June 21, 2014December 11, 2022 by Erica

The Chicago to Mackinac Race 2014

The Chicago to Mackinac race 2014 will be the latest instalment of this historic and record-breaking boat race. A fixture on the American sailing calendar for many years, it now hosts racing crews from around the world, with more than 3000 sailors set to take part this year.

History

The Chicago to Mackinac race 2014 will be the 106th time that the race has been run. First staged in 1898 (when just five boats competed), it is the oldest freshwater distance race in the world at 333 miles (equivalent to 289 nautical miles or 536 kilometres). The race was not run for a second time until 1904, and was suspended for three years of the First World War, but it has been contested every other year.

Details

The Chicago to Mackinac race 2014 starts on July 19th at the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse and runs across Lake Michigan, skirts Lake Huron and ends at the Round Island Channel that runs beside Mackinac Island. The record time to complete the course was set in 1998 at just under 19 hours.

Activities

While the race forms the centrepiece of the sailing community that gathers in Chicago, it is far from the only activity. On the 19th, Navy Pier, which overlooks the start line, will be the place to be. A luxury bar will be serving drinks for the adults, while the kids can enjoy face painting and balloon artists. Bands and DJs will provide the music. The Chicago Yacht Club also hosts a number of functions at Monroe Station, including a cocktail party on the 17th and a pre-race party the following day.

Exclusive Club

Within the annals of the Chicago to Mackinac race is an exclusive club of veterans who go by the name of the Island Goats Sailing Society. Entry to this elite group is reserved for those who have competed in no less than 25 of the races. Originally founded in 1959, the society now has more than 50 members, and is dedicated to preserving the tradition of the race, establishing camaraderie among sailors and enjoying social gatherings to swap stories and tell tales. And the name? Apparently, it comes from the fact that after several days on a boat some sailors are said to take on the aroma of a goat.

The Chicago to Mackinac Race 2014