The 117th Race to Mackinac kicks off Friday from Chicago, where 252 sailing vessels embark on a 333-mile journey across Lake Michigan to Mackinac Island.
“It’s the perfect place to race to,” sailor Teddy Graham told NBC Chicago. “I grew up in the Midwest, and this is kind of the summer highlight in the Midwest.”
Graham and his crewmate Griffin Bell spent much of Thursday making last minute adjustments to their vessel, checking equipment, and loading up provisions.
“I have not looked at the forecast too much,” Bell said. “I kind of just go with the wind as it blows.”
Australian Olympic medalist in small boat racing Tom Burton is part of a 13-man crew taking The Heartbreaker from Chicago to Mackinac. It’s his first Mac race.
“We want to make sure everything is working, all the sails go up and down. Hopefully try to find the conditions we might see in the race,” he said.
Seasoned Mac racer Sarah Renz represents one of 12 teams with 50% or more female sailors. There’s also a new award this year for the mixed-plus division.
“Sailing in one sport where it’s not divided. You always can sail against men and men can always sail against women. t’s a really cool effort the yacht club is making,” Renz said. Her college-aged daughter is racing against her.
Richard Stearns has done 52 Mac races. This year he’s racing for a personal cause; prostate cancer awareness. After being diagnosed 10 years ago. Sailing was a welcome distraction. This year, he’s ready for anything.
“It’s beautiful out there and after you have cancer, I’m alive. I’m sitting here with you talking to you. And It’s kind of good,” he said.
The Race to Mackinac, which is the largest offshore race in the world, happens rain or shine.
“It looks like there’s going to be a bit of a wind shift on late Saturday, perhaps and that’ll take some time to happen, so there may very well be a dead period. But you know, it’s one of the things that makes this race really cool,” Chair of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac Committee Kevin Foote told NBC Chicago. He’s also racing this year.
Severe storms in 2024 made for a record-setting year. One of the fastest fleets in race history. Maverick set a new monohull record at 22 hours, 24 minutes, and 23 seconds.
The race starts Friday with the cruising division taking off at 3 p.m. The racing division takes off Saturday at 11 a.m.
Boats can be seen launching in waves from Monroe to Montrose Harbors. It’s expected the first vessels will arrive to Mackinac sometime Sunday afternoon.
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