The following is the text of an announcement released by race organizers.

October 14, 2002

Dear Chicago to Mackinac Race Participant:

We are writing to you to announce a change in scoring handicap systems for the 2003 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac to AMERICAP II for all monohull participants. AMERICAP II was developed and is administered by US Sailing as a system incorporating elements of boat measurement, wind velocity, primary wind direction and an innovative scoring concept that combines time-on-time with time-ondistance.

In post-race analysis, AMERICAP II has shown tighter results for a large fleet of diverse yachts than single number PHRF ratings. Multihull boats will continue to sail under PHRF handicaps. The change to AMERICAP II will require each monohull owner to obtain an AMERICAP II certificate for his or her boat. US Sailing is offering new certificates at the reduced rate of $2 per foot of boat length. Measurements for over 750 production boats, another 500 custom designs and over 95% of the 280 boat 2002 Chicago to Mackinac monohull fleet are already on file, allowing a rating certificate to be readily prepared. For this initial year, US Sailing will not require flotation (freeboard ) measurement for each new certificate applicant and will instead rely on file data wherever available. For the small number of boats not yet in the US Sailing database, flotation and righting moment measurement will be required.

Flotation (freeboard) measurement provides an important confirmation of displacement under the AMERICAP II rule and is customarily required as part of the application process. US Sailing has agreed to issue certificates without freeboard measurement confirmation and consequently the certificates will be noted as Great Lakes certificates. Freeboard measurement will be encouraged and a group of measurers will be trained in Chicago this fall by US Sailing.

A brochure explaining the AMERICAP II system and containing an application is enclosed. We urge boat owners thinking about the 2003 Chicago to Mackinac race to apply early. Questions regarding the application process may be directed to US Sailing or to Shawn O’Neill at Chicago Yacht Club (soneill@earthlink.net).

Due to the length of the Chicago to Mackinac Race, the AMERICAP II limitation on race professionals driving and number of race professionals will be waived subject to any applicable one-design rules that may be more restrictive.

We would like the number of available freeboard measurers to be as high as possible and welcome volunteers from any yacht club to join the Fall 2002 training session in Chicago. Please contact Rick Lillie by e-mail at rhlillie@aol.com if you have an interest or know of another sailor with an interest.

The date for the 2003 race is Saturday, July 12, 2003.

Sincerely,

Michael Bucklo, Chairman

Richard Lillie, Vice Chairman