Chicago Yacht Club Receives Key to City

Chicago Yacht Club Commodore John Regan (left) accepts the first Mackinac Island key to the city from Mayor Margaret Doud (right) Tuesday, July 22. To recognize its 100th Race to Mackinac, the Chicago Yacht Club received the first Mackinac Island key to the city, presented by Mayor Margaret Doud at the yacht club's annual party and awards ceremony Tuesday, July 22, in the Tea Garden at Grand Hotel.

Commodore John Regan, who completed his first Chicago Mackinac race in 1967, accepted on behalf of the Chicago Yacht Club.

"We have a tremendous relationship with the Chicago and Mackinac Island yacht clubs," Mayor Doud said at the ceremony. "May we have many more years of great sailing."

The key to the city took several months to complete and was designed by City Clerk Karen Lennard and Mayor Doud over the winter. On the key is a photo of two horses in the snow, taken by Samuel R. Garrow of Marquette.

"Every important city has a key, and we thought it was time for Mackinac to have one, too," Ms. Lennard said. "This is a huge honor, not to be taken lightly."

At right, a close-up view of the key shows the artwork on the Key to the City.