Position Transponders for Race to Mackinac

by Chicago Yacht Club media on 25 Jan 2008 Today, Chicago Yacht Club announced that it will require all participants in the 2008 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac to carry a position transponder. The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Lands' End will start off Chicago's lakefront on July 19, 2008. 2008 marks the 100th running of 'the Mac,' the world's longest annual freshwater sailing distance race.

‘Chicago Yacht Club has long been a pioneer in tracking sailboat races. This year, we will take the next step in that effort by placing position transponders on all entered boats. With all boats being tracked, the Mac will become a spectator sport. Anyone, whether they are located in Chicago, Mackinac Island, or on the other side of the world, will be able to track the hourly progress of any of over 400 boats,’ Greg Miarecki, chair of the 2008 Mackinac Committee remarked. ‘We are very much looking forward to bringing the excitement of the Race to millions of people around the world.’

Chicago Yacht Club has selected iBoattrack as its vendor for race tracking services. iBoattrack has handled a number of large regattas in the past, including the 100th anniversary of the Newport-Bermuda Race in 2006. ‘iBoattrack is pleased to be providing our service to the Chicago Yacht Club for the tracking and mapping of all the boats in the 100th Race to Mackinac. To our knowledge, this will be the largest offshore yacht race ever tracked and are proud to be supporting an event of this caliber,’ Jim Feeney, president of Horizon Marine, Inc., remarked. Horizon Marine is the owner and operator of the iBoattrack system.

Chicago Yacht Club looks forward to staging a world-class, ‘once in a lifetime’ race for skippers and crews. Should you have any questions or concerns about participating in this historic running of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, please contact Amanda Platt, Race Coordinator at 312.861.7777 or at racecoordinator@chicagoyachtclub.org or check out the official race website at www.chicagoyachtclub.org/racetomackinac.

About The Chicago Yacht Club: The Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the world. Today, the club boasts a membership of nearly 1500 boating enthusiasts, and is one of the preeminent organizers of regattas, races and predicted-log events in the United States. The club offers an array of spectacular off-the-water amenities, including fine dining and full-service catering at both its Monroe and Belmont stations.

About Lands' End: Established in 1963, on the promise of delivering high-quality merchandise at a great value, Lands' End® offers a comple te line of clothing and accessories for women, men, children and infants and an innovative collection of fine-quality goods for the home. Lands' End Business Outfitters designs unique uniform programs that offer employees individual choices and helps build the brands of companies of all sizes, including hundreds of Fortune 1,000 companies. And, all Lands' End merchandise is Guaranteed. Period.®