Anyone ever done the ChiMac before?

Mike Krantz did it last year and and is going this year.

Go THAT way, really fast.
If something gets in your way, turn.

12 - What do you need to know?

I'll be doing it this year, The 100th running of the Chi/Mac on my Sisters F-33. Bob O is also on the crew.

As a matter of fact we are heading out today for some practice and some man overboard drills.

Steve Piche and a couple of other Texas cat sailors have done it on a F-31 OD and can fill you in.

On my list of "things to do." Would need some help though....

Thanks for the replies and the PMs. Here's the deal; not sure why, but I have been asked to sail the event aboard a Beneteau 44.7 with some other US SAILING volunteers, including two past presidents, the current president, and the likely next president. I have been a vocal critic of some aspects of US SAILING over the last 18 months or so - conversations are likely to get uncomfortable. I thought about it a long time and decided that I should take the opportunity - the folks on the boat can't have made a mistake, in that they know very well I am a multihull sailor and have been happy in that niche for a long time. So I have to assume that they asked me along on purpose. I can't pass up the chance to have frank and uninterrupted discussion about the future of multihulls within the organization.

I haven't done big boats in a very long time - this will be interesting for sure, and the 100th anniversary of the event just adds frosting. Wish I were on one of the fast Tri's or Stars and Stripes with Randy, but it still promises to be an epic event (just slower than I'd like). I'm looking at it as a "working vacation."

I'll be taking any and all half-boat and navigation advice offered. And I promise - no softballs for the leadership.

Bring your foulies, and a warm layer for underneath. The water is cold, and you're not in SoCal anymore. Once the sun goes down, it gets chilly at night.

Meet you at the Pink Pony...

Since you'll be working on a lead mine, here's some essential gear:

Monohull Gear


<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

You'll get seasick. Motion in 4 knot s-boxes is much different than 15 knot cats

Start getting used to watever watch routine they've chosen. Since it's a short race, you could probably just energy drink your way through it...

Monohullers in the Mac Race have been known to suffer from biting stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) that swarm slow-moving above-water platforms offshore. These flies are very hungry and WANT YOUR BLOOD. Deet mosquito repellent is utterly useless against them. Get a Bayer repellent product (Walmart) with Autan (Picardin) as the 7% active ingredient and your new U.S. Sailing buds will thank you for it.
Randy says he is training his people to sail fast.. any luck with you?

John, I have replied to you mail....

Feel free to call as well if you have any other questions.

Best of luck.

John, It gets very cold (my experience, over 32 cross lake races, no Ch-Mac yet)at night. Thermal long underware and a winter coat or layers are not out of the question. True about the flies as well. The motion is very diferent on a mono so do bring and take the motion sickness pills as a precaution. Wear a life jacket as the water is low 50s. Get some padded shorts or pants, your going to have a sore rear as rail meat. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> BTW: Just back from a cruise, Muskegon to Mac Island as crew on a F-28. The shoreline and Islands are very nice. Be careful through Grays Reef. Hope you have 12 - 18 from the southwest.

yeah, the flies... the FLIES!!!! The horror,,, the horror!
Cruised around Lk Michigan a number of years ago and I had blocked them out. Bring a fly swatter... something to do when the wind dies and you just can't take it anymore. You can't make a dent in the population but at least you can fight back.

Report from JW?

Epic. Seriously, I'm not kidding. It was so far out of my normal niche that pretty much all of it was either a pleasant surprise or a jaw-dropper. Leaving aside all the politics and lobbying for now, just the sailing and party parts were a true life-experience. I'll write more on both the race and the politics next week - right now, trying to get ready for houseguests and the Western Area F18 Championship this weekend.

Hey John,

Where were you hiding all weekend? Went looking for you, we were parked in front of the Gunboat before the racing for a couple o days. Never saw you on the Island.

You could have come over to the Multi docks if you wanted

I think we were still sleeping on Saturday AM when your class started <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I did it 2 or 3 year ago on NACRA 6.0. Not all the way but just through starting line and maybe 5 to 10 miles. It is a lot of fun when you are the fastest one out there. You can hear people from other boats saying “look at them go so fast”. I could not do it this year but next year I will be there again.

One more thing if you decide to do it next year on catamaran always give way; you are there for fun and they are racing.

Kris

TKO!!!! We started at 13:30 hrs on Saturday. I did walk the multi docks at both ends - took a few pics of EV and Lickity Split. I found Piche, Beurline, Deb Schaefer, Randy Smyth, Randy Johnson and Krantz at various times over the weekend - wish I'd thought to try your cell - d'oh! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Twelve F18s on the line today - I'm bushed!

Hope to see you again somewhere sometime soon - best to Susan and Erika.