Spithill wins Mackinac race on board Genuine Risk

by BMWOracle Racing on 23 Jul 2008 'Genuine Risk', with BMW ORACLE Racing’s James Spithill on board as a helmsman and Watch Captain, has crossed the finish line first at the 100th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac on Lake Michigan.

The Oliver/Dubois 90 canting-keeler Genuine Risk has the highest handicap of all competing boats in the Turbo (monohull) Class. Genuine Risk is owned by Randall Pittman and completed the 290 miles-long course in 35 hours 8 minutes and 42 seconds.

The race was started on Saturday in thunderstorms and variable wind conditions. Genuine Risk established an early lead and finished 48 minutes ahead of her strongest rival, 'Windquest'.

'The race was very tactical,' Spithill said. 'We did not have not much sleep keeping the boat pushing through the thunder storms and changing weather. We had a great battle with Windquest who after modifying the boat have been very similar on performance.'

'With 50 miles to go we were next to each other, but then were able to extend away Sunday night/early Monday morning to the finish. The Mac race was a lot of fun with a great team. Randall Pittman dedicated the race to Mark Rudiger who passed away just before the race.'

Rudiger, 53, was one of sailing’s top offshore racing navigators. He has navigated 14 Transpacs and two Volvo Ocean Races. On short notice, he guided Paul Cayard's EF Language to victory in 1997-98 and Assa Abloy to second place as co-skipper in 2001-02.

The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, extending most of the length of Lake Michigan, is the longest annual freshwater race in the world.