Chicago and Port Huron to Mackinac Records

The 1998 sailing of the Chicago to Mackinac race saw a great deal of controversy over whether or not a new record was set for the 333 mile course.

In attempt to find the facts of the controversial situation Torresen Sailing Site conducted research about regulations concerning sailing speed records, and the actual records for both the Chicago to Mackinac and Port Huron to Mackinac Course.

The starting point for sailing records is the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC). The function of the WSSRC as noted by the International Sailing Federation, is "to be the International Authority for Ratifying World Sailing Speed Records." In this case we are concerned with offshore records, but WSSRC also handles records set on closed courses.

The WSSRC has several standards for ocean passage records. First, the WSSRC rule book states: "Individual courses and races will not usually be considered for record purposes unless they are more than about 250 miles." Both of the courses under consideration are longer than this standard.

Second, the rule book states: "Elapsed times achieved in yacht races organized by clubs which are recognized by a national sailing authority are accepted as correct by WSSRC." The organizing clubs are Chicago Yacht Club and Bayview Yacht Club, both of which are recognized by the national authority, in this case US Sailing.

The third passage that applies is: ""No form of rating, handicap or sail area class is relevant."

This means that : "The shortest time, without handicap, is the record for an event."

The WSSRC provides 7 different categories for records, recognizing the diverse types of boats that may make record attempts, and the diverse crew(s) these boats may have. The categories are as follows:

Any type of vessel, any number of crew (the outright record)

Any type of vessel, sailed singlehanded

Any type of vessel, sailed singlehanded by a woman

Monohull vessel, any number of crew

Monohull vessel, sailed singlehanded by a woman

Any type of vessel, any number of all female crew

Monohull vessel, any number of female crew

Torresen Sailing Site conducted research to find the holders of the records in the above categories. We received help from several sources. We did not find records for all categories, and ask that people who know of additional record holders contact us.

Since 1998 there have been several records broken. The list below is complete as of the close of the 2003 Mackinac races.Of note is that although the races are sailed on the Great Lakes Pyewacket and Alchemy are both hail from California.

Chicago to Mackinac Records