The Race to Mackinac Chairman Martin Sandoval and the entire Chicago Yacht Club would like to take a moment to recognize and thank our incredible Race Committee volunteers who will be running the 112th Race to Mackinac. This event would not be possible without your dedication, professionalism, and commitment to on the water safety. Thank you for all you do, see you on the water!
CHICAGO YACHT CLUB REGATTA RACE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
CHAIR: Tom Sublewski
VICE CHAIR: Jen Steffler
Nancy Arnold, Becky Ashburn, Janet Baxter, Beth Burtt, Christopher Collins, Darcy Cook, Collien D’Agostino, Jill Danly, Kristine Edmunds, Helle Getz, Chuck Goes, Richard Gray, Joanne Guennewig, Freddi Brown, David Hughes, Vicki Johnson, Mary Judd, Michael Kamerlink, Lloyd Karzen, Rachel Levine, Elissa Magnatowski, Mary McCarthy, Karen McLane, Jane McMillan, Barb Mehaffey, Stan Mehaffey, Liz Real, Mimi Rose, Ellen Sanpere, Amy Schwartz, Jerry Sebold, Laura Sigmond, Nancy Sindelar, Mike Kaspar, Jennifer Steffler, Tom Sublewski
PRINCIPAL RACE OFFICER: Helle Getz
Helle getz
The 112th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac serves as Helle's 47th Mac Race as a member of the Chicago Yacht Club Race Committee. Longtime CYC member Helle serves on the Race to Mac Committee, and has volunteered in multiple roles over the years for various racing events, such as PRO and DRO for our Verve Cup Regattas, the Sailing World Chicago NOOD Regattas, our Power Fleet Navigational Rallies and Predicted Log events, as well as numerous others. Come Fall, Helle oversees the Mac trophies and flags at the official Prize Giving Ceremony for the Chicago Race to Mac held each November.
In the winter months, Helle serves on the St. Pete Yacht Club Race Committee in various roles, as well as other committees and volunteer posts and is active in her community and local ladies clubs.
The Chicago Yacht Club is extremely grateful for Helle's leadership on the race course, her passion for the water and dedication to the success of our signature event, the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, "America's Offshore Challenge".
112th RACE TO MACKINAC JUDGES
CHIEF JUDGE: Donald Makowiecki
DONALD MAKOWIECKI
Don Makowiecki has been a sailor most of his life, sailing in Europe, the Mediterranean and along the east coast of the Americas from Newfoundland to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He is a longtime racer, competing on boats ranging in size from 30 to 50 feet. He has sailed 12-meter America’s Cup boats for many years and was a crewmember on Freedom when she won the America’s Cup 150th Anniversary in Cowes, England. He is a certified World Sailing International judge and a US Sailing National judge and umpire. He holds a US Coast Guard Captain’s License and a European Ships Master License.
He is a past commodore of the South Bay Scooter Club, an iceboating club and is the author of a book on iceboat construction. Don is a longtime member of the Storm Trysail Club. He served on the Chicago Yacht Club race to Mackinac Protest Committee in 2017 and was the Chief Judge in 2019.
Makowiecki is the owner of SupportBoats.com, a racing services company located in Newport, Rhode Island.
PC SECRETARY: Mike Kaspar
MIKE KASPAR
Mike Kaspar caught the sailing bug in 2002 after seeing the America’s Cup on TV. He became an active crew member in the Benetau 40.7 fleet and a member of Columbia Yacht Club shortly thereafter. He started judging in 2006 and umpiring in 2011.
Mike has been a National Judge since 2018 and National Umpire since 2011. He has judged at at numerous offshore, inshore, and youth events, including the 2018 Farr Worlds, 2018 M32 Worlds, and Chicago NOODs and Verve Cup events since 2006. He is currently the Regional Administrative Judge for Area K and a member of the US Sailing Judges committee.
Mike is a Director at the CME Group in their Global Command Center in Chicago, supporting clients in Chicago, London, and New York.
JAMES WALSH
Jim Walsh has been a National Judge since 2002 and a National Race officer since 2017. He has recently judged at 2019 12 Meter World Championships and Star North American Championships, and served as Chief Judge of the 2019 Annapolis NOOD and the 2019 US Sailing Youth Championships. Jim has also served several roles in the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association, most recently as a member of their appeals committee. He is currently the Regional Administrative Judge for Area C, member of the US Sailing Judges committee, a member of the US Sailing Review Board, and a past director of US Sailing.
Jim is also an accomplished sailor, currently as driver of the J/88 One Too Many, and was previously the tactician on a King 40, crew member on a Melges 24, and owner-driver of a Henderson 30.
Jim is the Director of Technology at Cedar Grove School district in New Jersey.
Sarah ashton
Sarah Ashton is the Commodore of the Charleston Yacht Club and the Chairman of the US Sailing Judges Committee. She has 40 years of active racing experience, including both one-design and PHRF racing boats including Melges 24, E Scow, J27 and J30s.
She has been a certified US Sailing Senior/National Judge since 1987 and serves as the chief judge of the Charleston Ocean Racing Association. She has judged at the last four Charleston Race Weeks in addition to other major events including the VX One North America Championship, Melges 24 National Championship, Beneteau 36.7 National Championships, and the USODA National Championship. Sarah served on the Chicago Yacht Club race to Mackinac Protest Committee in 2019.