Setting a course beyond college

With college racing typically for only right-sized people in institutional-type dinghies, the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta offers all sailors an opportunity to do something different… very different.

This regatta makes an important contribution to our sport by giving college sailors a relatively rare big boat experience. Initially established the early 1970s by The Corinthians, the 2022 edition is co-organized by The Storm Trysail Club and Larchmont Yacht Club and hosted by Larchmont Yacht Club in Larchmont, NY.

“The IOR plays a unique role in the world of college sports because – spoiler alert – “college” isn’t the point here,” notes Storm Trysail Commodore Ed Cesare. “This regatta sets a course far beyond the end of most college activities, and while this is only a taste of what the big-boat sailing life offers, we hope it helps to continue the sailing lifestyle after graduation.”

As the largest collegiate regatta in the country, the 2019 event was attended by 42 schools and 48 teams. Six schools (Kings Point, Tufts, URI, SUNY, Coast Guard and Navy) each brought two teams, and overall there were 355 college sailors in attendance.

But the overall winner – Fordham University – has been unable to defend their title as 2020 was not held due to COVID-19 and excessive wind cancelled the 2021 event. For 2022, the expectation is for a turnout of 45 schools and 50 to 55 teams for racing on October 7-9.

With boats loaned for the event, the largest classes historically have been the J/105s and J/109s with two to four handicap classes. For additional details, click here.