Teamwork, sportsmanship, community

The 2025 Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta (IOR) on October 11-12, 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 spirited big boat racing — and one very memorable forecast.

Hosted at Larchmont Yacht Club (Larchmont, NY), teams arrived Friday to find cool fall conditions as they took to the water for practice aboard boats 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.

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, six races were completed across six classes — four PHRF divisions, J/105s, and J/109s.

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 (Swan 42, Zammermoos)
PHRF Large: Clemson University (J/111, Summer Storm)
PHRF Medium: U.S. Coast Guard Academy (Leadership 44, Stormy Petrel)
PHRF Small: Webb Institute (J/105, Sleeper)
J/109 Class: Brown University (Nordly), Second Overall – Puff Trophy
J/105 Class: College of Charleston (Kestral), Winner Overall – Hoffman Trophy)

Full results: https://www.yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative/50498

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 — posting 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.

“We had success this weekend from lots of preparation, which really made a noticeable difference,” noted winning skipper John Polek. “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.”

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 a 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.”

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. 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.”

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: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPo4ON7CdW7/

Source: IOR