Winners emerge among record 332-entry fleet in the 100th Bayview Mackinac Race
by Offshore Racing Congress 24 Jul 14:33 NZST
July 20, 2024
After a challenging 204 miles of sailing in conditions that ranged from perfect to challenging, the winners of the 100th edition of the annual Bayview Mackinac Race presented by National Fleet Services were celebrated today at the scenic finish venue on Mackinac Island, Michigan. A record 332 monohulls and multihulls entered the race, with 309 boats completing the course.
To add a historic dimension to this milestone event, all competitors competed on one course, the original course used in the first race in 1925. Overall scoring used ORC ratings for the Bayview Shore Course model for all monohulls in all classes.
In Division I 154 racing and one-design entries completed the course, and in overall standings the fastest boats in the fleet in Class A dominated the overall results. After a start in light air at Port Huron on Saturday July 20, the fleet enjoyed fast reaching conditions in the first night and in the early hours of Sunday. However, the easterly breeze gradually lightened on Sunday afternoon when Class A finished and got even lighter throughout Sunday evening and Monday for the remainder of the fleet.
David and Peter Askew's TP52 WIZARD was first to cross the finish line at 13:12:34 local time, 22 hours after their start, and was trailed by Chris Duhon's TP52 MOCKINGBIRD by only 9 seconds, followed by Doug DeVos's TP52 WINDQUEST another 3 minutes later. Three more of these "GL 52's" finished soon thereafter, followed by Bill McKinley's Ker 46+ DENALI 3, the several ULDB Sleds after that.
Having a slightly slower rating than their rivals, Duhon and the MOCKINGBIRD team thereby claimed overall victory in corrected time by a 10-minute margin over runner-up WINDQUEST, with WIZARD in third.
In Division II's cruising, doublehanded and one-design entries 143 teams finished the race, and unlike in Division 1 the overall winner in ORC scoring was one of the slowest-rated boats in the fleet: Jeremy Thompson's Grampian 30 TRAV'LER. This is a repeat win for Thompson, whose runner-up in overall scoring was also a class winner last year as well: Tim Prophit's Carter-designed NA 40 FAST TANGO. In third was Peter Thornton's Bruce King-designed 140-foot Ketch WHITEHAWK, demonstrating the tremendous diversity of boat types that were competitive in the top ranks of this division.
During the race ORC's Dobbs Davis produced a race analysis show that described the fleet, their positions, the weather and the relevant tactics and strategies of numerous teams in the fleet. These shows were supported by VanTol & Vitelli Insurance Group and Legal Copy Services, and are available on this YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DobbsDavis.
"This was a challenging race suitable for the 100th edition, with a variety of wind conditions to test everyone in the fleet," said Race Chairman Charlie Trost of Bayview Yacht Club. "Those on the podiums in each class earned their places through great sailing and great perseverance."
For complete results and more information on the 100th Bayview Mackinac Race presented by National Fleet Services visit bycmack.com.