Second Wave: Mariners Race Toward Island Shores
Two Courses Offered to Bacardi Bayview-Mackinac Sailors This Week
By Karen Gould

A sea of racing yachts from the 2005 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac rest in slips under the shadow of Fort Mackinac Tuesday, July 19. Many of the Chicago racers will return next week in the Bacardi Bayview Mackinac Challenge, which begins Saturday, July 23.

The second wave of mariners will hit the shores of Mackinac Island as the 81st sailing of the Bacardi Bayview Mackinac Race gets underway from Port Huron Saturday, July 23. The 32-foot sloop Bernida , winner of the first Bayview race in 1925, though no longer sea worthy, will be on shore to inspire sailors as they cross the finish line near Mission Point Resort on the southeast corner of the Island.

Two-hundred sixty-seven boats and approximately 3,000 sailors will begin leaving Port Huron at 11:30 a.m. from a starting line 4.5 nautical miles north of the Blue Water Bridge in Lake Huron on the American side of the shipping channel. The bridge links the United States to Canada over the St. Clair River.

The regatta offers mariners a choice of two Lake Huron courses en route to Mackinac. The original route, the Shore Course, is 235 statute miles or 204 nautical miles shadowing the Michigan shoreline, crossing Saginaw Bay, with Thunder Bay Island, Middle Island, and Bois Blanc Island on the port side. Some 126 skippers will lead their crews along this route.

Introduced in 2000 and 49 miles longer, the Southampton course is a 290-mile (253 nautical miles) journey that offers a challenging, more tactical race, taking boats approximately five miles off Southampton, Ontario, along the eastern side of Lake Huron. Taking on the quest will be 141 yachting crews.

An awards ceremony for racers is planned at Mission Point Resort for noon on Tuesday, July 26.

The Bernida will be on the grounds of Mission Point Resort until the end of the yachting event. The restoration of the old sailing vessel is under the care of the Mackinac Boating Heritage Foundation and the organization is selling raffle tickets to help fund the project.

“The Bernida restoration effort symbolizes Mackinac Island’s dedication to preserving history,” said Bart Huthwaite, Commodore of the Mackinac Island Yacht Club and founding director of the Heritage Foundation.

Restoration work has begun and owner of Restoration by Maverick, Rob Frazier, who has been removing layers of paint from the vessel, which has revealed its double mahogany construction.

“She is in remarkably good condition,” said Mr. Frazier.

The restoration project is expected to take about two years and Mr. Huthwaite hopes the boat will be ready to race in 2007. He estimates the restoration will cost approximately $175,000 and the Mackinac Boating Heritage Foundation is holding a $10,000 first prize raffle during the race event to help fund the project. Tickets are $100 each.

Continuous coverage of this year’s regatta can be found on www.byc.com/mac05.