The 100th running of the Chicago-Mac starts on Saturday and for the first time all boats will be carrying tracking devices so that you can follow the race on-line.

There will be a good sized multi-hull fleet that features the Stars&Stripes boat with Randy Smyth on board. They will be the boat out in front of everyone.

I will be on Abandoned Assets, a F31-1D, with Michael Yost, Mike Beuerlein and owner Jim Van Fleet.

Hope you enjoy the race and wish us luck!

You may follow the race at
http://charthorizon.com/races/2008_chicago_mackinac/htdocs/

Steve Piche
Austin, TX

S & S is out! Lost the stick last weekend. The crew is making the run on a Farr 40.

Tom Korz is crewing on his sister's F-33 Grey Hound.

Don't forget the highly modified F-31 Cheeky Monkee <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Bad news Stars&Stripes will not make it, they lost the rig the other night in a feeder race.

http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=75545

Not sure I would call the Port Huron to Mac a feeder race per se.


Also, now that you can track the boats online, is that another thing the entries are required to buy?
As far as I remember, if it is the same device as was used during the tybee they didn't work all that stellar did they?

We used a GPS/transponder in a rallie from Hampton VA to the BVI and it was part of the registration for the event. It work just fine.

I am seriously considering doing the Port Huron to Mac next year but I would rather not, in the end, have to spend 10000 on saftey equipment when sailing on a boat that can't sink. I am not trying to be dismissive about the dangers... I have serious respect for the great lakes. I understand EPIRB, etc... but some of it seems excessive.

Anyone know what boat Mike Krantz is on?

Crap He told me on Wednesday night but I can't remember it now. If I saw a list of boat names I could tell. Its a tartan 41(?) I think.

I'm on Lionheart

John Williams is on Indecision (great name for a boat staffed entirely by US Sailing directors)

Joe Leonard is on Surface Tension

Looks like the cat sailors are infiltrating the fleet. Don't tell anybody, but it's part of our master plan for world domination....

On the transponders - they are totally different units from those used on the Tybee. They use a Sat phone connection, are live at all times, and provide real time tracking. They were provided free of charge to all competitors. Here's a link to unit - http://www.chicagoyachtclub.org/racetomackinac/pdf/2008_iboat_chicago_mackinac.pdf