January Letter from the Race Chairman

Posted Jan 12, 2023

We are nearly halfway to the start of the 114th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust and the committee has been working hard to ensure that this year’s race will be another for the record books.While most of the fleet is tucked away, warm and cozy in the shed, now is a great time to begin preparations for this year’s event.  

Registration will open this year as usual on February 1st on our website.  Invitations will be sent by email to recent invited competitors, and requests for Invitation / Requests for Change may be made at the race administration site.  We have been working diligently with our web development team to ensure a smooth registration process in our new system, and as always, if you have questions you can email the CYCRTM Regatta Manager at regattamanager@cycracetomackinac.com. Please keep in mind that docking on Mackinac Island is prioritized by entry date and plan accordingly. 

We are happy to share that there are no major additional safety requirements for the 114th race, however we would like highlight the following minor changes: 

• A clarification on what are appropriate crotch straps for inflatable life jackets.
• A requirement to post a list of crew members and the MMSIs of their AIS MOB devices in the Nav Station.

As always, remember that the Race documents, including the Notice of Race (NOR) and Chicago-Mackinac Safety Requirements (CMSRs) are official.  Please review them when they become available.

Chicago Yacht Club and the CYCRTM Committee are hosting several upcoming events - in person and virtual - and we welcome all of you to attend.  

Upcoming Events: 

Surviving The Storm, The 2022 Race to Mac: On Saturday, February 4th, Join the Mac committee in the Main Dining Room at Chicago Yacht Club Monroe Station or online to relive the epic 113th Race to Mackinac with Video Clips and a panel discussion.  Click to Register 

New developments for ORC 2023: ratings, scoring and more: On Saturday, February 1th, join Dobbs Davis, Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) Communications Director, for an overview of the rating rule changes for 2023 and for an opportunity to have your questions answered about the Velocity Prediction Program (VPP).  

International Offshore Safety at Sea with Hands-on Training: Look for more details coming soon on a Hands on Safety at Sea seminar this spring at Chicago Yacht Club, sponsored by the Race to Mackinac Committee.

And last but not least, our annual Pink Pony Party is scheduled for Saturday, February 4th. Join us at Chicago Yacht Club Monroe Harbor for drinks, food, dancing, and a whole lot of pink to celebrate the halfway point to the 114th Race to Mackinac. Giddy Up.  RSVP.