Chicago Mackinac Race

The Chicago Mackinac Race 2013

The Chicago Mackinac Race is one of the longest freshwater yacht races in the world, it takes place on 13th July 2013.

The Chicago Mackinac race is held by the Chicago Yacht Club and starts at the mouth of the Chicago River, crosses Lake Michigan, enters Lake Huron briefly and then finishes off Mackinac Island.  A distance of 333 miles, around 300 boats and 3,000 crew will enter the race.

This year the race will feature in a CNN documentary called Chicagoland.  This 8-part documentary will explore where politics and policy meet real people’s lives – in a city generating change and innovation in social policy, education, and public safety – to meet national and local challenges.   The Executive Producer will be non-other than Robert Redford along with Laura Michalchyshyn of Sundance Productions, and award-winning filmmakers Marc Levin and Mark Benjamin.  Said Redford “Chicago has always had a rhythm all its own.  It’s a city that wears its heart on its sleeve and I am honoured to be a part of telling this story.”

Now in its 105th year, the Chicago Mackinac race has one new feature.  The YellowBrick Tracking App.  The Mac Committee has obtained the ability for fans to download the Yellow Brick Tracking app onto smartphones or tablets or computers at no cost. The race subscription is available for free compliments of the Mac Committee. Please visit the app store for your respective tablet or smartphone to download it.

Also, new this year,  a select group of boats will be equipped with bi-directional trackers that will allow them to update twitter feeds whilst racing on the lake. This is a pilot program that will allow fans to follow the progress of some of the racing boats.

For information on the race please visit the Race to Mackinac website.

Image courtesy of CYC

Related Articles: Chicago to Mackinac Race 2014 

Lovesail.com is a global online dating, friendship and crew site for sailing enthusiasts.