FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Barby MacGowan, Media Pro Int'l, 401-849-0220, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or Marcy Trenholm, Storm Trysail Club, 914-834-8857, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Storm Trysail Club's Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta presented by Prestige Toyota College Dinghy Sailors Ready for Big-Boat Learning Experience LARCHMONT, N.Y. (Sept. 14, 2006) -- If what happened last year is any indication, the Storm Trysail Club's (STC) 2006 Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta presented by Prestige Toyota will provide another outstanding opportunity for collegiate sailors (who typically compete aboard small, two-person dinghies) to develop a taste for big boat racing. Set for Columbus Day weekend (October 7-8), the annual event will be hosted at Larchmont Yacht Club on western Long Island Sound and sailed in borrowed offshore boats ranging in size from 34-44 feet. Although technically over three decades old, the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta has enjoyed a renaissance since 2001 when the Storm Trysail and Larchmont Yacht Clubs partnered to breathe new life into it. Last year's event hosted its largest fleet ever: nearly 250 sailors on 32 teams, divided into four classes. The format will be much the same for this year's event, which is expecting to host 35 teams in three one-design classes and one level-rated class. "The Storm Trysail Club, which includes in its mission the education of junior sailors, runs the regatta to expose college dinghy sailors to the fun and teamwork of offshore racing, since many have had little experience with keels, spinnakers and winches," said Regatta Chair and STC member Adam Loory. "For them, this is college sailing taken to new heights -- and lengths!" At the same time, Loory explained, the event gives colleges that do have big-boat racing programs a venue at which to compete against each other. Winning two of the four classes last year was Georgetown University, which this Spring became the 2006 Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association National Team Race Champions. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and St. Marys won the other classes. "Because of the generosity of sponsors and owners lending their boats, this is a free event for college sailors," said Loory, "and there will be a free dinner on Saturday night, with racing taking place from 11:30 to 4:00 on Saturday and 9:30 to 1:00 on Sunday. The borrowed boats will have the owners or their representatives on board acting as safety officers and helping with the sailing." The fleet includes J/44s, J/105s, J/109s, Express 37s and J/35s. The following schools are scheduled to compete this year: American University, Boston College, Brown University, California Maritime, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Colgate, Cornell, Drexel, Duke, Fordham, Georgetown, Johnson and Wales, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Mass. Maritime, Miami of Ohio, Michigan, Middlebury, U.S. Naval Academy, New York Maritime, Northwestern, St. Marys, Tufts University and Western Michigan. In addition to presenting sponsor Prestige Toyota, sponsors for the event are Vineyard Vines, Safe Flight, Rolex Watch U.S.A., J/Boats, UK-Halsey Sailmakers and Gill. For more information, contact Regatta Chairman Adam Loory, [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> , 718-885-2028, or visit www.stormtrysail.org <http://www.stormtrysail.org/> About the Storm Trysail Club: The Storm Trysail Club (STC), reflecting in its name the sail to which sailors must shorten when facing adverse conditions, is one of the world's most respected sailing clubs, with its membership comprised strictly of skilled blue water and ocean racing sailors. In addition to holding various prestigious offshore racing events (among them the Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race, Pineapple Cup Montego Bay Race, Block Island Race Week presented by Rolex and Block Island Race), STC also hosts the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta and annual junior safety-at-sea seminars. It also has developed the Storm Trysail Transpac 65 and the Box Rule that will govern its design. (end)
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