Upcoming Events at Chicago Yacht Club
Fri Jul 10, 12:00 AM - Sat Jul 11, 12:00 AM
400 E Monroe, Chicago, IL 60603
Community: Downtown Chicago
Description
Oldest Freshwater Sailing Race to Set Sail from Chicago July 11th for The Chicago Yacht Club's 107th Race to Mackinac
Event Details
Chicago to Mackinac Island for the 107th Race to Mackinac, presented by Wintrust, Friday and Saturday, July 10-11, 2015.
With racers from as far away as New Zealand, the Race to Mackinac begins with the Parade of Boats off the east end of Navy Pier at The Chicago Lighthouse. Participation in the Race is by invitation only.
Joining the Race this year will be 42 first-timer boats. Among these ranks is Ben Wilson racing one of the smallest boat designs on the line, the J/88, Rambler. While this will be Wilson’s fourteenth Mac, it is his first time as a boat owner. "It’s an honor to be part of this race as a captain. It makes you a little nervous; it’s a little disconcerting. But on the same token I think that I’ve taken the steps that I need to take to be ready."
Richard Mason will be arriving in Chicago fresh from managing Volvo Ocean Race Team SCA’s shore program. "Having spent most of my career sailing in oceans I find it very challenging to sail in the landlocked lakes with all the localized characteristics of the winds." Mason will be racing onboard speed record hopeful Il Mostro, a Volvo 70.
Wilson is up against some stiff competition such as fellow J/88 racer, Rich Stearns, who will be racing his 41st Race this year. Rich Stearns, had some advice for the first timers, "The boats can be so fast now that this is really kind of a sprint to middle distance race. Although you need rest, you need to concentrate the whole time and keep things going fast."
Wilson has been taking notes from Stearns and other race mentors, and already decided that Rambler will do the Race again in 2016. "Part of what makes the Mac great, is that it honors tradition; so year-to-year you don’t see a lot of variance," pointed out 2014-15 Race Chairman, Matt Gallagher.
For more information and the full schedule of events, please visit cycracetomackinac.com.
About the Chicago Yacht Club
The Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the world. Today, the club boasts a membership of ne
With racers from as far away as New Zealand, the Race to Mackinac begins with the Parade of Boats off the east end of Navy Pier at The Chicago Lighthouse. Participation in the Race is by invitation only.
Joining the Race this year will be 42 first-timer boats. Among these ranks is Ben Wilson racing one of the smallest boat designs on the line, the J/88, Rambler. While this will be Wilson’s fourteenth Mac, it is his first time as a boat owner. "It’s an honor to be part of this race as a captain. It makes you a little nervous; it’s a little disconcerting. But on the same token I think that I’ve taken the steps that I need to take to be ready."
Richard Mason will be arriving in Chicago fresh from managing Volvo Ocean Race Team SCA’s shore program. "Having spent most of my career sailing in oceans I find it very challenging to sail in the landlocked lakes with all the localized characteristics of the winds." Mason will be racing onboard speed record hopeful Il Mostro, a Volvo 70.
Wilson is up against some stiff competition such as fellow J/88 racer, Rich Stearns, who will be racing his 41st Race this year. Rich Stearns, had some advice for the first timers, "The boats can be so fast now that this is really kind of a sprint to middle distance race. Although you need rest, you need to concentrate the whole time and keep things going fast."
Wilson has been taking notes from Stearns and other race mentors, and already decided that Rambler will do the Race again in 2016. "Part of what makes the Mac great, is that it honors tradition; so year-to-year you don’t see a lot of variance," pointed out 2014-15 Race Chairman, Matt Gallagher.
For more information and the full schedule of events, please visit cycracetomackinac.com.
About the Chicago Yacht Club
The Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the world. Today, the club boasts a membership of ne
