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MACKINAC ISLAND, Monday, July 22, 2002 - Nearly all of the 296 competitors that started the 2002 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac have crossed the finish line, and race officials are calling it the fastest Mac in recent history. Strong storms swept the length of Lake Michigan Sunday night and Monday morning with wind readings as high as 60 to 80 mph, and left a brisk wind behind. "Usually after a storm, the doldrums hit and the race slows dramatically," said Race Spokesperson Dick Schweers. "The winds from this storm just blew the rest of the fleet right in to the finish, making it one of the fastest Mac races ever. The storms forced at least 18 boats to withdraw, many within sight of the finish line, and caused extensive damage to a few boats, but there were no injuries. About The Mac The Race to Mackinac is Chicago Yacht Club’s world-renowned race that challenges the endurance, speed and agility of 300 boats and 3,000 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 Americap, a handicapped 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 three First-To-Finish honors awarded based on the fastest elapsed time. Previously, the record for the fastest time was set in 1987 by Pied Piper, skippered by Dick Jennings of Evanston, Ill., which finished the race in 25:50:44. The multi-hulled record was set in 1998, by Steve Fossett’s Stars and Stripes, which finished in 18:50:32. The race normally takes between 40 to 60 hours to complete. 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. July 21, 2002, marks the 104th anniversary of the race’s founding in 1898 and the 96th running of the event. The race was suspended during 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. 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 logs in the United States. Final Farr 395 Results | Sail # | Yacht Name | Owner | Finish | Elapsed | Allowance | Corrected | Section | Division | | 39503 | CHAOS | Bernbaum, Amedio, Schroesder | 07/22/02 00:32 | 34:42:12 | 02:24:42 | 32:17:31 | 1 | 5 | | 39502 | MOSQUITO | Dave Radtke | 07/22/02 02:31 | 36:41:10 | 02:24:42 | 34:16:28 | 2 | 44 | | 39534 | DRUMBEAT | Etheridge/Olds | 07/22/02 02:36 | 36:46:54 | 02:24:42 | 34:22:12 | 5 | 51 | | 39535 | SKYE | Jeff Hoswell | 07/22/02 02:41 | 36:51:21 | 02:24:42 | 34:26:39 | 4 | 54 | | 39536 | JASON | Ed Cohen | 07/22/02 02:50 | 37:00:01 | 02:24:42 | 34:35:19 | 5 | 57 | | 39504 | ZOOM | George Miz | 07/22/02 04:02 | 38:12:45 | 02:24:42 | 35:48:03 | 6 | 91 | | 39514 | RAGGED EDGE | Chuck Boelkins | | | 02:24:42 | DNF | | | For complete results and information, Chicago-Mac page of the Chicago Yacht Club web site.
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