New sailing challenges, yacht club competitions, and a race addition highlight the 101st sailing of the Chicago Yacht Club's Race to Mackinac that begins Saturday, July 18. If weather forecasts stay true, wind direction and speed combined are expected to make an average paced event this year, racer Dick Coats of Mackinac Island said.

A total of 350 boats have registered to compete in this year's race, with about 3,000 sailors participating.

With winds coming from the south, sailors would be using their spinnaker sails, said Mr. Coats, who estimates the first boats will begin crossing the finish line at Windermere Point on Mackinac Island late Sunday or early Monday morning. The last boats, he said, probably would arrive early Tuesday, if conditions remain as forecasted.

The race start time varies by boat section with the doublehanded division the first out with a Chicago start time of 11:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard time. Other sections begin every 10 minutes until the last section has started. The objective is to cross the starting line under full sail after the sound of the starting gun. Boats that cross the line too early are required to turn back and restart.

The lake water is cold, said Mr. Coats while sailing to Chicago, Monday, July 13. The water temperature was 59 degrees near Frankenmuth. The problem with colder water, he said, is if a warm front comes through, sailors likely will have to deal with fog.

Early predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicate top winds will be about 15 knots during the day, dropping to as low as 5 knots at night, said meteorologist Andy Sullivan. No rain is forecast at this time, he added, although forecasts a week in advance can change.

Mr. Sullivan reported that temperatures east of Milwaukee on the Southern Buoy are reading 66 degrees, although Lake Huron is much colder. From the Northern Lake Huron Buoy, 37 miles northeast of Alpena, the water temperature is 54 degrees. Even with its unpredictability, Mr. Coats said he enjoys the sailing adventure.

"The Chicago race is a fun race," he said.

Race weather can be uncertain and conditions can change quickly in the 333-mile course, said Christie Denson, communications director of the event.

Sailors divide the race into four sections, beginning at the race start to the Manitou Islands, from the islands to Gray's Reef Light Station, Gray's Reef to the Mackinac Bridge, and the bridge to the finish line at Windermere Point.

"No matter how it starts off in Chicago, they really consider it to be four legs," Ms. Denson said.

"A lot of races are won and lost from Gray's Reef to the bridge," she said, "so it is hard to predict."

A new doublehanded division will begin the race and will test the skills of 32 sailors. Each of 16 yachts in the division will be crewed with two sailors. Boats not competing in the division average about 16 sailors on board a vessel. The popularity of doublehanded sailing has grown in the last several years and adding the division is good for the sport of sailing, said Greg Miarecki, chairman of the race.

Also a new competition among yacht clubs will further challenge sailors. Racers are identifying the yacht club they represent. Their boat's finishing score will be averaged with the rest of their yacht club participants. The yacht club with the lowest score will win the Yacht Club Challenge.

Mr. Coats will be sailing aboard the 40-foot vessel Twisted, which he owns with partner Bill Darbee. The boat is sailing under the Saginaw Bay Yacht Racing Association.

An experienced sailor, Mr. Coates has sailed in 25 Chicago to Mackinac races and 27 Port Huron to Mackinac races. This year, the two men and their crew of about eight will participate in the "Super Mac" race, which has not been held for nine years, has drawn 31 competitors. The race, which is jointly sponsored by the Bayview Yacht Club of Port Huron and Chicago Yacht Club, is 490 nautical miles or 564 statute (land) miles. The race begins in Chicago and continues past Mackinac Island through Lake Huron to Port Huron. The Super Mac serves as a feeder race for the 85th sailing of the Bayview Mackinac Race, which starts Saturday, July 25.

"I think there have been three Super Mac races in modern times," said John Barbour of Grosse Point, "and I have sailed them all. It was only proper that I sail the fourth."

Mr. Barbour skippers the Velero VII, which was one of the overall winners of the 100th race to Mackinac.

Prior to the Chicago race start, sailboats will parade near the east end of Chicago's Navy Pier beginning at 10 a.m. Central Time.

All 350 boats will be tracked by global positioning system technology, which will allow sailing enthusiasts on shore the opportunity to follow the race on the Internet at www.cycracetomackinac.com.

The Chicago Yacht Club was founded in 1875 and held the first Mackinac race in 1898 with five boats competing. Racing stopped for a few years since its beginning including during World War II, although the challenge has been annual since 1921.

Winners received plaques, flags, and bragging rights and overall winners have their names engraved on trophies on permanent display at the Chicago Yacht Club.