Is is the 2008 Chicago - Mac fleet a World record?

by Media Services on 12 Jul 2008 At 333- miles, The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac is the longest annual freshwater distance race in the world, and 2008 will could also set the mark as the largest offshore sailing fleet in the world!

The Mac, as it is affectionately been called, is hosting 439 boats, a record for this prestigious Chicago event. Events such as this demonstrate Chicago’s ability to host large world-class events like the upcoming 2016 Olympics. The boats set sail for the 100th Race on July 19, 2008.

The roots of the Race to Mackinac and yacht racing in Chicago are intertwined with Chicago history. As far back as the Great Fire in 1871, the sport of yachting declined to a low point while Chicagoans worked desperately to reclaim their city from the ashes.

In 1875 a few boats started to reappear in the harbors and the first regatta after the Great Fire was held that June off the foot of Van Buren Street. That year, the Chicago Yacht Club was formally organized, and years later the first Mac Race was held in 1898 as an informal race of five boats. The first race clocked in at approximately 51 hours.

Since then many famous Chicagoans have participated, including former mayors and city industry leaders, and the race has attracted sailing celebrities like Ted Turner, Larry Ellison, Gary Jobson as well as musicians Bob Segar and Billy Corrigan. Today the speed record is 23 hours, 30 minutes and 34 seconds established in 2002 by celebrity boat owner, Roy Disney, who will return for the 100th Running as the honorary chair.

'Chicago Yacht Club is proud that the 100th Race to Mackinac demonstrates to the world that Chicago can present world-class events to a world-wide audience,' says Christie Kirchner, Communications Director for the Chicago Yacht Club.

The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac is taking place only weeks after the city was named one of the four finalists for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games.

The Chicago Yacht Club, one of the oldest yacht clubs in the world, also hosted the Etchells World Championship last month, another sailing event which helps substantiate Chicago’s potential to strengthen its bid for the Olympics.

Today the Mac keeps step with the changing world of technology and for the first time, Chicago Yacht Club will require all 439 participants in 'The Mac' to have a position transponder aboard allowing spectators to track the boats online.

Also, the public can view all of the yachts participating in the race during the ceremonial Parade of Boats. Spectators should go to the east end of Navy Pier on Saturday, July 19th starting at 10:00 a.m. to catch the action.

For more information about the history of the 100th Running of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac and the track the boats log onto www.chicagoyachtclub.org/racetomackinac.

If anyone knows of a larger long race fleet, we'd love to here about it.