Tomorrow night, many of you will join us at the Chicago Hyatt Regency to toast the winners of the 101st Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. The 101st Race, the second largest in Race history, was one for the history books. It featured extremely challenging weather conditions, and rewarded those of us who exhibited perserverance and the intestinal fortitude to stay well west of the rhumb line. Win or lose, we hope that you enjoyed the 101st Race as much as we did. Thanks to my fellow committee members and our world-class Race Committee for making it happen.

Tomorrow's dinner will mark the transition from the 101st Race to the 102nd Race, which will leave Chicago on Friday, July 23 (for our cruising division) and Saturday, July 24, 2009 (for the remaining divisions.) We hope you will decide to join us for another helping of history, adventure, competition, and friendship.

Tomorrow night will also mark a 'watch change' of sorts. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your Race Chairman for the past two years. Tomorrow, I will be turning over the helm of the Mackinac Committee to Greg Freeman, who has served as Vice Chairman for the 100th and 101st Races. Winn Soldani will join Greg as the new Vice Chairman. Greg has been a fantastic Vice Chairman, and I know that he and his team will put on spectacular Races in 2010 and 2011. You will see communications from Greg and Winn regarding the 102nd Race in the coming weeks.

Best wishes for a productive and enjoyable off-season. We look forward to seeing you in Chicago next July.

Regards,

Greg J. Miarecki
Chair
2009 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac

We are putting the final touches on the 2009 Mackinac and Offshore Awards Dinner, hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation on November 7, 2009. We have already received over 400 reservations, and expect a sellout crowd next Saturday. If you plan to join us, please make your reservations through our Front Desk at 312-861-7777. Tickets are $80 per person, and the reservation deadline is Tuesday, November 3 at 6:00 PM. Complete details regarding the event are available by clicking here.

Please join us in toasting the winners of the 101st Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. We look forward to seeing you next weekend!

Regards,

Greg J. Miarecki

Chair

2009 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac

The Chicago Yacht Club Foundation is proud to host the 2009 Mackinac and Offshore Awards Dinner. We look forward to a great evening on November 7 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. We have already received over 250 reservations for this year’s dinner, and are on pace for another sellout event. If you have not already done so, please access your electronic invitation and information sheet by clicking here. Tickets are $75 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity, if you reserve your place by October 24 ($80 after October 24). Please make your reservations today by calling the Front Desk at 312-861-7777.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to tell you a bit about the Foundation. Consider this:

We all agree that it’s a great feeling to be out on the water, with a great boat and crew, perhaps competing in a regatta. Wouldn’t it be nice to help others learn about the sport and give them opportunities to participate? The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) does exactly that. We are:

' ……an organization that promotes an awareness and appreciation of the nautical arts and traditions to the Chicagoland community through education and activities, as well as through support of like-minded charitable organizations.'

Your donation can help us fulfill this mission. We support the North American Challenge Cup, Sea Scouts, and Jr. Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. We provide sailing school scholarships help kids attend national and international regattas. We run educational classes and assist organizations relating to nautical interests. We have a vibrant civic outreach program that provides special opportunities to those less fortunate in our local community. This program includes lectures about maritime history, book readings, visits to nautical sites, as well as opportunities for on the water activities.

Our work has tangible results. For example, this year, one of our junior sailors won the US Sailing Youth Championship on the East Coast. Two of our other junior sailors won the Trofeo Rizotti International Regatta on Italy’s Lake Garda – an extremely challenging sailing venue. Please help us continue to make a difference by making a donation to the CYC Foundation. Your donation will be put to good use, and you will know that you have helped others participate in what we have been so privileged to enjoy. Simply call our Front Desk (312-861-7777) and ask to make a donation to the CYC Foundation via credit card. Our staff will be happy to assist you.

We look forward to seeing you on November 7!

W.G. Vartan
President
Chicago Yacht Club Foundation

Greg J. Miarecki
Chair
2009 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac

October 12, 2009 (CHICAGO) – The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac Committee is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 Mac Photo Contest. We’d like to thank everyone who participated. With almost 100 boats submitting photos to the contest this year, it was a very difficult decision. The winners are:

Best Artistic Photo, 50 Free, Nick Masters
Best Funny Photo, Willie J, Lexi Petter
Best Photo of Another Boat, EDGE, Jordan Anderson
Best Photo Passing a Mac Landmark, Big Storm, Michael J. Teodecki
Best Photo of Own Boat or Crew, Nautilus, Susan Norvich
Best Photo of Sunrise or Sunset, La Tempete, Michael R. Lucas
Best Teamwork Photo, Chance, Jim Allen

The winning photographer in each category will receive a prize valued at $100 from one of our contest sponsors, Lands’ End Business Outfitters, Crowley’s Yacht Yard and Mount Gay Rum. The awards will be presented at the Mac Awards Dinner on November 7 at the Hyatt Regency. All the finalist photos in each category will be posted at www.chicagoyachtclub.org in the Photo Gallery.