Please select your home edition
Edition
Ovington 2021 - ILCA 3 - LEADERBOARD

Chicago Yacht Club unveils Special Edition of Race to Mackinac for Club's 150th Anniversary

by Laura Muma 25 Oct 2024 15:12 BST July 18-19, 2025
Start of 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, presented by Wintrust © Barry Butler

Registration opens December 2, 2024 for the bucket-list offshore race

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.

The Mac Race, as it's affectionately called, will begin July 18-19, 2025, and will commemorate the founding of the Chicago Yacht Club in 1875 with special entry incentives, the running of the rare "Ultra Mac," and a spectacular Mackinac Island fireworks display alongside other special events.

"The Race to Mackinac is a bucket-list race for sailors across the country and around the world, and we want to bring as many competitors together to celebrate this special running of our iconic race in honor of the Chicago Yacht Club's legacy," said Race Chairman Winn Soldani.

New for the 116th edition, Chicago Yacht Club has unveiled a new registration policy. Instead of issuing invitations to compete, registration will open to all yachts starting December 2nd, and require a non-refundable deposit to enter the race. Competing teams will then be encouraged to complete the entire online entry process as quickly as possible as preferred docking assignments will be made according to the order of completed entries.

The maximum number of entries for this edition of the race will be capped at 325 in anticipation of demand.

In honor of CYC's 150th Anniversary, new entries (those who have not previously entered the race) may qualify for $150 off their entry fee to help offset the startup costs to get their boat "race ready."

According to Soldani, all competitors and fans of the 2025 Mac Race should expect an unforgettable, milestone event complete with many more special events and awards yet to be announced, and culminating in a fireworks display at Mackinac Island to punctuate the momentous occasion.

"We've designed this year's race to be unforgettable and we hope to welcome sailors to a special running of one of the greatest races in the world in July 2025," said Soldani. "Whether you've competed in the race before or you're thinking about trying it out for the first time, this is the year to do it and we want to do everything we can to help you get to the starting line."

Next year, in celebration of CYC's 150th anniversary, the rare "Ultra Mac" will be run - a tour-de-force that sees teams race the Bayview Mackinac Race starting July 12, 2025 from Port Huron, Mich., to Mackinac Island and then continuing on down Lake Michigan to finish in Chicago. The Ultra Mac has only been held once in the past 25 years.

Registration for the 116th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust opens December 2. Please visit cycracetomackinac.com for more information on how to enter or email the race at .

Related Articles

Heartbreaker leads sunrise finishers
In 2025 Race to Mackinac In the early morning hours, the sleek fleet of Great Lakes 52s sailed under the Mackinac Bridge and past the iconic Round Island Lighthouse to finish at Mackinac Island, completing their 333-mile journey in the 116th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. Posted on 21 Jul
Whitehawk wins line honors 2025 Race to Mackinac
The beautiful wooden 104-foot ketch owned by Peter Thornton is the first boat to finish Whitehawk, the beautiful wooden 104-foot ketch owned by Peter Thornton, is the first boat to finish the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust. Posted on 21 Jul
Slow and steady in the 2025 Race to Mackinac
The 285 sailboats racing are making steady progress up Lake Michigan Overnight and into the morning, the 285 sailboats racing in the 116th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust are making steady progress up Lake Michigan. Posted on 20 Jul
Soggy start for Race to Mackinac's Racing Division
The 116th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust is officially under way The 116th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust is officially under way, as the Racing Division set sail earlier today under rainy skies and light winds. Posted on 20 Jul
The countdown to the Race to Mackinac
2025 is a landmark year for the Chicago Yacht Club 2025 is a landmark year for the Chicago Yacht Club and the Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust Financial Corporation. Posted on 10 Jul
Chicago to host Women's Match Racing Worlds
The September event will feature up to 12 teams World Sailing is delighted to announce that the 2025 Women's Match Racing World Championship will be held at the Chicago Yacht Club's Belmont Station from 16-20 September 2025. Posted on 15 Jan
CYC Foundation announces first executive director
Two-time Olympian Maggie Shea to lead Chicago Yacht Club Foundation The Chicago Yacht Club Foundation has announced its first executive director, two-time Olympic sailor and Chicago native Margaret "Maggie" Shea. Posted on 6 Dec 2024
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 2024
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 2024
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 2024