No flies but no fliers for Chicago-Mackinac
by Event Media on 19 Jul 2005
The Chicago-Mackinac trophy class leaving the starting line Eric Kasnick
She was followed two minutes later by Denali, a Great Lakes 70 skippered by William F. McKinley of the Bayview Yacht Club.
A squall blew through the course at approximately 0500 hours. Sailors report some increase in wind speed during the storm, which was memorable for its frequent and explosive bolts of lightning. Following the storm, winds settled in the northern third of the course from the southwest at approximately 15-20 knots. Further storms are expected on Mackinac Island later today.
As of 1330 hours on Monday, more than 100 of the 290 remaining competitors had finished the race. Dozens of colorful spinnakers could be seen under the Mackinac Bridge throughout the morning and early afternoon on Monday. The leading Tartan 10 was at Gray's Reef at 1200 hours on Monday.
Among the earliest arriving boats was Goblin, skippered by Chicago Yacht Club member Lindy Thomas. Crossing the finish line 43 hours, 19 minutes and 22 seconds after his start on Saturday afternoon, Thomas completed his 35th consecutive Chicago-Mackinac Race. In each of his 35 Macs, Thomas has both owned and skippered his boats, which have always been called Goblin. Thomas reported that Goblin never saw winds below four and one half knots and experienced average speeds of seven knots. Thomas and his crew were glad to report to those at the race finish that his young crew saw no flies and enjoyed 3 hot meals during their trip to the Island.
This year's race, expected to be slow and ‘buggy,’ was in fact faster than expected. As one crew member of the yacht Sea Note observed, ’This was a no jacket, no flies Mac’. Sea Note was skippered by Chicago Yacht Club member Rochard Wolney, Jr. Sea Note was the flagship yacht of Chicago-Mackinac Race sponsor LaSalle Bank.
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