After 80 Years, Bernida Returns to Mackinac
By Karen Gould

Above photo: This painting of Bernida by Island artist John Manikoff shows her just about to cross the finish line to win the first Bayview race Monday, July 27, 1925. Her elapsed time was 50 hours, 50 minutes. Prints of the painting are for sale with a portion of the funds going to support the restoration project. Unframed prints are $125 and framed prints cost $250. They can be orderd at www.johnmanikoff.com or by calling (517) 243-1255.

The 32-foot sloop Bernida, winner of the first Bayview Yacht Club Port Huron-toMackinac Island yacht race in 1925, has returned to the Island after 80 years to serve as an icon of the legacy she helped create. This year, she greeted racers from shore as they crossed the finish line at Mission Point Resort, but within a year or two, she may once again sail in the Lake Huron classic.

Lower photo: After 80 years, Bernida has returned to Mackinac Island. Though no longer sea worthy, plans to restore her to compete in Island yacht races by 2007 are underway, beginning with a raffle. She arrived at the Arnold Dock, Friday, July 22, and was transported to Mission Point Resort, where she was on display during this year’s Bacardi Bayview Mackinac Race.

Bart Huthwaite, commodore of the Mackinac Island Yacht Club and founding director of the Mackinac Boating Heritage Foundation, is spearheading a $200,000 project to restore the vessel with a series of raffles. Mackinac Boating Heritage Foundation, he said, is dedicated to preserving Mackinac area maritime history and is working hand-in-hand with the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau to raise funds throughout the Midwest.

Three raffles will be held over the next year to cover the restoration costs. The first raffle has begun and will end on September 30, with one grand prize winner walking away with $10,000. Only 1,000 tickets are available at $100 each.

Asecond raffle will be held at the Metro Beach In Water Boat Show in Detroit later this year. With a small bit of the restoration begun, Bernida will be trailered to the boat show so people will see, first-hand, the restoration process.

The final raffle will take place this time next summer during the Bacardi Bayview Mackinac Race on Mackinac Island.

“We’re restoring the Bernida $100 at a time,” said Mr. Huthwaite. “This is a boat of the masses, not a boat of the classes. It’s a go boat, not a show boat.”

“One hundred dollars is not a ton of money to know you had a hand in the restoration process,” said Mary McGuire Slevin, director of the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau. “This is a great race boat.”

The Bernida was rediscovered by Toby Murray, who now serves as secretary of the Mackinac Boating Heritage Foundation.

He saw a story on the boat in the Frankfort area and went to see it. “The whole thing got very exciting,” he said, “and all kinds of ideas got flowing.”

“Restoring the Bernida will give the Islanders and yachters a sense of community and a sense of pride,” said Mrs. Slevin. “The Bernida is a really important part of Mackinac Island history. Part of our history is maritime. The Bayview to Mackinac is one of the largest freshwater races in the world and her restoration speaks to that tradition,” she said. “After all, we are an island.”

When not on display, Bernida is being restored in St. Ignace at Restorations by Maverick.

Raffle tickets are available at the Mackinac Island Yacht Club and at Island establishments. Other contributions can be made by calling Emily McCreary at (906) 847-6094.