more from the 2022 Parade of Boats at the Mac
May 24, 2023 08:45:40 #
The historic Race to Mackinac returned to Lake Michigan in July 2022. Started in 1898, the race annually hosts over 3,000 sailors and covers 333 statute miles, starting from Chicago’s Navy Pier and finishing at Mackinac Island, Michigan on Lake Huron. The 113th edition started Friday, July 22 for cruising sailboats and Saturday, July 23 for performance sailboats. The race is held by the Chicago Yacht Club.
2022 Boat Parade - Race to Mackinac by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Starting in 1898 with a mere five boats, The Mac has evolved into a world-class sporting event. After the first race in 1898, the Race to Mackinac was not held for five years until the second race in 1904. By 1906, the race had developed a healthy following and, in that year, the original Mackinac trophy was purchased. Following off years during WWI, The Race to Mackinac has run consecutively every year since 1921 and remains the longest annual freshwater distance race. The Race to Mackinac is recognized as one of the most prestigious sailing races in the world.
2022 Boat Parade - La Tempete
Although the Mac remains primarily an amateur event, the race has a proven track record of attracting some of the finest sailing talent in the sport. The monohull record of 23 hours, 30 minutes, and 34 seconds set by Roy Disney’s Pyewacket in 2002, and Steve Fossett on Stars and Stripes set the multi hull record of 18 hours, 50 minutes, and 32 seconds in 1998. Both records still stand today. The unpredictable weather and fickle winds on Lake Michigan make the Race to Mackinac a supreme test, which many competitors feel rivals any ocean race. As one veteran sailor put it, "It’s fun, but it’s serious fun."
2022 Boat Parade - Hot Ticket
Although there have been changes to the race over the 100+ years, the basic elements of this venerable contest have remained unchanged. Stripped down to its essence, The Mac, like all sailboat racing, is still primarily a test of strength, endurance, strategy and willpower.
2022 Boat Parade - Xuberance
As the boats sorted into single file passing the end of Navy Pier, the announcer had specific details about each boat and crew and changed to individual music tracks for the 30-seconds to minute it took to pass. Not being a competitive racer, I learned the banners are race successes where some of these boats and crew are quite accomplished.
2022 Boat Parade - Chicago Summer Fun
Following the US Civil War, Mackinac island became a popular tourist destination for residents of major cities on the Great Lakes. Much of the federal land on Mackinac Island was designated as the second national park, Mackinac National Park, in 1875, three years after Yellowstone National Park was named as the first national park.
2022 Boat Parade - Race to Mackinac
The 'Chicago Mac' is the oldest annual freshwater distance race in the world, and it has earned a reputation as one of the most prestigious sailing races, with entries from the Midwest and Canada as well as the East, West and Gulf Coasts of the U.S. and as far as Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. For many families it's a rite of passage for their children and their children's children to experience the Race to Mackinac.
Chicago Harbor Lighthouse
The Race to Mackinac starts at the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse just off Navy Pier, crosses Lake Michigan, barely enters Lake Huron, and finishes in the Round Island Channel, off Mackinac Island, Michigan. The race course runs 333 miles (536 km).
2022 Boat Parade - Badge
Family owned and operated for 75+ years through three generations, Shoreline started in 1939. They now feature an 11-boat fleet of these larger boats.
Shoreline Tours
Images captured in this post come from a circa 2000 EOS 1v film camera and a circa 2015 EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS II, mounted to a tripod. The film used included expired color film, and fresh B&W film with and without color filters. Details of the exposure, focal length and film type are included for each image using the URL link of the titles to their host Flickr pages.
2022 Boat Parade - Race to Mackinac
2022 Boat Parade - Race to Mackinac by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Starting in 1898 with a mere five boats, The Mac has evolved into a world-class sporting event. After the first race in 1898, the Race to Mackinac was not held for five years until the second race in 1904. By 1906, the race had developed a healthy following and, in that year, the original Mackinac trophy was purchased. Following off years during WWI, The Race to Mackinac has run consecutively every year since 1921 and remains the longest annual freshwater distance race. The Race to Mackinac is recognized as one of the most prestigious sailing races in the world.
2022 Boat Parade - La Tempete
Although the Mac remains primarily an amateur event, the race has a proven track record of attracting some of the finest sailing talent in the sport. The monohull record of 23 hours, 30 minutes, and 34 seconds set by Roy Disney’s Pyewacket in 2002, and Steve Fossett on Stars and Stripes set the multi hull record of 18 hours, 50 minutes, and 32 seconds in 1998. Both records still stand today. The unpredictable weather and fickle winds on Lake Michigan make the Race to Mackinac a supreme test, which many competitors feel rivals any ocean race. As one veteran sailor put it, "It’s fun, but it’s serious fun."
2022 Boat Parade - Hot Ticket
Although there have been changes to the race over the 100+ years, the basic elements of this venerable contest have remained unchanged. Stripped down to its essence, The Mac, like all sailboat racing, is still primarily a test of strength, endurance, strategy and willpower.
2022 Boat Parade - Xuberance
As the boats sorted into single file passing the end of Navy Pier, the announcer had specific details about each boat and crew and changed to individual music tracks for the 30-seconds to minute it took to pass. Not being a competitive racer, I learned the banners are race successes where some of these boats and crew are quite accomplished.
2022 Boat Parade - Chicago Summer Fun
Following the US Civil War, Mackinac island became a popular tourist destination for residents of major cities on the Great Lakes. Much of the federal land on Mackinac Island was designated as the second national park, Mackinac National Park, in 1875, three years after Yellowstone National Park was named as the first national park.
2022 Boat Parade - Race to Mackinac
The 'Chicago Mac' is the oldest annual freshwater distance race in the world, and it has earned a reputation as one of the most prestigious sailing races, with entries from the Midwest and Canada as well as the East, West and Gulf Coasts of the U.S. and as far as Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. For many families it's a rite of passage for their children and their children's children to experience the Race to Mackinac.
Chicago Harbor Lighthouse
The Race to Mackinac starts at the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse just off Navy Pier, crosses Lake Michigan, barely enters Lake Huron, and finishes in the Round Island Channel, off Mackinac Island, Michigan. The race course runs 333 miles (536 km).
2022 Boat Parade - Badge
Family owned and operated for 75+ years through three generations, Shoreline started in 1939. They now feature an 11-boat fleet of these larger boats.
Shoreline Tours
Images captured in this post come from a circa 2000 EOS 1v film camera and a circa 2015 EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS II, mounted to a tripod. The film used included expired color film, and fresh B&W film with and without color filters. Details of the exposure, focal length and film type are included for each image using the URL link of the titles to their host Flickr pages.
2022 Boat Parade - Race to Mackinac
May 25, 2023 07:15:57 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
The historic Race to Mackinac returned to Lake Mic... (show quote)
What a great series Paul and as always, the accompanying dialog. I really enjoyed the color and black and white shots
May 25, 2023 10:24:34 #
May 25, 2023 14:58:36 #
We have friends who race to Mackinac. I've offered to crew with them, but their regular crew members are all very experienced serious sailors. I guess I will have to just enjoy watching them sail on by when they get to SE Wisconsin.
May 25, 2023 16:32:17 #
May 25, 2023 21:57:22 #
May 30, 2023 06:49:54 #
Flyerace wrote:
We have friends who race to Mackinac. I've offered to crew with them, but their regular crew members are all very experienced serious sailors. I guess I will have to just enjoy watching them sail on by when they get to SE Wisconsin.
Thank you Flyerace! I got the impression that there's enough boats, that if you can commit to train and participate, there's an opening for anyone fit and interested to crew on a boat in the race. For Chicago residents, there's volunteer opportunities with the yacht club too. I have too much stuff going on this June-July, but the idea is in my mind for the future.
May 30, 2023 06:52:35 #
Thank you junglejim1949, Earnest, Flyerace, Moondoggie, Saigon! I posted another selection of mixed color and B&W images this morning from last year's race. There's been a few UHH threads of late about 'why' shoot film. For me, it makes for something different in the results, although the images may take a year to get released .... 
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