Race to Mackinac 2024 hosted by Chicago Yacht Club - one of fastest overall races in 115 editions
by Chicago Yacht Club 17 Jul 2024 07:01 PDT
July 15-16, 2024
With a record-setting pace, storms, dismastings, and a man overboard, the 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust had it all.
Today's Sailors Celebration awarded 22 section winners across the Mackinac Cup (awarded to the smaller boats), the Mackinac Trophy (larger boats), Doublehanded Division, and Cruising Division (Whitehawk Trophy). Plus a new trophy was awarded - the Mark H. Baxter Trophy, awarded to a first-time boat.
Bringing 'home' the hardware across the divisions are:
- Royono Trophy (first racing monohull to finish): Maverick, Sanford Burris, Ward and William Kinney
- Whitehawk Trophy (Cruising): Roxy, Don Condit
- Doublehanded Division: Exile, Andy Graff and Scott Eisenhardt
- Mackinac Cup: Erica, Brian Kazcor
- Mackinac Trophy: Natalie J, Philip and Sharon O'Neill III
- Mark H. Baxter Trophy (awarded to first timers): Hooligan, Trey Sheehan (Mackinac Trophy); Nyctosaur, Mark Fruin (Mackinac Cup); Seaquel, Thomas Paine (Cruising); 18 Degrees, Joe Turns (Doublehanded).
Maverick, the Andrews 80 co-owned by Sanford Burris, Ward and William Kinney, earned headlines as not only the Royono Trophy winner (first racing monohull to finish), but the new Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac race record holder, eclipsing Roy E. Disney's 22-year-old record on Pyewacket. The 20-member crew completed the 333-statute mile (289 nautical-miles) course in 22 hours, 24 minutes, 23 seconds, shaving off more than an hour from Disney's time of 23 hours, 30 minutes, 24 seconds.
In one of the fastest races yet, the racing sailboats had all arrived at Mackinac Island by late afternoon Monday. For context, finishers are typically arriving throughout Monday night and into Tuesday. This year, before Monday's sunset, the Race Committee had fired its last finishing cannon.
This year's Race wasn't without its drama. Storms ripped through the fleet on Saturday evening, and wrought havoc with many boats suffering equipment damage. Three boats lost their masts (all crew safe), and there was a successful man overboard recovery. Read the full story.
In recognition of John and Marian Hoskins' crew on board the Santa Cruz 52 Madcap, which rescued Callisto's crew who fell overboard during a spinnaker takedown, US Sailing expedited a review and awarded the Madcap crew the Arthur B. Hanson rescue medal for outstanding seamanship, watchkeeping and situational awareness resulting in the rescue of a fellow sailor.
"What a race," said Winn Soldani, chair of the 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust. "With 10 percent of the fleet and 20 percent of the sailors doing their first Mac, we're not going to tell them it isn't always like this," he said with a smile.
"In all seriousness though, this Race has been one for the books - such incredible record-breaking downwind conditions, and what I believe truly sets this special race apart - the camaraderie of our sailors, the team at Chicago Yacht Club and on Mackinac Island. The Mac really is America's Offshore Challenge and I congratulate every sailor, supporter and follower for joining us on this epic adventure this year."
2025 marks the 150th anniversary of the Chicago Yacht Club, and Soldani and the Chicago Yacht Club are already planning incredible things for the 116th edition of the Race to Mackinac. 2025 race begins July 19, 2025.
See more on the race website, or see the Full results