Dear 2002 Race to Mackinac Participant:

For the 2000 and 2001 Race to Mackinac, the Chicago Yacht Club launched a new fleet positioning program that allowed the race to be followed by spectators from shore. With the support and equipment of SASCO Inc., boat positions were transmitted every two hours and posted on the Race to Mackinac Web Page throughout the Race. The tracking program saw excellent demand from race spectators and we are laying the groundwork for the 2002 Race to Mackinac.

Each boat in the Race to Mackinac Tracking Program will receive a transponder unit that will send the boats’ GPS position to a system of low orbit satellites. That signal is then relayed to a ground based receiving center, and forwarded on for our use in creating tracking images (charts) on the Internet. Signals are sent 12 times per day on the hour, and then available for our use in creating tracking images approximately 30 min. later. The 7 lb. transponder unit is in a waterproof case that is mounted to the stern pulpit of the boat. It operates on 12 D cell batteries, and requires no upkeep or monitoring on the part of the crew once properly installed.

Each year we have learned more about the technical needs of the data reporting process. We have also learned more about the transponder equipment and its interaction with other boat gear. There are three areas we’ve made major adjustments from our 2001 effort. First, grounding of the “rubber duck” antenna unit will be entirely self-contained within the unit’s casing, thereby no longer requiring us to use the stern pulpit as a grounding plane. Second, GPS “noise” will also be contained within the unit’s casing to eliminate interference with other electronic devices. Third, we have reworked the data display function with the help of race sponsor RMI Networking Services. The data, once collected will be available for access on the Internet in an automated process. The charts and plotting functions will also be created “on the fly” so the downloading time will be dramatically reduced from prior years. We will continue to use a battery-powered device so that hard wiring to the boat’s power source will not be required. However, for those that prefer the 2000 system of hard wiring and whip antenna we will make those units available as well.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR BOAT IS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE!

Here are the program details:

1) All boats are invited to participate at a nominal cost of $140.00 for equipment rental, data transmission charges, and shipping costs. This will require you to contract directly with SASCO Inc., the equipment supplier.

2) Participating racers will receive their equipment a couple of weeks prior to the race to allow time for signal testing. It is imperative to the project success that we test your unit at least 5-14 days prior to race start. Units must be returned to the supplier within one week of the finish of the race to avoid additional rental charges.

3) Registration for the program ends June 24, 2002.

4) Units will be distributed beginning June 24, 2002.

5) All participation is voluntary, and is at the sole discretion of the boat owner. Since supply of transponders may become limited, units will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you are interested in participating, you will need to download a participation form on the web at http://www.chicagoyachtclub.org/racetomackinac/docs/trackingform.pdf, or you may complete the enclosed form. Completed forms should be faxed to SASCO at (813) 248-0201. After faxing your form, you will be contacted by a representative of SASCO, who will provide you with all necessary delivery and installation information, and for those renting units, a contract to sign and return. All competitors will be asked to have a credit card on file with SASCO to serve as a damage deposit for the equipment.

Our three years of tracking our Race to Mackinac fleet has been an exciting and evolving project. There are some wonderful new enhancements to this years’ project that should help make the program more successful from both the competitors’ and viewers’ perspectives. We hope you will join us in bringing the racing closer to those friends, family and associates that are cheering for you from shore.

Fair Winds,

Michael Bucklo

Race to Mackinac Chairman