June 25, 2003
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Haley
Pingree or
Katherine
Madison
312/558-1770
PUBLIC
TO GET CLOSE-UP VIEW OF BOATS COMPETING IN
CHICAGO YACHT CLUB RACE TO MACKINAC
PRESENTED
BY LANDS’ END BUSINESS OUTFITTERS
Parade
of Boats at Navy Pier offers spectators a first look at the entire fleet as
it prepares for the world-renowned race
CHICAGO (June 25, 2003) –
Members of the public who participate in the festivities of the 2003 Chicago
Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Lands’ End Business Outfitters will
get a closer look at this year’s colorful pre-race Parade of Boats at Navy
Pier Saturday, July 12, 2003.
Organizers of the annual
race from Chicago to Mackinac Island, Mich., have moved the check-in boat
closer to the east end of Navy Pier than in past years, bringing the colorful
procession of boats even closer to public spectators. Parade watchers can get a first glimpse of
the boats competing in the race as they pass by, with ceremonial flags
flying, on their way to the starting line approximately 1.5 miles east of Chicago’s Monroe Harbor.
In past years, it had been
difficult to view the start of the 333-mile race, the world’s longest annual
freshwater race, because of the distance of the starting line from shore.
Beginning in 2001, in cooperation with Navy Pier and Mayor's Office of
Special Events, all of the boats have checked in for the race off Navy
Pier.
“We wanted to share the excitement of this
challenging event with the public, so for the last two years we organized the
Parade of Boats at Navy Pier,” said Mike Bucklo,
chairman of the Mackinac Committee of the Chicago Yacht Club. “It’s been a huge success, with hundreds of
people turning out to see the boats and learn about the Race to Mackinac.
Because of the tremendous response, we have once again partnered with Navy
Pier and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events to bring this historic race to
the public.”
The best viewing of the
Parade of Boats at Navy Pier, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be from the
east end of the Pier, where a Club commentator will announce the boats and
provide interesting facts about the race and the racers as they pass by. Boats competing in this year’s race range
from the family-crewed club racers, to the elite 70-foot yachts often crewed
by professional racers.
The 2003 Race to Mackinac Presented by Lands’ End
Business Outfitters 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. Lands’ End Business
Outfitters is a division of direct merchant Lands’ End, a company founded on Elston Avenue along the Chicago River in 1963.
About the Chicago Yacht Club
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.
About Navy Pier
Navy Pier is the state’s most visited attraction,
drawing more than 9 million visitors annually. Originally opened in 1916 as a shipping and
recreation facility, today’s Pier, which opened in 1995, encompasses more than
50 acres of parks, promenades, shops, restaurants, exhibition and meeting
facilities, entertainment and attractions.
Navy Pier is home to many of Chicago’s favorite attractions:
the 150-foot-high Ferris wheel; Chicago Children’s Museum; the Smith Museum
of Stained Glass Windows; the Navy Pier IMAX Theater; Chicago Shakespeare
Theater; dinner cruise and tour boats, as well as the most breathtaking views
of the city skyline.
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