CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The Chicago Yacht Club’s 113th Race to Mackinac (July 22/23, 2022) was one of the fastest in recent years covering the 289.4 nautical mile course from Chicago to Mackinac Island. Storms overnight Saturday mostly missed the boats who left Saturday morning in these images, the storms crossing Lake Michigan well north of most of the racers.

2022 Boat Parade - Natalie J by Paul Sager, on Flickr


Natalie J, shown above, is a PAC 52 with a crew of 14. Natalie J raced for the Chicago-Mackinac Trophy, finished second in their division and 5-hours behind the 2022 trophy-winning time of 1-day, 10-hours, 23-minutes. Denali^3, below, won the Section 01, finishing ahead of Natalie J by about 90-minutes.

2022 Boat Parade - Denali^3


At stake were bragging rights in 20 "sections" (otherwise known as classes) for Cruising, Racing, One-Design, Multihull and Doublehanded boats and the glory that comes with winning overall in the Cruising and Racing Divisions, the latter category further divided into those sailing for the prestigious Chicago-Mackinac Trophy and those sailing for the similarly coveted Mackinac Cup.

2022 Boat Parade - Program


The website for the Chicago Yacht Club has all the registration information of the boats in the race. From the full and partial registration numbers, I was able to identify nearly every boat shown in all these images.

2022 Boat Parade - Wild Thing


The Chicago Yacht Club is a recognized leader in sailing education, with one of the largest junior sailing programs in the United States. The Club is home to nearly 1500 members, including a few America’s Cup winning skippers, Olympic medallists and hopefuls, and outstanding boaters of all types, from ages 4 to 104.

2022 Boat Parade - Race to Mackinac


Founded in 1875, the Chicago Yacht Club's mission is to encourage, promote, and develop knowledge, participation, and enjoyment of all aspects of yachting.

2022 Boat Parade - Badge


The Island Goat Sailing Society takes seriously its responsibility for keeping track of "Old Goats," those who have sailed 25 or more Chicago Mac races, rarely a winner, but always a finisher.

2022 Boat Parade - Pura Vida


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.

Chicago Skyline


The tall ship Windy is Chicago's official 'flag ship'. The boat sails multiple times daily from Navy Pier from May to September.

Tall Ship Windy

kpsk_sony

Nice to have a hobby within a hobby (boats + Photog or visa versa) I like the Chicago skyline. The boats do not seem intimidated by the buildings, nce.

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

I really like that third one Paul. Looks like great time!

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

A fun race with a lot of history. Great in download.

ddgm Loc: Hamilton, Ontario & Fort Myers, FL

Great pictures but I am wondering at the lack of sails. Looks like most are under engine power.

13 Loc: I am only responsible to what I say..not what

B/W is spot on!!!!

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Nice essay Paul. This race is a big event for the racers and their followers. The Leland Refuge Harbor is always busy when the racers go past. Seems more boats follow and observe than actually race. Boaters certainly know how to enjoy their sport. And of course, boats translate to parties! All three bars do a land-office business that night. When the morning sun arises they are gone, headed to the Island. I can only imagine the celebration when they arrive on Mackinac. Really fun time for most.

SueScott Loc: Hammondsville, Ohio

What an amazing set - thanks for sharing!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you David! The images / discussion of the event on some other sites has generated a discussion of "Mackinac Island Fudge". Maybe that will be an addition I make to the celebration for this summer's race.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you kpsk_sony! You some see the sails on the horizon of boats gather for the start-line of their race / section. The lighthouse shown in other posts is the 'official' start-line of the race.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you kpsk_sony, Ray, junglejim1949, ddgm, 13, David, SueScott! To pass by the end of Navy Pier in the parade is probably, mostly under motor power. The race is wind power. I guess the distance and speed makes motor power impossible for these sized boats that the race times?

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

I must give warning Paul. The word "fudge" has morphed into defining an entire race of people, "Fudgies." Tourists flood the northern tip of Michigan as soon as the glaciers leave in May, or whenever. They all buy fudge and carry it around with them as a badge of some sort. Hence the term "fudgie." Hey, we get bored and laugh at the monkeys too. Fudge sales skyrocket during the National Cherry Festival held in T.C. every first week of July. Even the Navy's Blue Angels are "fudgies" when they arrive for the festival. Fudge is almost as popular as cherries, and fudgies mix both. Try some if you make the race next time. Enjoy!

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice shots, Paul, especially the black and whites.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Cherries (but from California) just went on sale here locally. Maybe I can find a dark chocolate cherry fudge recipe for this week's kitchen effort.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thanks John! I'm really happy with the B&W results. Every color roll was expired and a different film type, so there's lots of opportunity to see the differences of each type of much the same subjects, time of day, direction and lighting.