MACKINAC ISLAND, MICH., July 20, 2025 – A slow-motion thriller is shaping up in the 333-mile Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust, with multiple section leaders within shouting distance of each other on Lake Michigan, swapping tacks and trading leads as they claw their way through the Manitou Passage and up into the Mackinac Straits.
As of 9 p.m. ET, only Whitehawk and Cynthia Lyn, two of the Cruising Division competitors, have completed the race out of 285 total entries. The next boat is 65 miles away.
Light winds from the north will continue to plague the boats overnight and there’s no immediate relief in sight for more favorable conditions in the short term, according to Race Chair Winn Soldani. “Wow, it’s really something out there,” said Soldani. “On the tracker I am watching boats going backwards. It’s crazy, but it happens during the Race to Mackinac.”
Soldani’s evening race analysis update predicts the faster boats like the Great Lakes 52s possibly finishing Monday morning, with the remainder of the fleet trickling in throughout Monday and likely into early Tuesday.
Currently, the Great Lakes 52 showdown is between Bob Hughes’ Heartbreaker (winner of last weekend’s Bayview Mackinac Race) and Doug DeVos’s Windquest, but don’t count out previous 52-class winner Philip O’Neil’s Natalie J, trailing the two leaders by just 4 miles.
Across multiple one-design sections, the same story is unfolding with a mile or less separating the top boats. The J/111’s lead battle is currently between Momentus and Striking Back; the Beneteau 40.7’s Clear Air and La Tempete; and Beneteau 36.7’s Joie De Vie and Painkiller 5.
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.