CHICAGO, July 19, 2025 – The 116th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust is officially underway, as the Racing Division set sail earlier today under rainy skies and light winds.
Chicagoans on shore who braved the weather and came out to the lakefront were treated to seeing the 244 racing sailboats ghost along the shoreline as they sailed the "Skyline Sprint" toward the new "Lakeshore Legacy Mark" off of Montrose Harbor.
Currently the 41 boats in the Cruising Division, which began yesterday afternoon, is over a third of the way up Lake Michigan and now close to the Michigan side of the lake. Race fans can follow the boats in real time thanks to virtual race tracking.
HOW TO WATCH: Live Race Tracking and CYCRTM social media
Fans will be able to follow both the cruising and racing fleets via YB Tracking HERE.
Each boat is equipped with a satellite tracker that sends GPS information (location, speed, and direction) every 15 minutes and displays the location and track on the race course.
Social Media
Race organizers will be actively posting updates to Race to Mackinac social media. We encourage all fans to follow the race on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and stay engaged with the race as much as possible!
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About the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust
The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust is one of the world’s largest annual offshore regattas, drawing top-notch sailing talent from around North America and the world. Known as ‘The Mac Race’ to everyone in the region, the ultimate test of Great Lakes navigation starts each July just off Chicago’s famous Navy Pier. While passing through some of the most beautiful coastal waters in the world on the 333-mile race route (289 nautical miles), the fleet faces the storms, reefs, calms, and competition that truly make it “America’s Offshore Challenge™.” Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Learn more at www.cycracetomackinac.com.
ABOUT CHICAGO YACHT CLUB: Founded in 1875, the Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the world. Its mission is to encourage, promote, and develop knowledge, participation, and enjoyment of all aspects of yachting. To that end, the Club hosts many world class competitions and Predicted-Log events, including its signature Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac and numerous North American and World Championships. The Club is also recognized as a leader in sailing education, with one of the largest junior sailing programs in the United States. The Club is home to nearly 1500 members, including winning America’s Cup skippers, Olympic medalists and hopefuls, and outstanding boaters of all types, from ages 4 to 104. The Club offers an array of spectacular off-the-water amenities, including fine dining, full-service catering, and year-round activities for its diverse membership at two locations on the city’s shoreline, at Monroe and Belmont Harbors. Learn more at chicagoyachtclub.org.
ABOUT WINTRUST: Wintrust is a financial holding company with $65.9 billion in assets whose common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Guided by its “Different Approach, Better Results®” philosophy, Wintrust offers the sophisticated resources of a large bank while providing a community banking experience to each customer. Wintrust operates more than 200 retail banking locations through 16 community bank subsidiaries in the greater Chicago, southern Wisconsin, west Michigan, northwest Indiana, and southwest Florida market areas. In addition, Wintrust operates various non-bank business units, providing residential mortgage origination, wealth management, commercial and life insurance premium financing, short-term accounts receivable financing/outsourced administrative services to the temporary staffing services industry, and qualified intermediary services for tax-deferred exchanges. For more information, please visit wintrust.com.