MACKINAC ISLAND, MICH.,July 15, 2024 – After Sunday’s excitement with Maverick breaking the 22-year race record by more than an hour, the 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust has seen a steady pace of finishers. This year's Race has been one of the fastest in years and race organizers expect to have the fleet safely in port by mid-afternoon.
As of Monday morning (10 a.m. ET), already 175 of the 250 boats have completed the race, with the remaining boats quickly funneling through the Straits of Mackinac. Many of the competitors reunited on the docks are comparing how the Saturday night storms impacted them. Three boats dismasted and a successful man overboard recovery incident are hot topics of conversation amongst the crews [more to come].
“I have been involved with the Race for nearly 25 years and this is the quickest Race I can remember,” said Winn Soldani, chair of the 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust. “It’s great to see the harbor already filled and so many smiling faces. I expect many will have a great day ahead enjoying Mackinac Island with their crewmates, friends, and family.”
FOLLOW ALONG! 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 CYC Race to Mackinac social media. We encourage all fans to follow the race on Facebook and Instagram, and stay engaged with the race as much as possible!
About the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac: “America’s Offshore Challenge™”
The Chicago Yacht Club Race to MackinacⓇ 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’ 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 assets of approximately $53 billion whose common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Built on the "HAVE IT ALL" model, Wintrust offers sophisticated technology and resources of a large bank while focusing on providing service-based community banking to each and every customer. Wintrust operates fifteen community bank subsidiaries, with over 170 banking locations located in the greater Chicago and southern Wisconsin market areas. Additionally, Wintrust operates various non-bank business units including business units which provide commercial and life insurance premium financing in the United States, a premium finance company operating in Canada, a company providing short-term accounts receivable financing and value-added out-sourced administrative services to the temporary staffing services industry, a business unit engaging primarily in the origination and purchase of residential mortgages for sale into the secondary market throughout the United States, and companies providing wealth management services and qualified intermediary services for tax-deferred exchanges.