June 25, 2003

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                            Media Contact:     Haley Pingree

                                                                                                                Katherine Madison

                                                                                                                                                312.558.1770

 

FLEET TO CAST OFF IN CHICAGO YACHT CLUB RACE TO MACKINAC

PRESENTED BY LANDS’ END BUSINESS OUTFITTERS

New Scoring system to provide more competitive racing action;

Public to get closer view of this year’s pre-race Parade of Boats at Navy Pier

 

CHICAGO, June 25 – A fleet of nearly 300 sailboats will compete in the 2003 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Lands’ End Business Outfitters Saturday, July 12, 2003.  The 333-mile race, part of the Club’s tradition of world-class regattas on Lake Michigan, is the world’s longest annual freshwater race. 

 

“The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Lands’ End Business Outfitters will challenge the endurance, speed and agility of some 300 boats and 3,000 crew members from around the globe,” said Mike Bucklo, chairman of the Mackinac Committee of the Chicago Yacht Club. “We expect this year’s race to draw one of the most competitive fleets in the event’s history as skippers and their crews will attempt to surpass the new record finish time for monohull boats set last year by Roy Disney’s Pyewacket.”  The new Pyewacket record of 23:30:24 beat the long held finish time of 25:50:44 set in 1987 by Chicagoan Dick Jennings’ Pied Piper.

 

New to the race this year, all monohull boats will be scored using the US SAILING AMERICAP II™ handicap system, which allows for boats of different sizes to compete against each other more equitably.  This new system will provide significantly more competitive racing while continuing to reward preparation, skill and, perhaps, a little luck.  Multihull boats will continue to sail under Lake Michigan Performance Handicapped Racing Federation (LMPHRF) handicaps. Also new to the Race to Mackinac this year is its presenting sponsor, Lands’ End Business Outfitters, a division of direct merchant Lands’ End.

 

Prior to the start of this year’s event, the public will again be able to participate in the race festivities by cheering on the entire race fleet during the third annual Parade of Boats at Navy Pier.  This year, race organizers have moved the check-in boat nearer to the pier than in the past years, bringing this colorful procession even closer to spectators.  Parade watchers will gather on the east end of Navy Pier to get a first glimpse of the boats as they pass by on their way to the starting line, approximately 1.5 miles east of Chicago’s Monroe Harbor.

 

The 2003 Race to Mackinac Presented by Lands’ End marks the 105th anniversary of the Race’s founding in 1898 and the 97th running of the event. Several years passed between the first and second running of the race and the event was also suspended for a period following the United States’ entry into World War I.

 

Founded in 1875 with the goal of advancing the community’s knowledge, enjoyment and participation in boating and the nautical arts, the Chicago Yacht Club remains a valuable resource for its members and for the Chicago community.  The Club has been a leader for more than 75 years in teaching children and adults how to sail, and is a preeminent organizer and host of regattas, races and predicted log contests in the United States.

 

###