2021 Race to Mackinac

BENETEAU is excited to take part this year in the 2021 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac! Chicago Yacht Club's most famous event is the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, which is the longest annual freshwater sailing race in the world. Participating in the race, we will have two BENETEAU First 27 SE’s crewed by a talented group of sailors. We have also planned an exciting week of events, which will include seminars, a cocktail hour, time to meet with our product specialists, and a social to celebrate the end of the race.

The Chicago Yacht Club has officially announced that its ever-popular Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust (CYCRTM) will return this summer after taking a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Started in 1898, the race annually hosts over 3,000 sailors and covers 333 statute miles, starting from Chicago’s Navy Pier on Lake Michigan and finishing at Mackinac Island, Mich. on Lake Huron. The 112th edition starts Friday, July 16 for cruising sailboats and Saturday, July 17 for performance sailboats. 

“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 afield as Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia,” said Sandoval. “For many families it’s a rite of passage for their children and their children’s children to experience the Race to Mackinac.”

BENETEAU RACE EVENTS

Wednesday, July 14

3:00 pm to 4:00 pm  - Seminar with North Sails at Columbia Yacht Club

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Seminar with Seascape at Columbia Yacht Club

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm - Cocktail Hour at Columbia Yacht Club

Tuesday, July 20

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm - BENETEAU Beer Social on Mackinac Island