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Dan Peters
Sports Editor
Oak Park
Journal
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This
Link Will Track the GPS signal from
each craft in the event.
View the Start of the 2009 Chicago Yacht
Club Race to Mackinac Presented
by Lands’ End Business Outfitters Saturday, 18th at 10:00am
CHICAGO - Take in
the magnificent sight of 350 sailboats as they begin the world’s
longest annual freshwater distance race, the Chicago Yacht Club Race to
Mackinac, presented by Lands’ End Business Outfitters. The Mac will be
held this Saturday, July 18, 2009. Everyone is invited to join in the
excitement of the 101st running of the race free of charge. The
festivities start Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. and go until 2:00 p.m.
at the east end of the second tier of Navy Pier, where the magnificent
and colorful Parade of Boats can be viewed. A sportscaster will be
announcing all the boat and crew information.
It’s a beautiful
sight to see the yachts promenade with their bright ceremonial flags
before attempting to win the 333-mile, adventurous race from Chicago to
Mackinac Island.The Red Witch, a 77-foot Schooner operated by Lakeshore
Sail Charters, is offering two tours to bring guests out on the water
to watch the competition unfold at the start of the Mac.
The first three-hour tour begins at 11:00 a.m. in Burnham Harbor, for
approximately the first seven starts. After returning to the dock at
2:00 p.m., the boat will re-board and leave immediately for the next
tour. Throughout the tours, a guide will offer explanations of racing
tactics and strategy. The Red Witch is located near the loop at Burnham
Harbor, which is adjacent
to Chicago’s Museum Campus, McCormick Convention
Center.
Tickets are $65.00 for adults, $35.00 for children under 12. For more
information or to order tickets, contact The Red Witch at 312.404.5800
or online at www.redwitch.com.
For those unable to
come out on race day, 260 of the boats are equipped with GPS
transponders and can be tracked on-line at www.cycracetomackinac.com .
Click on multimedia and race tracking.
Chicago Yacht Club
is proud to host this world-famous event
in sailing, and welcomes you to follow all of the action this
weekend. The Race would not be possible without the support of
Presenting Sponsor Lands’ End Business Outfitters, Co-Sponsors MBHB and
Mount Gay Rum, and Supporters and Suppliers Crowley’s Yacht Yard,
Heineken, MAS Consulting, Pettit Paint, and Torresen Marine. To learn
more about the boats entered in the race and to check out the latest
race updates, photos, and videos of the race, please visit to the
official race website at www.cycracetomackinac.com
About the
Chicago Yacht Club
Founded in 1875, the
Chicago Yacht Club and is one of the oldest and most respected yacht
clubs in the world and is one of the preeminent organizers of regattas,
races and predicted-log events in the United States. These include the
world famous Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac in its 101st Running
this year, the popular Verve Cup Regatta, the NOOD ( National Off-Shore
One Design) and the North American Challenge Cup, a regatta for
disabled sailors. This year it is also host to the Farr 40 North
American Championship and Shields National Championship.
For 100 years since
1898, sailors gather in Chicago to begin the
333 mile sailing
race to Mackinac Island, Mich.
The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac is one of the oldest and most
prestigious freshwater sailing
races, and attracts some of the best sailors in the world. “The Mac,”
as the race is affectionately
known, hosts an average of 300 boats with approximately 3,000 sailors
competing in this world class
sporting event.
Although the
Mac remains primarily an amateur event, this
race has a proven track record of attracting some of the finest sailing
talent in the sport. Record holders include renowned sailor Roy Disney with his monohull Pyewacket at 23
hours,
30 minutes and 34 seconds in 2002, and famous adventurer the late Steve Fosset on Stars
and Stripes, which set the multihull record of 18 hours, 50 minutes, and 32 seconds in 1998.
In addition
promise of exciting competition, events around the race allow families,
friends and colleagues to
enjoy this historic race. Boats are tracked by GPS satellite technology
enabling
friends, families,
and everyone on shore to follow the race as it unfolds on the web.
Merchandise, such as t-shirts,
are available for sale to all competitors, spouses and guests. Race
sponsors also setup kiosks and
displays during race week to take advantage of all the traffic at the
Club. Food, beverages and,
music are provided for each evening’s festivities: Wednesday night “Mac
Family Night” party, The
Thursday “Warning Gun” party, The Friday “Pre-Race Kick-Off” party at
Monroe
Station, the Sunday
“Porch Party” at the Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, and the Tuesday
“Rum Party and Awards
Ceremony” on Mackinac Island.
Chicago Yacht
Club is proud to host this world-famous event
in sailing. Events for 101st Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac begin
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 and the Race begins Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, 2000. To learn more
about
the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, go tothe official website at www.cycracetomackinac.com.
About Lands' End
Established in 1963,
on the promise of delivering high-quality
merchandise at a great value, Lands' End® offers a complete line of
clothing and accessories for women, men, children and infants and an
innovative collection of fine-quality goods for the home. Lands'
End Business Outfitters designs unique uniform programs that offer
employees individual choices and helps build the brands of companies of
all sizes, including hundreds of Fortune 1,000 companies.
And, all Lands' End merchandise is Guaranteed. Period.®
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