer Storm seize an early lead in the PHRF Large division, while College of Charleston on Kestral quickly asserted dominance in the J/105 class. Harvard University made its offshore debut in the same class, struggling at first with unfamiliar sails but showing flashes of promise that hinted at future success. As the day unfolded, shifts in wind and tide tested every crew’s seamanship and communication, with mark roundings and spinnaker sets often determining the outcome by mere seconds. Brown University aboard Nordlys overtook the early J/109 leader in a dramatic final leg, while University of Michigan’s Zammermoos executed textbook teamwork to stay atop the PHRF Zero division.

By mid-afternoon, College of Charleston had established a rhythm that would carry them to victory, claiming four first-place finishes and two seconds in a fiercely competitive 12-boat fleet. Their performance earned them both the Paul Hoffman Trophy and the inaugural Callisto Cup, donated by Jim and Kate Murray for the best combined performance across the Great Lakes and Larchmont IOR events. “We were able to execute maneuvers that other teams couldn’t,” said Charleston skipper John Polek. “It feels great to be the first name on the Callisto Cup.”

Harvard skipper Xavier Ayala-Vermont reflected on the weekend with pride. “None of us had ever raced a J/105 before. The IOR was unforgettable, and we can’t wait to be back next year!”  Meanwhile, the generosity of boat owners such as June Kendrick, who lent Palantir 5 to the University of Rhode Island team, reminded participants that the regatta is as much about mentorship and community as competition. “It’s inspiring to see so many young sailors learning offshore sailing the right way,” Kendrick said.

Thanks to the Storm Trysail Foundation, generous sponsors including Helly Hansen, Carlsberg, McMichael Yacht Yards & Brokers, UK Sailmakers, Dimension-Polyant, Gifted of Larchmont, Lemon & Line, and Race Engineering, and the dedication of hundreds of volunteers, the IOR remains free for all teams.