Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race facts for kids
The Bayview Mackinac Boat Race is a super exciting sailing competition held every year on the Great Lakes! It's organized by the Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit, Michigan. This race is one of the longest freshwater boat races in the world, with more than 200 boats joining in each year.
The race starts in the waters of Lower Lake Huron, about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north of the Blue Water Bridge. Boats then sail all the way across Lake Huron and finish near Mackinac Island, Michigan. Over the years, the race course has changed at least six times.
Currently, there are two main courses:
- The Shore Course sails closer to the Michigan shoreline.
- The Cove Island Course takes boats around a special buoy near Cove Island in northeast Lake Huron.
Both courses end at Mackinac Island.
Contents
History of the Race
How the Race Started
The very first Bayview Mackinac Race happened in 1925. Only 12 yachts competed, and a boat called Bernida, led by Russ Pouliot, won that first race.
Many years later, in 2012, Bernida raced again! This time, with owner Al Declercq and his crew, it won the Shore Course. Over the years, many different types of boats and groups have been added to the race.
Tough Weather and Safety
In 1985, the race faced really bad weather. A 35-foot yacht named Tomahawk was damaged, and its crew of eight had to leave the boat. Luckily, they were rescued from their life raft by Charles Bayer, who was sailing the yacht Old Bear. Tomahawk sank about 28 miles northwest of Tobermory, Ontario.
Out of 305 boats in that 1985 race, 96 had to stop racing. Even with such tough conditions, the Bayview Yacht Club is very proud that no one has ever died in the race, thanks to strict safety rules.
Changes to the Race Course
The first race course was about 235 statute miles (378 km) long, sailing up the Michigan shoreline. For a while, it even started at the same time as another big race, the Chicago Race to Mackinac.
In 1935, the course was made longer, about 290 miles (470 km), and boats had to sail around a buoy near Cove Island. But this longer course was too foggy and slow, so it was changed back in 1936.
Over the years, the course kept changing. In 1972, the 290-mile (470 km) Cove Island course was brought back. Then, in 1992, boats were split into two groups: one went to Cove Island, and the other followed the original shore course.
When the Canadian government stopped using the Cove Island buoy in 2000, a new course called the Southampton Course was created. This course directed sailors toward Southampton, Ontario, before heading to Mackinac Island.
In 2007, a new course called the Thunder Bay Course was introduced. All boats had to sail around a special weather buoy. This was the first time in 15 years that all boats followed the same path. However, in 2009, the race went back to the Cove Island course (using a private buoy), while smaller boats used the Thunder Bay course.
By 2010, the Thunder Bay course was removed, and the Shore Course was brought back. Since then, the race has used the Cove Island course and the Shore Course.
Finish Line and Sponsors
In 2012, the finish line for the race was moved. Boats now finish between the Round Island Lighthouse and a spot on the shoreline west of the main harbor. The Round Island Passage Light was also added as a marker for the course.
From 2011 to 2019, a company called Bell's Brewery was the main sponsor, and the race was known as the "Bell's Beer Bayview Mackinac Race." Since 2020, it's simply called the "Bayview Mackinac Race."
The 95th race happened in July 2019, with 202 sailboats. This shows how the race has continued for many years, even through big events like wars or tough economic times.
The Race Experience
Boat Sizes and Participation
The two Port Huron race courses allow many different sizes of yachts to join, from about 26 feet (7.9 m) to more than 80 feet (24 m). In 2015, they even allowed smaller boats, down to 24 feet (7.3 m), to compete. This let boats like Target Practice and Solvo be the first Cal25s to finish the race.
Other Mackinac Races
People sometimes mix up the Port Huron to Mackinac Race with the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. Both races used to happen on the same weekend until 1939. Then, the clubs decided to hold their races a week apart. In even-numbered years, the Port Huron race happens first. The Chicago-to-Mackinac race is older, starting in 1898, and is a little bit longer.
Boat Night and the Start
The night before the race, called "Boat Night," is a huge party! Thousands of people, including sailors and cheering fans, gather along the Black River in Port Huron to see the yachts. The parties often last until early Saturday morning.
The race officially begins on Saturday afternoon. The smallest boats start first, and the largest boats cross the starting line last. Boats usually start finishing at Mackinac Island on Sunday evening and continue arriving until Tuesday morning. You can watch the finish line from places like Fort Mackinac or Mission Point Resort.
Handicaps and Tracking
To make the race fair for all boats, they use a system called "handicaps." Boats are measured, and faster boats have less "time allowance" subtracted from their total sailing time. This means that even a slower boat can win if it sails really well! Different handicap systems have been used over the years.
Since 2009, you can track all the boats online! Race fans can follow the progress of the yachts throughout the event. The very last boat to finish the race is called the "pickle boat". This name comes from old English yachting, where the last boat was called the "fisher" because they would stop to fish for herring and then pickle them, which made them take even longer to reach port.
Awards Celebration
The awards celebration for the race used to be held on the lawn of Mission Point Resort. From 2012 to 2021, it was held in Woodfill Park, near the Grand Hotel. In 2022, the celebration moved back to the lawn of Mission Point Resort. At the celebration, flags and trophies are given to the winning captains of each group and class.
Race Traditions
The Bayview Mackinac Race has some cool traditions for those who participate for many years:
- Racers who have completed 25 of these annual races are called "Old Goats."
- Those who have completed 50 races are given the special title of "Grand Rams."
- People who work for 15 years on the Race Committee are honored as "Old Forts."
