Live Race Reports - 100th Race To Mackinac

[MR.CLEAN]

It's a bright and early 7 AM here in Chicago, and we're just now starting to pack our shit up so we can get on the water all day and bring you starts and interviews from this great race.

The party was pretty damned insane - you can tell that no one has seen a 436-boat regatta before - but the CYC is well prepared, the people here are just happy to be part of this, and frankly, this could be a model for anyone else in the US who's planning a big distance event. The kids have done a hell of a job.

We've got a lot of LONG video that we'll be mixing with our coverage over the next couple of days, but today, we're focusing on getting on the water so you all can see the starts.

A couple of big reminders: First, SAVE MY NUMBER (248) 563-0657 and call me anytime from the lake. If you can't reach me, either send a text, or call the Torresen Marine Racer's Hotline at 231-740-8900 and leave a message. We've got some four dozen boats with our contact info - we'd love to see reports from a hundred of you guys. We don't care where you are - there's a tracker for that - we just want to know your story, what you're dealing with out there, and what you'd like to say to the folks following along from home.

You can also e-mail me if your aircard is working - but I've been on the lake, and you won't get much signal for the first day. Alan (at) blocksail (dot) com.

Thanks folks.

Enjoy this video from Vegas, sailing with Meade and Jan Gougeon last week on their incredible trimaran Adagio in the Port Huron-Mackinac race. They broke their boom a bit after this video.

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Here's the latest weather from the Accuweather dude:

Mackinac Race

Saturday, July 19, 2008 11:17:00 AM

AccuWeather.com Forecast for the Yacht Club Race from Chicago to Mackinac

By Kevin Witt, Meteorologist

A stationary front will be draped across the lower Great Lakes on Saturday. Showers and a few thunderstorms will roll across the central and southern portions of Lake Michigan, with the heaviest activity concentrated on Saturday morning. An area of low pressure, approaching from the west and along the front will generate additional showers and thunderstorms across Lake Michigan later on Saturday night and during much of the day on Sunday. Drier conditions will ensue as the storm moves east later in the day on Sunday. The next disturbance will push across Lake Michigan on Sunday night into Monday morning. This is when round three of showers and thunderstorms could erupt across Lake Michigan. The more intense showers and thunderstorms should be concentrated across the southern half of Lake Michigan. From Monday night through Wednesday, drier conditions will evolve as high pressure builds in across Lake Michigan.

Waves will average 1-2 feet through the weekend. The waves could briefly reach 4 feet near any thunderstorm. Visibility should be unrestricted much of the time, although rain from any thunderstorms can lower visibility to under a mile.

For the lower third of Lake Michigan, winds will be southwesterly at 6-12 knots on Saturday. Wind will become more westerly at 5-10 knots on Saturday night, then will become west to northwest at 10-20 knots on Sunday.

Across the central portion of Lake Michigan on Sunday, winds will be southeast in more southern areas and northeast farther to the north at 8-16 knots, becoming northwest at 8-16 knots on Sunday night, northwest at 7-14 knots on Monday and 5-10 knots on Monday night.

For the northern third of the lake, winds will be out of the northeast at 8-16 knots on Sunday night and generally north at 7-14 knots on Monday.

Current conditions at the start:

 

[DryArmour]

Here's the latest weather from the Accuweather dude:Mackinac Race

Saturday, July 19, 2008 11:17:00 AM

AccuWeather.com Forecast for the Yacht Club Race from Chicago to Mackinac

By Kevin Witt, Meteorologist

A stationary front will be draped across the lower Great Lakes on Saturday. Showers and a few thunderstorms will roll across the central and southern portions of Lake Michigan, with the heaviest activity concentrated on Saturday morning. An area of low pressure, approaching from the west and along the front will generate additional showers and thunderstorms across Lake Michigan later on Saturday night and during much of the day on Sunday. Drier conditions will ensue as the storm moves east later in the day on Sunday. The next disturbance will push across Lake Michigan on Sunday night into Monday morning. This is when round three of showers and thunderstorms could erupt across Lake Michigan. The more intense showers and thunderstorms should be concentrated across the southern half of Lake Michigan. From Monday night through Wednesday, drier conditions will evolve as high pressure builds in across Lake Michigan.

Waves will average 1-2 feet through the weekend. The waves could briefly reach 4 feet near any thunderstorm. Visibility should be unrestricted much of the time, although rain from any thunderstorms can lower visibility to under a mile.

For the lower third of Lake Michigan, winds will be southwesterly at 6-12 knots on Saturday. Wind will become more westerly at 5-10 knots on Saturday night, then will become west to northwest at 10-20 knots on Sunday.

Across the central portion of Lake Michigan on Sunday, winds will be southeast in more southern areas and northeast farther to the north at 8-16 knots, becoming northwest at 8-16 knots on Sunday night, northwest at 7-14 knots on Monday and 5-10 knots on Monday night.

For the northern third of the lake, winds will be out of the northeast at 8-16 knots on Sunday night and generally north at 7-14 knots on Monday.

Current conditions at the start:

CLEAN - JUST SENT YOU AN EMAIL.

Yes, I am shouting

 

[Grinder]

Hope your boat likes beating.

Have fun everyone,

Thanks for a great party!

The Goblinator h34r:

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Alright y'all - we are fully on station, with lots of fun stuff for you and a full day of starts. Hopefully the weather will improve a bit so that our pics and vids aren't grainy gray crap.

Weather is now very strange. 5 knots from 195 degrees, with a nasty lump left over from last night.

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Here's the first start - Cruising 2




And here's Cruising 1

 

[MR.CLEAN]

We just heard some crazy news from our pal Anarchist REW - chief measurer for the race. Convictus Maxiumus, the Farr 42 that used to be called Sue - was DSQ'd for the race. They did not have the required invitee on the boat, so thy got tossed. More on that later.

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Vids are coming in as we speak - this is so painful to watch, lumpy, light and fugly.

 

[jed5]

We just heard some crazy news from our pal Anarchist REW - chief measurer for the race. Convictus Maxiumus, the Farr 42 that used to be called Sue - was DSQ'd for the race. They did not have the required invitee on the boat, so thy got tossed. More on that later.

Hmm..

sounds like Chicago politics as usual

 

[Capo26sailor]

Sucks...............got a friend on Sue.

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Here's some action from the Navy Pier, where each boat is announced on a loudspeaker to the assembled public - not that many of them on this rainy day. Good thing is that the rain is finally clearing.




And here's a little multihull tour:

 

[MR.CLEAN]

There's some pretty strange current coming from the East - Betsy Altman, Etchells sailor, is down here playing with us on the photo boat.

 

[jed5]

Nice work clean,

I can still get my Mac info while I sit here in france.

while I had some decent offers this year for the Mac's

I took the one in the Med

love the Euro

much better coversion for us sepos

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Stick with us - we're injecting a bit of a delay into things so you can see the starts in order, but every one of 'em is on camera.

 

[MR.CLEAN]

While we're out of sequence a bit, it's interesting to note that Mojo, a Beneteau 40.7, took over ten minutes to get back over the line and restart after being OCS.

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Class 10 Start




Class 9 Start

 

[chaosmaster]

Award winning commentary!!!

"Ugh....Ugh....Egh...Ugh.... Glad I'm not racing today....Ugh!!!"

 

[DC/Chicago]

Award winning commentary!!!
"Ugh....Ugh....Egh...Ugh.... Glad I'm not racing today....Ugh!!!"

I did half the race already .I helped my friends on Wooton push off and I am driving up North with the Familly Sunday.I will be there on time to take their lines at the dock without the so many hours of being wet..It was wet this morning and happy to have dryed out.

DC

 

[akaGP]

Class 10 Start
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Hey Mr. Dirty,

You posted the same video for both Section 10 and Section 9 starts.

Must be the alcohol from last night.