The longest-running, most respected and largest sail racing regatta series in North America, the Lands' End National Offshore One Design (NOOD) Regatta, will be held at the Larchmont Yacht Club Sept. 9-10.

Created in 1988, the nine-event Lands' End NOODs attract close to 2,000 boats and more than 30,000 competitors and spectators annually. Each event in the series features sailboat racing for one-design models from 20 to 70 feet in length. In addition to local sailors, sailing's top stars --- including America's Cup and Olympic champions --- are well represented at the NOODs. Competitive sailors rate the NOODs as the top national event in each region of the country.

"Over the nearly 20 years of NOOD Regattas we've developed an excellent reputation," said George Brengle, marketing director for Sailing World magazine and executive director of the NOOD series. "I believe that is why competitors are willing to come from all over the country to compete in this regatta. They know that we pay amazing attention to detail. The races will be well officiated and fair and the competitors will be among the top sailors in the country."

An estimated 1,000 competitors from as close as Larchmont to as far away as Florida are expected to compete on more than 125 boats. The NOODs routinely attract a very diverse group of competitors from Olympic sailors, professional sailors, world and national champions to day sailors participating in their first regatta.

The exciting news coming out of the NOOD Regattas in 2006 is the continuation of the program to select an overall winner for each of the nine regattas and the presentation of the coveted overall prize. One overall winner from the Larchmont Lands' End NOOD will be invited to compete in the NOOD Caribbean Regatta, hosted by Sunsail. The winning crews from each of the nine NOOD Regattas will compete for the NOOD national championship aboard Sunsail's Oceanis 393s in the British Virgin Islands, Nov. 17-21.

Lands' End is the title sponsor of the NOOD Regatta series and it is presented by Mount Gay Rum and Sailing World. Support sponsors include West Marine, Gill, North Sails, Sunsail and Red Stripe Lager.