Chicago Yacht Club’s 102nd Race to Mackinac - great start to running

by Chicago Yacht Club on 26 Jul 2010 Chicago Yacht Club’s 102nd Race to Mackinac, presented by Veuve Clicquot, got off to a start of smooth sailing Saturday July 24, 2010. Storms in the Chicago area, made way from prime conditions at start line with winds of up to 20 knots out of the southwest - west, making for a nice spinnaker start for many boats.

After an hour following the start, Vice Chairman of the Race to Mackinac, Winn Soldani (Evanston, Ill. ) gave the report of winds ranging between 10 and 20 knots and boat speeds between 6 and 8 knots. Soldani is racing as a crew member aboard ‘Tried & True’, a Beneteau 36.7. He also reported lots of flies so far along the race course.

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Due to a collision at the start line of the Beneteau 40.7 division, Katie Goldman (Chesterton, Ind.) on ‘Rhumb Runner’had to withdraw from the competition.

‘Ocean Adventure’, an Ocean 60 sailing in the Cruising division of the race, skippered by John Callahan (Chicago, Ill.), was struck by lightning on the course to Mackinac Island. All the crew are safe, but the boat was forced to drop out of the race due to the damages sustained.

Due to equipment malfunction, Steven Pelke’s (Chicago, Ill.) ‘Stingray’, Conrad Rieckhoff’s (Wilmette, Ill.) ‘Yankee’, and Kevin Farrell’s (St.Louis, Mo.) ‘Banshee’ have withdrawn from the race.

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A few hours ago, Soldani followed up with the following report 'After light winds in early evening, fresh NE'ly winds overnight have had us beating. Now tacking up the Michigan shore. 3-5 foot waves are making for a wet ride. At least the flies are gone!'

Here on the Island, the tent is beginning to buzz with anticipation of the first boats to arrive. With Turbo 'Beau Geste' of Hong Kong making way past Charlevoix, people are starting to take bets if we'll have a Sunday finisher.

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