Alchemy leads 2003 Chicago Yacht Club race presented by Lands End

by Event Media on 14 Jul 2003 Light winds are making for challenging racing for the 281 boats and nearly 3,000 sailors competing in the 97th running of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, the world’s longest annual freshwater race.

As of 1:17 p.m. CDT Sunday, Alchemy, an Andrews 77, was the first boat to reach the Manitou Islands, the Race check-in point approximately 102 miles from the finish line, according to Race spokesperson Dick Schweers. Alchemy is owned by Richard and Mary Compton of Santa Barbara, Calif.

As of 8:30 a.m. CDT the Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw reported winds at 10 knots (11.6 mph) out of the Southeast from its location south of the Manitou Islands, Schweers said.

'Conditions on the lake are much calmer than last year, which was one of the fastest Macs in recent history,' said Schweers. 'Many believed Alchemy could beat the record finish time set last year by Roy Disney’s Pyewacket, however, the winds have not been cooperating.' The Pyewacket record of 23:30:24 in 2002 beat the previous record finish time of 25:50:44 set in 1987 by Dick Jennings’ Pied Piper.

'Winds have been very fluky so far,' said racer Shawn O’Neill of the Sydney 38 Eagle via satellite phone. 'It’s been a very tricky race tactically, as we have been running into small pockets of wind.'

The public can follow the progress of the boats up Lake Michigan to Mackinac Island, at www.chicagoyachtclub.org/racetomackinac.

The Race to Mackinac is Chicago Yacht Club’s world-renowned race that challenges the endurance, speed and agility of skippers and crewmembers from around the globe each year. The 333-mile race from Chicago to Mackinac Island at the northern end of Lake Michigan is the world’s longest freshwater race and one of the most prestigious in the United States.

'The Mac' is a handicapped race with four divisions: Mackinac Cup Division, made up of larger boats; Chicago-Mackinac Trophy Division, made up of smaller boats; Multihull Division; and Open division. Each division is scored separately and boats compete only with others in their division.

As a result, there are four overall winners based on handicapped, corrected time and four First-To-Finish honors are awarded based on the fastest elapsed time.

New to the race this year, all monohull boats are being scored using the US SAILING AMERICAP II TM handicap system, which allows for boats of different sizes to compete against each other more equitably. This new system will provide significantly more competitive racing while continuing to reward preparation, skill and perhaps, a llittle luck. Multihull boats continue to sail under lake Michigan Performance Handicapped Racing Federation (LMPRFH) handicaps.

Also new to the Race to Mackinac this year is its presenting sponsor, Lands’End Business Outfitters, a division of direct merchant Lands’ End.

The start of the race was on Lake Michigan approximately 1.5 miles east of Chicago’s Monroe Harbor. Prior to the start, competing boats paraded for the public past Navy Pier with their ceremonial flags raised. The finish line for the race is the lighthouse on Round Island, off Mackinac Island, Michigan.

The 2003 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Lands’ End marks the 105th anniversary of the race’s founding in 1898 and the 97th running of the event. Several years passed between the first and second running of the race and the event was also suspended for a period following the United States’ entry into World War I. The challenging conditions on Lake Michigan require the best of racing, tactics, strategy and boat speed.

Participation in 'The Mac' is by invitation only from Chicago Yacht Club.