For Immediate
Release:
ONE-THIRD OF FLEET CROSSES FINISH LINE IN 2003
First-to-finish honors earned in three of four divisions; winds begin to pick up for remaining fleet
CHICAGO, July 14, 2003 – Approximately 100 of the 280 boats have crossed the finish line in the 2003 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Lands’ End Business Outfitters, the world’s longest annual freshwater race.
Overall first-to finish honors for the 97th running of the “Mac” went to Alchemy, the fast new 77-foot Alan Andrews-designed boat owned by Richard and Mary Compton of Santa Barbara, Calif., which finished the race in 35:25:17.
First-to-finish honors have been reported in three of the four divisions. Because of the handicapping system, winners of the first-to-finish honors are often not the division winners. Final scoring after the majority of the fleet has crossed the finish line will determine one Race winner in each division.
Rosebud, a
TransPac52 out of San Francisco owned by Gary Evans and Roger Sturgeon finished
the race in 36:44:40.
Multihull Division
Caliente, a Criswhite44 Trimaran owned by Michael Steck of Naperville, Ill., finished the race in 41:38:32.
As of 2:30 p.m. CDT Monday, none of the boats in the Mackinac Cup division had crossed the finish line.
“Our fastest speed during this race was about 15 knots (17.40 mph),” said Alchemy’s Richard Compton. “We fell into a big hole near Charlevoix and just sat there for about two hours.”
During last year’s race, Caliente capsized during the strong storms, and the crew was rescued by competitor Kokomo and the freighter Algo Marine. “We’re thrilled to have made first to finish honors after capsizing last year,” said crew member Mark Muehler. “We went up the middle of the lake and experienced winds of 6-7 knots. Through the Straits until we hit the Bridge, the wind picked up and we were moving at approximately 16 knots.”
Many of the racers reaching the finish line early on Monday had to deal with very light winds from the Bridge to the finish, often sitting within sight of the finish for one or two hours.
“We had great wind all the way through the Straits until a half mile to the finish,” said Skipper Shawn O’Neill of the Eagle. “We had a two mile lead on the next closest competitor and we hit a pocket dead air, so they nearly caught up with us.”
In the afternoon, the winds began to pick up for most of the remaining fleet making their way north from Chicago to Mackinac Island, Mich., with winds in the Straits at about 10-15 knots out of the west.
The public can follow the progress of the boats up Lake Michigan to Mackinac Island and the latest scoring information at www.chicagoyachtclub.org.
The Race to Mackinac is Chicago Yacht Club’s world-renowned race that challenges the endurance, speed and agility of skippers and crewmembers from around the globe each year. The 333-mile race from Chicago to Mackinac Island at the northern end of Lake Michigan is the world’s longest freshwater race and one of the most prestigious in the United States.
"The Mac" is a handicapped race with four divisions: Mackinac Cup Division, made up of larger boats; Chicago-Mackinac Trophy Division, made up of smaller boats; Multihull Division; and Open division. Each division is scored separately and boats compete only with others in their division. As a result, there are four overall winners based on handicapped, corrected time and four First-To-Finish honors are awarded based on the fastest elapsed time.
New to the race this year, all monohull boats are being scored using the US SAILING AMERICAP II TM 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 continue to sail under lake Michigan Performance Handicapped Racing Federation (LMPRFH) 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.
The start of the race was on Lake Michigan approximately 1.5 miles east of Chicago’s Monroe Harbor. Prior to the start, competing boats paraded for the public past Navy Pier with their ceremonial flags raised. The finish line for the race is the lighthouse on Round Island, off Mackinac Island, Michigan.
The 2003 Chicago Yacht Club 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. The challenging conditions on Lake Michigan require the best of racing, tactics, strategy and boat speed. Participation in “The Mac” is by invitation only from 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 logs in the United States.
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Media Contacts:
For
more race information, please call:
Sunday, July 13, 2003
through 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2003 – Kirsten Whipple or Peter Barry, Island press desk
906/847-0260 or 906/847-6064, or Kirsten cell phone - 773/218-3533, pager
800-759-8888 pin#8079770;
or Peter cell
phone 312/771-0587, pager 800-759-8888 pin#1416979
After 3 p.m. Tuesday, July
15 – Kirsten
or Peter cell or pager, or Haley Pingree, Public Communications Inc.:
312/558-1770 (ext. 8222) or cell: 847/525-4790.
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