Chicago to Mackinac Boat Race

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The Chicago to Mackinac Sailboat Race is run by the Chicago Yacht Club. It is one of the longest fresh-water races in the world with hundreds of boats entering the race each year. It starts at Chicago and finishes at Mackinac Island, Michigan crossing Lake Michigan and just entering Lake Huron. The race course runs 333 miles (536 km). 294 boats completed the 2005 race with finishes ranging from 33 to 69 elapsed hours. Steve Fossett set the overall race record, 18 hours, 50 minutes, in 1998 with the yacht, the Stars and Stripes. Roy E. Disney set the monohull record, 23 hours, 30 minutes, in Pyewacket in 2002.

The Chicago to Mackinac Race is often confused with the Port Huron to Mackinac Race. They were held on the same weekend until 1939, when both clubs agreed to alternate the date of their Mackinac races, scheduling them a week apart

The first race was run in 1898, with the sloop Vanenna winning against four boats. The 100th Running will be in 2008.

Sailors who have completed 25 of these annual races are called Island Goats. In 1959 The Island Goats Sailing Society was formed with 10 of these Sailors to perpetuate and commemorate the Chicago to Mackinac Race. By 2006 it had grown to over 220 members. The Legend and Lore of these Old Salts can be explored on their Website, www.IslandGoats.org via the link below.