101st Race To Mackinac
By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jul 17, 2009 4:00PM
Photo by Benjy Lipsman
For over a century, hearty sailors have made the 333-mile trek across Lake Michigan from Chicago to Mackinac Island, in the world’s longest annual freshwater distance race. This Saturday, for the 101st time an armada of 350 sailboats will embark on the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. For those who want to learn more about the Mac, The Trib answers a number of common questions about who races, how long it takes and which are the boats to watch.
The festivities kick off Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. at Navy Pier, where the Parade of Boats will precede the race. Boats will begin the race in ten minute intervals starting at 11:30 a.m.
Got any friends racing the Mac? Chicagoist will be pulling for Vayu, who includes a number of friends among the crew. Those who want to track boats and their current location can locate the boat here to follow along in realtime.
This year's Race to Mackinac also serves as the beginning of the Super Mac, a 490-mile race that was last run in 2000. Thirty boats will continue past the Mac finish line and continue on into Lake Huron headed to Port Huron, Michigan.