The countdown to the Race to Mackinac - Chicago Yacht Club celebrates its 150th Anniversary
by Laura Muma 10 Jul 07:57 PDT
July 18-19, 2025
Start of 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, presented by Wintrust © Barry Butler
2025 is a landmark year for the Chicago Yacht Club and the Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust Financial Corporation.
CYC celebrates its 150th anniversary, while the Mac Race—beginning July 18-19 — features its largest fleet in recent years with nearly 300 boats, driven by a surge in first-time entries, the return of the Multihull Division, and a rare running of the "Ultra Mac"—a 548-nautical mile offshore challenge from Port Huron, Mich., to Chicago sailed in advance of the main event.
To celebrate CYC's 150th anniversary, the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust has introduced a new course addition for 2025: the "Skyline Sprint." This five nautical-mile leg gives fans an unprecedented chance to watch the fleet race close to shore, as both the racing and cruising divisions sail along Chicago's north lakefront toward a turning mark just off Montrose Harbor.
The boats, ranging from family cruisers to sleek racing machines, will then continue the 333-mile adventure up Lake Michigan and finish in Lake Huron at Mackinac Island, Mich.
"We created the Skyline Sprint as a way to bring the racing closer to spectators and to the City of Chicago, who, for the first time, will be able to watch hundreds of boats sailing near the skyline. Great viewing spots will be in front of Navy Pier, Diversey, Belmont and Montrose harbors," said Winn Soldani, Chair of the Race to Mackinac.
Last year's Race to Mackinac was certainly one to remember. A new monohull race record was set in one of the fastest races in its history, Saturday night storms caused multiple boats to withdraw due to damage, and safety precautions and incredible teamwork resulted in a successful man overboard recovery. Perhaps that is why the 2025 edition sees its largest fleet in recent years: nearly 300 boats will set sail July 18 (cruising boats) and July 19 (racing boats).
First Timers
While the Mac Race is rich in tradition, it continues to lead through innovation—especially in how it attracts and welcomes first-time competitors. Launched in 2024, the 'First Timers' program puts added focus on supporting new skippers and crew, encouraging broader participation and culminating in a celebratory First Timers Brunch on Mackinac Island.
As a result, 60 first-time Mac skippers will be on the starting line next weekend - 20 percent of the fleet and double that of last year's 'newbies.' Of last year's 28 first-timers, half will return to tackle their second Mac. Additionally, more than 500 sailors will experience their first Race to Mackinac this summer.
Ultra Mac
The Ultra Mac is held once every 25 years. It's a grueling 548 nautical miles that will kick off this weekend in Port Huron with the start of the Bayview Mackinac race. Eleven boats are registered and will sail up Lake Huron, pass by Mackinac Island and under the Mackinac Bridge, sail down Lake Michigan and finish off of Chicago Yacht Club's Monroe Harbor, just prior to the start of the Race to Mackinac
Media note: Expect to see happy, tired sailors who have completed the Ultra Mac docking in Chicago's Monroe Harbor between Tuesday and Wednesday. Live tracking is available HERE (and interviews are available).
Return of the multihulls
Multihulls - sailboats with two or three hulls - return to the Mac Race this year. When conditions are right, the multihulls typically sail at higher speeds than the monohulls, so this year wagering enthusiasts may place bets on if one of the 11 multihulls registered will claim the first boat to finish title. In fact, the fastest elapsed time for a Race to Mackinac belongs to a multihull - Steve Fosset's Stars & Stripes - set in 1998.