In addition to required safety equipment, some suggested items to plan for are meals, hydration, basic kitchenware, layered clothing, foul weather gear including offshore boots, and sun protection. We recommend contacting experienced teams to learn best practices.

Skippers/Owners typically provide food for the team that will last through the race. Many teams opt for premade meals that can quickly be heated or individual dehydrated meals.

Yes! We provide trackers to each entry which transmit your location during the race. It’s always fun for family and friends to watch the competition unfold during the race!

If you choose to stay on Mackinac Island, accommodations are at your discretion. We advise contacting hotels on the island as soon as possible to ensure you have a place to stay upon arrival.

There are several ways to get home from Mackinac Island. You can arrange for your own private transportation by car from Mackinaw City/St. Ignace. There is also a private airfield on the island that competitors will use for small group flights. The majority of competitors have friends or family drive a vehicle up to the island during the race to shuttle delivery gear, personal items, and provide a return trip.

The Chicago Yacht Club also arranges for return transit each year by private bus. These spaces fill up fast so please keep an eye out for when tickets go on sale.

Of course, many competitors also depart the island on their vessel and enjoy a beautiful delivery back often stopping at ports along the way.

All important Race documents can be found on our official notice board. To view, please CLICK HERE

How can I contact the Race if I have a question?

Please find below a list of email addresses and their recommended use:

regattamanager@cycracetomackinac.com – This email address will connect you directly with the Mac Committee who can either assist you with your request or will kindly refer you as needed.

selections@cycracetomackinac.com – If you have entered the Race, please use this email to connect with the selections committee regarding questions about your entry suitability of your boat and crew.

noobies@cycracetomackinac.com – Inaugural entries and first timers, we recommend using this email address to ask any question regarding competing in the Race for the first time. If you’re an inaugural entry, please use this email to inquire about waiving a portion of your entry fee as part of our inaugural entry incentive.

protest@cycracetomackinac.com – In exceptional circumstances, protests may be written and sent in an electronic message to this email address per NoR 16.5.

chiefinspector@cycracetomackinac.com – If you have questions about safety requirements, equipment, drills, or inspecting your boat before the race, email here.

chiefmeasurer@cycracetomackinac.com – Boat ratings and application of the rating rules can be complicated, nuanced and detailed. Please use this email to ask questions related to how the race uses IMS, ORC and GLMRA, and how we can help you obtain and understand your rating.

December 2, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. CST

CLICK HERE to register through our CYC Race Management Portal.

1. Do you have a user profile?

   If you competed in the Mac Race in 2024, you likely already have a user profile in which case you should use this same email/password to sign-in using the link above. If not, please click “Sign up now” to create your user profile on our race management portal. You will need this for the following steps

2. Do you have a boat profile?

   If you competed in the Mac Race in 2024, you likely already have a boat profile created under your user profile. If you did not compete in 2024 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:

   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 to enter the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust.

   You will need to enter basic info about your entry (much of which will be pre-filled if you're a past competitor) which includes: boat name, sail number, type, hull type & material, LOA, onboard mobile, email address. 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 require crew number and include PIC and RPIC) and include all required items per NoR 4.2

• Submit your application for a rating certificate

We’ve been made aware that US Sailing will not begin accepting applications for 2025 ORC rating certificates until mid/late-December 2024 and we recognize this is incongruous with completing your entry. Per NoR 7.3.3, entries must submit their application for a rating certificate to be marked complete.

Once applications open, US Sailing will provide the Mac Committee with a shared list that identifies who has submitted an application, and the status of their application.

If you’ve applied for certificates in the past two years, US Sailing will send you an email when applications open. If you’re new to applying, please email offshore@ussailing.org to be added to their list to be notified.

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.

Qualification is based on your vessel meeting design and safety criteria as listed in the Notice of Race (NoR) and Chicago Mackinac Safety Requirements (CMSRs). At a minimum, all vessels must be 26 feet long (24 feet if a multihull).

You will need to enable your online profile to manage boats, crew and race entries. Within your user profile select My Accounts >> My Details. At the bottom, make sure “I intend to manage boats, crew and race entries” is enabled (selected green). Once this is enabled you will see a My Boats section appear in your user profile menu.

GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) is the term used to describe fiberglass hulls.

Among many qualifications, the selections committee considers the number of overnight races and passages already completed – by all crew including the skipper/PIC – on comparable boats. For example, any previous Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac and Bayview Race to Mackinac experience is often a key indicator of a boat’s readiness. Comparable offshore overnight racing experience on comparable boats can be used as qualification and should be submitted as well.

Please be sure to be specific when listing your experience and avoid answering vaguely (i.e. “lots” or “many races”).

To commemorate Chicago Yacht Club’s 150th Anniversary, 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.

A thorough list of limitations for the Cruising Division is included in the NoR. Boats competing in the Cruising Division are restricted in the use of whisker and spinnaker poles and have headsail limitations, staysail limitations, and spinnaker limitations.

To request recognition of a new one-design class please email regattamanager@cycracetomackinac.com with the following information:

• One-design class rules

• Ensure you have a minimum of 8 boats to enter

• Indicate if you would prefer to score within the class using handicapped or elapsed time

Oftentimes, the “crew list” is where we see the highest delinquency when entering the Race. When you enter the race, you will be required to enter a minimum number of crew members for your entry to be marked as “complete”. However, we recommend completing your entire crew list as soon as possible.

All crew members must create their own account (user profile) through our race management portal in which they will list their contact information, experience, and any relevant safety equipment ID numbers.

Crew experience is where we see many questions and it is IMPORTANT. A crew member’s experience is used when evaluating an entry and can be valuable in an emergency situation. 

We recommend each crew member supply a concise history of his/her offshore experience including: the types of sailing and/or races you have competed in, over what period, on what types of boats, and what your duties were. The less experience you have, the more detail you should provide and be sure to list any specialized training you have that enhances your abilities and value as a crew member on a Mac Race. Answers such as “lots” or “many races” are unacceptable.

When entering the Race, each entry’s crew list should have at least 50% of crew (no fewer than 4) per the NoR. We recommend this crew as the core/most experienced crew members and PIC/RPIC must be indicated.

At check-in, an entry’s crew list must be complete which includes all members plus their safety qualifications: Safety at Sea requirements, completed safety drills per the NoR.

If, due to an emergency, you must make a change after your crew list is marked “finalized” at check-in, you must immediately notify us at regattamanager@cycracetomackinac.com.

If you do not enter by the final entry deadline, your entry is at the discretion of the race committee. Your entry can be assessed the 25% late entry fee or rejected completely.

You can find the full list of this year’s safety requirements (CMSR) HERE.

Yes. All entries must satisfy all safety requirements. These requirements have been developed according to national and international standards for offshore racing as well as 115 years of racing to Mackinac Island on Lake Michigan.

All monohulls require a valid ORC Club (ORCc) or ORC International (ORCi) certificate with a minimum stability index of 103.

Boats with moveable ballast, or certificate holders without a published stability index may provide other acceptable means of compliance per U.S. Sailing Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) Appendix K to be reviewed by the selections committee.

Only you can determine the answer to this question. However, we can say that these skills are honed over time and the race will provide several opportunities to learn about meteorology and navigation in the months leading up to the race. If you are still unsure, please contact the race and we can advise on additional skill development opportunities.

The Person-in-Charge, Reserve Person-In-Charge, and all minor crew (under age 18) must hold one (or more) of the following Safety at Sea Training Certificates that is valid through the start of the Race:

• US Sailing Offshore Safety at Sea

• US Sailing International Offshore Safety at Sea with Hands-on Training

• Storm Trysail Club Junior Safety at Sea

• An equivalent valid Certificate issued by another World Sailing Member National Authority. (Such certificates to be reviewed by and at the discretion of the Race for compliance.)

In total, at least 50% of a boat’s crew must hold one of the above training certificates. Also, on or before Race Check-in, the PIC will be required to attest completion of safety training for which at least 75% of the crew, including the PIC and RPIC, shall have completed Crew Safety Drills as described in the CMSR.

We recommend at least two (2) members of the crew shall have completed a First Aid and CPR training recognized by US Sailing as meeting World Sailing first aid training requirements for Categories 1 and 2 offshore races.

CLICK HERE to view US Sailing's list of recognized First Aid/CPR training courses

All boats are to be made available for inspection between Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 1000hrs and the start. The Race reserves the right to conduct an inspection of any competitor’s boat at any time. Additionally, boats may be selected and notified for a safety inspection before the Race, in which case the PIC shall promptly contact the Technical Committee to schedule it.

Boats may independently request an inspection to verify their compliance with the safety requirements at registration through the CYC race management portal.

Please contact Chicago Yacht Club and inquire about availability and recommendations at both the Monroe and Belmont Harbor Stations. Many competitors choose to reserve transient dockage with the Chicago Harbors.

At the finish of the Race, docking assignments are assigned by race management with priority in docking preference given by order of completed race entry. This docking preference is the entry’s choice between Mackinac Island, St. Ignace, Mackinaw City, or no docking. It does not give priority to specific individual assignments (i.e. a specific dock at Mackinac Island) which are allocated at the discretion of race management. Due to limited dockage, some vessels may be directed to the docks at St. Ignace or Mackinaw City on the mainland, a short ferry ride away. 

All boats may be required to raft, so we strongly encourage all vessels to come prepared with the necessary equipment to ensure safe and secure docking. This includes dock lines, fenders, and fender boards. Proper preparation not only ensures the safety of your vessel but also promotes a smooth and cooperative docking experience for everyone involved. Please plan ahead and equip your boat accordingly to facilitate a hassle-free rafting process.

Request a reservation by e-mailing dockmaster@chicagoyachtclub.org on or after May 15 and no later than seven days prior to the start. Please include:

1. Name of the boat

2. Name and cell phone number of the person in charge of the boat while moored at CYC

3. Estimated date and time of arrival

4. Boat's home port

5. Boat’s LOA and beam

6. The preferred docking location (Monroe or Belmont)

At all times while docked at CYC prior to the start of The Race or at any Post-Finish CYCMC-provided docking location, the skipper shall be reachable at the cell phone number indicated in the online Entry Profile.

Any boat seeking dockage at CYC is subject to rafting as directed by the Dockmaster.

Boats unable or unwilling to comply with these docking regulations must make their own arrangements for alternate docking.

Upon arrival in Chicago, boats should contact the Dockmaster via VHF Channel 73 and ask for docking instructions.

Please do not tie up to any vacant space or raft position without the Dockmaster’s prior approval.

All boats docking at CYC must have adequate fenders and lines for mooring and rafting.

The Dockmaster may direct boats to move. All boats shall comply with any reasonable request from the Dockmaster.

At least one crew member, capable of moving the boat if directed, must remain on the boat or the premises of the CYC station where the boat is docked between 0800 CDT and 2000 CDT whenever docked at CYC.

Competitor boats that are regularly moored in Chicago harbors are not permitted to occupy slip or seawall space, including rafting, at CYC from 2200 CDT Wednesday prior to the start until 1200 CDT Saturday of the start, unless directed by the Dockmaster on a temporary basis to load supplies.

No later than Wednesday 1100 hrs (EDT), all boats shall have vacated their allocated docking unless they have previously secured arrangements for continued berthing with the Mackinac Island State Harbor.

Not all boats that compete in the Race to Mackinac are the same – in fact, besides one-design classes, most of the boats are very different! Thus, in order to compete fairly, the race is governed by a rating rule so boats of various sizes can compete against one another.

The Race to Mackinac is governed by the ORC (Offshore Rating Congress: either ORCc or ORCi) for monohulls and GLMRA (Great Lakes Multihull Racing Association) for multihulls. All boats that enter the Race must hold a respective rating certificate issued by their respective authority (ORCc, ORCi, or GLMRA) which is submitted with your entry.

For Multihulls, applications can may be requested from:

GLMRA
www.glmra.org
GLMRA.Ratings@gmail.com

For Monohulls, you can learn about ORC ratings and submit your application for an ORC rating certificate:

US Sailing Offshore Office
www.ussailing.org/competition/offshore/orc/
If you require additional help, you can contact the office at offshore@ussailing.org

The Offshore Office will begin accepting applications in December and expects to begin processing ratings in February when the latest version of the VPP (velocity prediction program) is available. Check on their website (above) to stay up to date. 

If you have never had an ORC rating, you can search the ORC database to see if your same boat model has had a rating anywhere else. If there is still no record of a rating for your vessel, simply contact the Offshore Office to get started.

Contact the US Sailing Offshore Office, and they can put you in touch with a measurer in your area, or one who would be willing to travel. Make sure to plan this process early since much of the work will need to be done after your boat is in the water, and the time window is short between launch season and the race. Make sure to complete everything else in your application and inform the Offshore Office that you are expecting to be measured in the spring. There is no reason to hold up your entire application for only a few parts of it. As long as you have the rest of your application complete, and you have been in contact with the Offshore Office to make them aware of your coming measurement, we can consider that a complete application. 

You can begin the process at: www.ussailing.org/competition/offshore/services/#measurement-certification

Email the US Sailing Offshore Office (offshore@ussailing.org), and let them know you bought a boat which you believe is already in their system. Include a previous certificate if you have one. They will likely be able to transfer the boat to your email in their system. They may wish to make the transfer before their application window opens. 

Transferring the boat to your email address can save you work, and make it easier on their end, too. When the office is ready for applications, you'll be able to do something closer to a renewal, rather than a brand-new application from scratch. Much of the info they need about your boat will already be in the application for you as it can carry over with a renewal. Of course, you will be able to make updates - sails, owner, etc. - with your ‘renewal.’

Yes. No changes to rating certificates are permitted after June 30, 2025 other than as described in NoR. In addition, any changes after June 1, 2025 will need to be authorized by the Technical Committee.

Under the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) Appendix G, “the letters and numbers identifying the boat shall be clearly legible when the sail is set” - “clearly legible” is at the discretion of the Race. Generally, dark numbers on dark sails are not acceptable. If in doubt about the legibility of the sail number, please contact the Technical Committee for advice and to avoid a potential penalty.

For example: If the boat cannot be identified over the finish line, then it is nearly impossible to get redress per 90.3(c) and the boat can never fulfill “no fault of her own”. In extreme circumstances, bad numbers could mean DNF even if everyone knows the boat crossed the finish line.

Pre-race check-in is done at Chicago Yacht Club Monroe Station at the following dates & times:

• All Divisions: July 17 - 1200-1900 hrs

• Cruising Division: July 18 - 1000-1100 hrs

• Racing Divisions Only: July 18 - 1000-1600 hrs

The race committee will have representatives stationed at the harbor master building at the center of the Mackinac Island State Harbor docks. Alternatively, you can also seek out the race committee operating the finish line at Windermere Point.

First to Finish: The first boat in each of the following groups will receive a First to Finish award:

1. Racing Monohull

2. Multihull Division

3. Cruising Division

Overall Division Winners: 1st - 3rd Overall prizes will be awarded in the following Divisions:

1. Racing Monohull Division – Mackinac Cup Classes

2. Racing Monohull Division – Mackinac Trophy Classes

3. Multihull Division

4. Cruising Division

Class Winners: Prizes to boats within each class will be awarded per below:

• 19 boats or fewer: 1st - 3rd

• 20-24 boats: 1st - 4th

• 25 or more boats: 1st - 5th

CYCRTM + BYCRTM Lowest Corrected Time Award: Presented to the monohull with the lowest combined corrected time that competed in one of the CYCRTM Racing Divisions and sailed the longest course distance offered in the Bayview Mackinac Race. No special entry form is required.

Team Challenge Trophy: Awarded to the best team of three monohulls that compiles the lowest combined finish score in each of their respective Award Divisions.

1. A team shall consist of three monohull boats from the following Award Divisions:

   1. Mackinac Cup

   2. Mackinac Trophy

   3. Cruising

2. A team may have no more than one (1) boat from the Cruising Division.

3. No boat may enter as part of more than one team.

4. A minimum of six entered teams are required by July 1 for the Team Challenge Trophy to be awarded.

5. An entry form is available on the Official Notice Board.

6. A competing team must submit an application to the Regatta Manager no later than July 1.

7. The lowest combined finish score for a team will be calculated by adding the total of each team member’s ordinal placement in its Award division divided by the number of boats that competed in its respective Award division, multiplied by 100.

8. Any team members scored in The Race with an abbreviation under RRS A10 other than the following will be scored 101:

   1. DPI

   2. SCP

   3. RDG

   4. ATP

9. The IC of each of the three boats in the winning team shall receive prizes.

Please check back for updates on how you can register to compete for the Team Challenge Trophy.