Bayview Mackinac Race To Bring Yachts to Straits
By Caitlyn Kienitz Mackinac Island Town Crier

The Bayview Mackinac race enters its 84th season with recognition of one of the race's earliest participants and a pledge to protect the Great Lakes for future generations.

About 250 boats and 2,000 sailors are expected to participate in this year's race, which will follow the same course as last year's. The first group of boats will leave Port Huron at 11:30 a.m, Saturday, July 12. Groups of 16 boats will depart 10 minutes apart, with the final start at 2:30 p.m.

After departing Port Huron, all boats will head due north to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration weather buoy about 43 miles northeast of Alpena. Sailors will then turn and set a course for Mackinac Island.

This is the second year racers will follow this particular course, said race chairman John Burke.

"We saw this buoy and thought it might be a neat place to go," he said. "It's near the deepest point of the lake. We tried it last year and it was really well received."

For many years, racers just went up the shoreline, a course that continued to be used for the smaller boats until last year.

Having just one course for all boats provides additional excitement for the racers, Mr. Burke said.

"The small boats get a thrill out of seeing the big boats sail through," he said. "We try to keep the group together for a while, anyway."

One boat that likely will not stay with the group is Stars and Stripes, an America's Cup defender that can reach speeds of up to 28 knots.

"This boat is so fast that the goal of the crew is to make last call at the Pink Pony Saturday," Mr. Burke said. "If the conditions are just perfect, it's possible, but not probable.

"I told them, if they do it, I'll buy the first round," he added with a laugh.

This year's race honors Robert Roadstrum, a Bayview member who has raced in 49 Bayview Mackinac races, including the first race in 1925.

"He wanted to do 50, but the doctor wouldn't let him go anymore," said Mr. Burke. Instead, the club presented Mr. Roadstrum with an honorary 50th race in honor of his 100th birthday, so that he could become inducted into the society of "Grand Rams" - sailors who have raced in 50 or more Bayview Mackinac races.

The week leading up to the event will be an exciting one in Port Huron, with a family night scheduled for Thursday and a boat night scheduled for Friday. Mr. Burke expects about 100,000 people in Port Huron for Friday's events.

"It's a big party the whole week," he said.

This year's race won't just be a party. Organizers hope this year's Mackinac race will help preserve the Great Lakes for years to come.

Part of the entry fees will be donated to the Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives tour. Among other goals, the tour hopes to help prevent the invasion of non-native species such as the zebra mussel. The Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives tour is led by the crew of a boat that has raced in the Bayview Mackinac race in years past.

"The Earth Voyageur has always raced in our race, and this year they are on a tour of Great Lakes promoting the protection and clean-up of the lakes," said Mr. Burke. "We thought it would be something that would be right up most sailors' alley."

The yacht club also hosted an event at Bayview to help promote the tour, which he said was well received by Bayview members.

"Sailors, in general, are pretty environmentally conscious people. We don't use our engines, we use wind power," he added. "We pretty much all feel the same way about preserving these Great Lakes, because they're so beautiful."

After the boats have arrived safely on the Island, the festivities will begin again Tuesday, July 15, at noon, when all sailors and their families celebrate the race's end with a party and awards at Mission Point Resort.