Bayview Mackinac Race already sees record number of entrants for 100th sailing

This summer's 100th sailing of the Bayview Mackinac Race will see a record number of boats and sailors participating — with more still registering daily.

The Bayview Yacht Club said Friday 331 sailboats had registered, breaking the old record of 316 set in 1985. But with registration deadline set for June 1, the final number is expected to easily grow.

And competitors will be arriving from all over. As of Friday, 16 states and Canada are represented.

The milestone event was expected to stir a large amount of interest from sailors who have participated in the extremely popular Michigan summertime event, and it has. The race is regarded as one of the most popular and difficult in North America.

"This growth in participation speaks volumes about the enduring appeal and significance of the sport of sailing and the race," said Michael Helm, Bayview Yacht Club commodore. "While we anticipated an increase in the number of participants for our 100th (race), I attribute the immense response to a broader trend of people seeking outdoor activities and embracing the natural beauty that Michigan has to offer.

"Sailing in particular takes advantage of this and is an activity accessible for enthusiasts and newcomers alike."

Bayview Yacht Club has hosted the annual sailing event since 1925. But never has the race attracted the level of interest from competitors, sponsors and partners as this year, a wide audience attracted by the historic 100th sailing.

"Our sponsors are vitally important to everything we do, not only for the financial stability of this and future races, but we are looking for experiential opportunities surrounding the event for participants’ and fans' enjoyment," said Charlie Trost, 2024 Bayview Mackinac chairman. "The strong support we are seeing surrounding the 2024 Bayview Mackinac Race ... is affording us a great deal of stability for the race which in turn permits us to explore a number of ideas to expand sailing among new and non-traditional audiences."

For July's milestone race, all competitors will sail on the 1925 Original Course, used during the first Bayview Mackinac race covering 204 nautical miles (235 statute miles).

From its traditional start in southern Lake Huron, the fleet will head north on one course along the Michigan shoreline before heading west, passing south of Bois Blanc Island, and finishing west to east at the finish line between Round Island and Mackinac Island.

The original course started three nautical miles south of the current one, off Lakeside Park in Port Huron. As the race has increased in participants the starting line was moved to its current location to accommodate the required starting line length and sufficient depth over its entire length.

The decision to return to the original course in July "adds a unique historical dimension to an already prestigious event, promising an unforgettable experience for participants and fans alike," Trost said. "Bayview Yacht Club has worked very hard behind the scenes to ensure we have a competitive, fair, and fun race for all the competitors.

"The race is not only a test of skill, but also a celebration of the enduring spirit of adventure and competition."

100th Bayview Mackinac Race

▶ When: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 20

▶ Where: Lake Huron, just north of the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron.

▶ Did you know? The Mackinac Race is one of the longest consecutively run long-distance freshwater races in the country. Over 2,500 sailors will compete in this year's race.

ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com

@tkulfan