IMPORTANT ENTRY DATES
December 2, 2025: Entries Open
March 1, 2026: Early Entry Fee Discount Period Ends
June 1, 2026: Entry Deadline
July 1, 2026: Rating Deadline
Welcome to the 117th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust! We’re excited you’re here and want to help you get to the starting line!
THINGS TO KNOW
Registration Opens December 2nd: We’ve streamlined our registration process to make it even easier to compete. If you’ve raced before, you can plan on simply entering the race when registration opens on December 2. For those looking to enter the race for the first time, all you’ll need to do is create a new user profile in our race dashboard prior to entering the race.
Mackinac Island Docking Priority: Your docking preference at the end of the race (Mackinac Island, St. Ignace, or Mackinaw City, or no docking) will be assigned based upon the order you complete the entry requirements–not when you pay your entry fee. Further details will be available in the Notice of Race.
Mixed-Plus Trophy: Building on the race’s commitment to expanding access and growing participation, the Chicago Yacht Club is excited to announce a new “Mixed-Plus” prize, awarded to the top-performing team in each division whose crew has a qualifying percentage of women and/or youth sailors under age 18.
New Entry Incentive: Are you considering entering the Race to Mackinac for the first time? New Entries may qualify for $150 off their entry fee to help offset startup costs to enter the race for the first time. Details below.
How To Enter The Race
1. Do you have a user profile?
If you competed in the Mac Race in 2025, you already have a user profile in which case you should use this same email/password to sign-in using the link above. If not, you’ll be prompted to create your user profile. You will need this for the following steps.
2. Do you have a boat profile?
If you entered a boat in the Mac Race in 2024 or 2025, you already have a boat profile created under your user profile. If you did not compete recently or you did but want to enter a different boat, you’ll need to create a new boat profile.
Once you’re signed in under your user profile, first make sure you’ve enabled “management of boats, crew and race entries” by clicking “My Account” and then click “My Details”. At the bottom of your details page, make sure you toggle on (click) the selector for “I intend to manage boats, crew and race entries”.
Now “My Boats” should appear as a menu item under “My Account” on the left hand side. You can click the green “Add Boat” button or select a previous boat you’ve assigned to your user profile.
3. Register your entry:
Once registration goes live on December 2nd: When logged into your user profile, on the left hand side click on “Events”. This will open a drop down menu. Click on “Enter Events” and you can select the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust to enter.
You will need to enter basic info about your entry (much of which will be pre-filled if you're a past competitor). You will then pay a 25% non-refundable deposit that provisionally secures your spot in the race (subject to your acceptance based on qualifications).
4. Complete your entry:
As soon as you are able, execute the requirements as laid out in the Notice of Race (NoR) by the entry deadline to secure your docking priority. This includes the following:
Pay any remaining balance of your entry fee
Complete your provisional crew list (50% of the anticipated crew, but no fewer than the minimum required crew number and include PIC and RPIC) and include all required items
Submit your application for a US Sailing rating certificate by clicking the link below*
*US Sailing will provide the Mac Committee with a shared list that identifies who has submitted an application, and the status of their application.
Please keep in mind that your entry is considered complete if you have submitted your application for a rating certificate – thus, we recommend completing this step even if you are waiting on new sails, measurement, etc. to finish receipt of your certificate from US Sailing. Submitting your application promptly, even with updates still to come, will make the process easier and faster for you, and for everyone.
safety requirements
Each year the Mackinac Committee carefully reviews and updates the Chicago Mackinac Safety Requirements (CMSRs) that govern the safety gear required for participation in the Race to Mackinac. The 2026 CMSRs are now published and we are alerting competitors of two significant changes that will be of special interest:
1. Each boat will be required to be equipped with an AIS Transponder, and transmit/receive for the entire race. While more that 70% of the 285 boats in the 2025 Mac Race indicated they had an AIS Transponder, approximately 85 boats that were not equipped. Boats will be required to transmit/receive AIS from Pre-start Check-in until after finishing. While AIS transponders are not hugely power hungry, skippers will need to ensure adequate battery/electrical system capacity for this new full-time electrical load.
2. Boats will have the option of substituting a US Coast Guard approved electronic flare ("electronic Visual Distress Signal Device "- eVDSD) + orange distress flag in place of the four required SOLAS hand-held flares. Two SOLAS parachute flares continue to be required. Boats opting to purchase an eVDSD should take care to purchase one of the nine officially US Coast Guard approved devices.
Please click below to view the 2026 CMSRs on the Race Dashboard. Changes from 2025 are highlighted in red.
New Entry Incentive
Are you considering entering the Race to Mackinac for the first time? New entries may qualify for $150 off their entry fee to help offset startup costs to enter the race for the first time. The selections committee will review all requests. Inaugural entries should first complete their entry and then email noobies@cycracetomackinac.com. A race representative will respond as soon as possible once you have completed the requirements due by the entry deadline.