The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac Committee and Bayview Yacht Club Mackinac Race Authority announced today that each has adopted the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) rating, or handicap, rule to correct the elapsed time difference of competing boats and put them on the same level. The new rating rule will go into effect for the 112th running of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, which will start on July 16 & 17, 2021 and the 97th running of the Bayview Mackinac Race, which will start on July 24, 2021.

CHICAGO - The Chicago Yacht Club and the Race to Mackinac (CYCRTM) Committee announced today that it has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Race to Mackinac due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We would like to share a synopsis of the following important updates: 

• June 1 Entry Deadline: We have extended the June 1 Entry Deadline to June 30.
• June 15 Late Entry Deadline: We have extended the June 15 Late Entry Deadline to June 30. 

Please click here for the applicable NOR amendment #3 on the Official Notice Board and the exact procedures that will be in place moving forward.

The committee continues to monitor COVID-19 developments and how this is impacting our sailing community.  This remains a fluid situation.  We have contended all along that our ability to host the CYCRTM race this year will be  dependent on the alignment of three key items:

1. The ability to run a safe race with consideration of the safety, health and well-being of all of the participants and our volunteers.
2. The availability of equipment: the ability to have boats safely provisioned in time for the race in such a manner that we can inspect and check their compliance with CMSRs.
3. The proper clearance from governmental bodies: which include the States of Illinois and Michigan, the Cities of Chicago and Mackinac Island, and the USCG.

In an effort to be as transparent as possible with the planning of the 112th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust, we would like to share a synopsis of the following important updates: 

• April 1 Deadline: We have extended the April 1st Division Formation, One-Design Section Request and Early Bird Entry Fee deadlines to May 1st. 
• Cancellation Refund Policy: In the event that we cancel the race due to COVID-19, we will issue a full refund of 2020 entry fees paid.
• Withdrawal Policy:  If the race continues as planned and you, the Invited Competitor, decide to withdraw your entry for any reason, we will credit your paid entry fee toward your entry as an Invited Competitor in the 2021 CYCRTM. 

We will continue to monitor COVID-19 developments, and how this is impacting our sailing community.  The committee is targeting late May for a “go or no-go” decision on running the race.