Boat U.S. - May 2008 - (Page 24) Chicago to Mac’s 1 00 th Lap A record 460 boats will compete in the 100th Photos courtesy of Chicago Yacht Club Chicago-Mackinac Race in July. It was a great day for Great Lakes sailors in 1970 when Lake will often serve up both extremes in any given race. It attracts Michigan muted “The Mouth from the South” in the Chicagoworld-class competitors like software magnate Larry Ellison, Roy Mackinac sailing race. Disney and the late Steve Fossett. That’s because this sweetwater sea caused superstar ocean Veterans of international offshore races like the Trans-Pac, racer and media mogul-to-be, Ted Turner, to swallow his sarcastic the Fastnet, the Sydney-Hobart and the Volvo Ocean Race line pre-race comments about 24 hours into the world’s longest annual up for invitations to enter. Sailors from Maine to California put freshwater sailing race, which marks its 100th this race on their calendars and each year the Mac running this July. hosts teams and boats from as far away as Hong Asked at dockside before the start about Kong, New Zealand and Australia to compete against the forecast for potential storm conditions in hundreds of everyday sailors from throughout the northern waters, Turner reportedly feigned fear, Great Lakes region. replying, “Yeah, I’m really scared.” Sponsored by the Chicago Yacht Club, one of That was prior to the 60-knot, sail shredthe nation’s oldest, founded in 1875, “the Chicagoding reality check Turner and his 12-meter Mac” will commence July 19, two miles off Navy sloop American Eagle later endured in the Pier, with a record field of 460 entries from 17 states Manitou Passage. and 12 nations. “I publicly retract anything and everything Mac Memories I have ever said about inland sailing,” he is “The people over all those years who have comreported to have told his crew during the storm, mitted extensive pieces of their lives to making this a quote widely — and perhaps rather gleefully race better and continuing its legacy are a testament — reported throughout the Great Lakes sailing to what a powerful draw the Mac really is,” says community, and even recalled to this day. This is no sail across some “mill pond,” as The Mackinac Cup dates to 1906. George Wolf, who chaired the race for three years, from 1996 to 1998, following two years as vice Turner had characterized the lake in the earlier chair. Just finishing a Chicago-Mac engenders pride exchange. The northerly gale that piped up that in every competitor, he notes. year beat on the fleet’s nose for 16 hours straight and out of 167 “Yes, it’s a tradition, it’s an event but it’s a tough race, too, starters, 88 boats dropped out. and very challenging,” Wolf adds. “For many people I’ve known At 333 miles on the rhumbline, the Chicago-Mac is a test of through the years, their first real test of life was the Chicagosailing skill and seamanship. Lake Michigan, second largest of the Mackinac Race.” Great Lakes, is a vast expanse of water with a reputation for winds From its modest beginning on Aug. 6, 1898 when five that can range from fickle one year to ferocious the next, and 24 BoatU.S. Magazine May 2008
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