chicago yacht club race to mackinac 2024

Countdown to the 114th Race to Mackinac - July 22, 2023

July 18, 2025

Race starts july 18, 2025, overnight storms impact race to mackinac fleet.

chicago yacht club race to mackinac 2024

CHICAGO, July 14, 2024 – During last night’s storms, three of the larger boats in the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac’s Racing Division reported dismasting: Sagamore, Farr STP 65 owned by Tone and Laura Martin; Usual Suspects, a TP 52 owned Eric Wynsma; and Sapphire, an Arcona 435 owned by Robert Radway. No injuries were reported on board and all three are safely in port or motoring to port.

Additionally, there was a man overboard reported on Callisto, a J/125, owned and skippered by Jim Murray. Madcap, a Santa Cruz 52 skippered by John Hopkins, recovered the sailor. Both boats have resumed racing.

Mac Racers already eyeing race record as southerly winds propel fleet north

RACING DIVISION PHOTOS HERE Photo credit: Barry Butler, Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust)

B-ROLL LINK HERE Video credit: Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust

SATURDAY VIDEO UPDATE https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=992734832331116

CHICAGO, July 13, 2024 – The 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust is shaping up to be one of the fastest races in years, and the 250 boats underway are enjoying a ‘magic carpet ride’ thanks to the southerly, downwind sailing conditions that will carry them to up Mackinac Island, Mich., over the next 24 - 48 hours.

You always remember your first Mac Race

If you think you see some new faces around the docks in the lead up to the 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust, you’re not wrong. Nearly 20 percent of the 2,200 sailors on board the 250 entries are about to experience their first “Mac”.

This year, the Mac Committee made a concerted effort to encourage and attract new sailors to the race known as America’s Offshore Challenge, and with 26 new boats and 380 new competitors, the efforts paid off.

2024 Mac Race Competitors: A Message from the Chairman

It’s incredible to me that it’s almost July and the Chicago Yacht Club Race To Mackinac presented by Wintrust is three weeks away. I can’t tell you all how excited we are to host you all for the Race. I write you all with 4 updates:

1 2 3 4 > 73

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Sports | Photos: 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac

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Published on July 16th, 2024 | by Editor

Chicago Mackinac: One for the books

Published on July 16th, 2024 by Editor -->

With a record-setting pace, storms, dismastings, and a man overboard, the 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust had it all in 2024.

Awards recognized 22 section winners across the Mackinac Cup (awarded to the smaller boats), the Mackinac Trophy (larger boats), Doublehanded Division, and Cruising Division (Whitehawk Trophy). Plus a new trophy was presented – the Mark H. Baxter Trophy, awarded to a first-time boat.

Bringing ‘home’ the hardware across the divisions are:

• Royono Trophy (first racing monohull to finish): Maverick, Sanford Burris, Ward and William Kinney • Whitehawk Trophy (Cruising): Roxy, Don Condit • Doublehanded Division: Exile, Andy Graff and Scott Eisenhardt • Mackinac Cup: Erica, Brian Kazcor • Mackinac Trophy: Natalie J, Philip and Sharon O’Neill III • Mark H. Baxter Trophy (awarded to first timers): Hooligan, Trey Sheehan (Mackinac Trophy); Nyctosaur, Mark Fruin (Mackinac Cup); Seaquel, Thomas Paine (Cruising); 18 Degrees, Joe Turns (Doublehanded).

Maverick, the Andrews 80 co-owned by Sanford Burris, Ward and William Kinney, earned headlines as not only the Royono Trophy winner (first racing monohull to finish), but the new Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac race record holder, eclipsing Roy E. Disney’s 22-year-old record on Pyewacket ( full report ).

The 20-member crew completed the 289 nm course in 22 hours, 24 minutes, 23 seconds, shaving off more than an hour from Disney’s time of 23 hours, 30 minutes, 24 seconds.

After their start on July 13, the racing sailboats had all arrived at Mackinac Island by late afternoon Monday (July 15). For context, finishers are typically arriving throughout Monday night and into Tuesday. This year, before Monday’s sunset, the Race Committee had fired its last finishing cannon.

This year’s Race wasn’t without its drama. Storms ripped through the fleet on Saturday evening (July 13), and wrought havoc with many boats suffering equipment damage. Three boats lost their masts (all crew safe), and there was a successful man overboard recovery ( full report ).

In recognition of John and Marian Hoskins’ crew on board the Santa Cruz 52 Madcap, which rescued Callisto’s crew who fell overboard during a spinnaker takedown, US Sailing expedited a review and awarded the Madcap crew the Arthur B. Hanson rescue medal for outstanding seamanship, watchkeeping, and situational awareness resulting in the rescue of a fellow sailor.

“What a race,” said Winn Soldani, chair of the event. “With 10 percent of the fleet and 20 percent of the sailors doing their first Mac, we’re not going to tell them it isn’t always like this. In all seriousness though, this Race has been one for the books.

“Such incredible record-breaking downwind conditions, and what I believe truly sets this special race apart – the camaraderie of our sailors, the team at Chicago Yacht Club and on Mackinac Island. The Mac really is America’s Offshore Challenge and I congratulate every sailor, supporter and follower for joining us on this epic adventure this year.”

Event information – Results – Facebook

Source: Laura Muma, LM PR Inc.