Fleet to race five miles along Chicago’s lakefront for unprecedented public viewing

CHICAGO, April 9, 2025 – The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust today introduced an exciting new course for the 2025 race, celebrating the Club’s 150th Anniversary by offering fans and the public unprecedented viewing opportunities as the fleet races close to shore.

Expanded logistics footprint supports near-record entry numbers and lays foundation for future fleet growth

CHICAGO, February 13, 2025 – The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust announced today that Larsen Marine has been named official logistics partner of the 116th Race set to start July 18 & 19, 2025.

Registration opens December 2, 2024 for the bucket-list offshore race

CHICAGO, Oct. 23, 2024 – In celebration of its 150th anniversary, the Chicago Yacht Club today announced a special edition of its iconic annual race, the 116th Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust, with entry registration set to open December 2 at 12 p.m. CST.

Madcap awarded Arthur B. Hanson rescue medal for outstanding seamanship, watchkeeping and situational awareness resulting in the rescue of a fellow sailor

MACKINAC ISLAND, MICH., July 16, 2024 – 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. 

Madcap awarded US Sailing Arthur B. Hansen rescue medal

MACKINAC ISLAND, MICH., July 16, 2024 – In the thick of Saturday night storms with winds approaching 40 knots, Callisto crewmember Shawn Dougherty was moving forward on the deck to assist the spinnaker takedown and got knocked overboard when a large gust jolted the boat. 

MACKINAC ISLAND, MICH.,July 15, 2024 – After Sunday’s excitement with Maverick breaking the 22-year race record by more than an hour, the 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust has seen a steady pace of finishers. This year's Race has been one of the fastest in years and race organizers expect to have the fleet safely in port by mid-afternoon.

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.

Roy Disney’s 22-year run smashed by more than an hour

CHICAGO, July 14, 2024 – Sanford Burris, William and Ward Kinney’s Maverick team will be etched in Mac Race history as the new race record holder for the fastest Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust in 22 years, earning the honor from Roy E. Disney and Pyewacket.  

Overnight storms on horizon

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.

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”.