The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust confirmed today that, under newly adopted US Sailing Safety Equipment Requirement (SER) 3.9, AIS transponders will be required for the upcoming 2026 Race.
SER 3.9 requires that: "All boats shall have an AIS Transponder, sharing a masthead VHF antenna via a low-loss AIS antenna splitter. An acceptable alternative is a dedicated AIS antenna that is a minimum of 0.9 meters long, mounted with its base at least 3 meters above the water, and fed with coax that has a maximum 40% power loss."
AIS (Automatic Identification System) Transponders are an essential tool for offshore racing safety. In the 2024 Race to Mackinac, they proved vital when a crew overboard was quickly located and recovered during severe nighttime storm conditions.
In 2019, the Chicago Mackinac Safety Requirements (CMSRs)—the standards governing safety equipment and procedures for all Mac Race competitors—began recommending AIS transponders to foster early fleet-wide adoption. In 2025, the CMSRs announced the transition to a mandatory requirement for the 2026 Race. More than 70% of boats entering the 2025 Race to Mackinac already met the new standard, demonstrating strong readiness within the fleet.
"The safety of our sailors is our highest priority," said Kevin Foote, Chairman of the 2026 Race. "AIS transponders have proven their value in offshore sailing, and adopting this requirement ensures all our competitors will benefit from this important safety technology."
The 117th running of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust, the world’s largest annual offshore race, is set to start July 10-11, 2026.
For more information about the Race to Mackinac, please visit www.cycracetomackinac.com