Please select your home edition
Edition
Sailingfast 2018 2 728x90

Race to Mackinac 2024 hosted by Chicago Yacht Club - one of fastest overall races in 115 editions

by Chicago Yacht Club 17 Jul 15:01 BST July 15-16, 2024

With a record-setting pace, storms, dismastings, and a man overboard, the 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust had it all.

Today's Sailors Celebration awarded 22 section winners across the Mackinac Cup (awarded to the smaller boats), the Mackinac Trophy (larger boats), Doublehanded Division, and Cruising Division (Whitehawk Trophy). Plus a new trophy was awarded - the Mark H. Baxter Trophy, awarded to a first-time boat.

Bringing 'home' the hardware across the divisions are:

  • Royono Trophy (first racing monohull to finish): Maverick, Sanford Burris, Ward and William Kinney
  • Whitehawk Trophy (Cruising): Roxy, Don Condit
  • Doublehanded Division: Exile, Andy Graff and Scott Eisenhardt
  • Mackinac Cup: Erica, Brian Kazcor
  • Mackinac Trophy: Natalie J, Philip and Sharon O'Neill III
  • Mark H. Baxter Trophy (awarded to first timers): Hooligan, Trey Sheehan (Mackinac Trophy); Nyctosaur, Mark Fruin (Mackinac Cup); Seaquel, Thomas Paine (Cruising); 18 Degrees, Joe Turns (Doublehanded).

Maverick, the Andrews 80 co-owned by Sanford Burris, Ward and William Kinney, earned headlines as not only the Royono Trophy winner (first racing monohull to finish), but the new Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac race record holder, eclipsing Roy E. Disney's 22-year-old record on Pyewacket. The 20-member crew completed the 333-statute mile (289 nautical-miles) course in 22 hours, 24 minutes, 23 seconds, shaving off more than an hour from Disney's time of 23 hours, 30 minutes, 24 seconds.

In one of the fastest races yet, the racing sailboats had all arrived at Mackinac Island by late afternoon Monday. For context, finishers are typically arriving throughout Monday night and into Tuesday. This year, before Monday's sunset, the Race Committee had fired its last finishing cannon.

This year's Race wasn't without its drama. Storms ripped through the fleet on Saturday evening, and wrought havoc with many boats suffering equipment damage. Three boats lost their masts (all crew safe), and there was a successful man overboard recovery. Read the full story.

In recognition of John and Marian Hoskins' crew on board the Santa Cruz 52 Madcap, which rescued Callisto's crew who fell overboard during a spinnaker takedown, US Sailing expedited a review and awarded the Madcap crew the Arthur B. Hanson rescue medal for outstanding seamanship, watchkeeping and situational awareness resulting in the rescue of a fellow sailor.

"What a race," said Winn Soldani, chair of the 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust. "With 10 percent of the fleet and 20 percent of the sailors doing their first Mac, we're not going to tell them it isn't always like this," he said with a smile.

"In all seriousness though, this Race has been one for the books - such incredible record-breaking downwind conditions, and what I believe truly sets this special race apart - the camaraderie of our sailors, the team at Chicago Yacht Club and on Mackinac Island. The Mac really is America's Offshore Challenge and I congratulate every sailor, supporter and follower for joining us on this epic adventure this year."

2025 marks the 150th anniversary of the Chicago Yacht Club, and Soldani and the Chicago Yacht Club are already planning incredible things for the 116th edition of the Race to Mackinac. 2025 race begins July 19, 2025.

See more on the race website, or see the Full results

Related Articles

Bucket-list 'Ultra Mac' offshore race in 2025
Chicago Yacht Club unveils Special Edition of Race to Mackinac for Club's 150th Anniversary In celebration of its 150th anniversary, the Chicago Yacht Club has announced a special edition of its iconic annual race, the 116th Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust, with entry registration set to open December 2 at 12 p.m. CST. Posted on 25 Oct
Stampede stomps at Verve Cup Inshore Regatta
Fifteen boats in the hotly contested J/70 fleet Chicago Yacht Club's Verve Cup Inshore Regatta took place last week off Chicago. The weather was good enough for the hotly-contested fifteen-boat J/70 fleet that the Chicago YC RC/PRO team managed to run ten races of the windward-leeward variety. Posted on 1 Sep
Sin Duda runaway J/88 victor at Verve Cup
Chicago Yacht Club's Verve Cup is an annual world-class sailing event One of the largest regattas in North America, Chicago Yacht Club's Verve Cup is an annual world-class sailing event attracting many national and international sailors. Posted on 19 Aug
Stormy, challenging Chicago Mackinac Race
For most J/Teams in the race, it would go down as a fast, thrilling race The annual pilgrimage by land and sea to the fabled Mackinac Island took place last weekend on Lake Michigan. This year's 289.0nm Chicago Mackinac Race saw the fleet start in light to medium southeasterly winds and bright sunshine. Posted on 21 Jul
MOB recovery success story from Race to Mackinac
Madcap and Callisto recount incident during 115th running of Chicago YC event In the thick of Saturday night storms with winds approaching 40 knots, Callisto crewmember Shawn Dougherty was moving forward on the deck to assist the spinnaker takedown and got knocked overboard when a large gust jolted the boat. Posted on 20 Jul
CYC Race to Mackinac Monday morning update
Steady stream of finishers gliding toward Mackinac Island After Sunday's excitement with Maverick breaking the 22-year race record by more than an hour, the 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust has seen a steady pace of finishers. Posted on 15 Jul
Maverick breaks Race to Mackinac record
Roy P. Disney's 22-year run smashed by more than an hour Sanford Burris, William and Ward Kinney's Maverick team will be etched in Mac Race history as the new race record holder for the fastest Chicago YC Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust in 22 years, earning the honor from Roy P. Disney and Pyewacket. Posted on 15 Jul
CYC Race to Mackinac setting a record pace
Shaping up to be one of the fastest races in years The 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust is shaping up to be one of the fastest races in years, and the 250 boats under way are enjoying a 'magic carpet ride' thanks to the southerly, downwind sailing conditions. Posted on 14 Jul
Chicago sailors headed to the Olympics in Paris
The Windy City is set to cheer for its own as local sailing champions The Windy City is set to cheer for its own as local sailing champions Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea gear up to represent the United States at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Posted on 4 Jun
J/70 North Americans at Chicago
Brian Keane and team Savasana win the title Brian Keane and team Savasana are the 2023 J/70 North American Champions after nine races over four days of sailing in Chicago. Posted on 25 Sep 2023