Cruising Division starts the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac 2026
by Chicago Yacht Club 11 Jul 12:36 NZST
July 10-11, 2026
The Cruising Division of the 117th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust enjoyed a picture-perfect start to their journey to Mackinac Island this afternoon.
44 cruising boats hit the starting line, traveling five nautical miles along the Chicago shoreline in front of the local Chicago spectators for the "Skyline Sprint" before rounding the turning mark at Montrose and continuing north up Lake Michigan.
The Racing Division will make their starts tomorrow, Saturday, July 11, with the first warning at 10:50 a.m. CT. On shore, spectators can enjoy a clear view of the 208-boat Racing Division from Navy Pier up to Montrose Beach as they race close to shore. The best locations for viewing are near Montrose Harbor and Belmont Harbor. Race fans can follow the boats in real time thanks to virtual race tracking.
Fans will be able to follow both the cruising and racing fleets via YB Tracking HERE. Each boat is equipped with a satellite tracker that sends GPS information (location, speed, and direction) every 15 minutes and displays the location and track on the race course.
Race organizers will be actively posting updates to CYC Race to Mackinac social media. We encourage all fans to follow the race on Facebook and Instagram and stay engaged with the race as much as possible!
For more information, visit www.cycracetomackinac.com