Urgent warning for Bayview Mac fleet

Detroit, MI (July 13, 2018) – As the 195 entrants prepare for the 94th Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race that starts tomorrow afternoon off Port Huron, Michigan, an urgent bulletin today has given them a new variable to consider.
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EXTREMELY IMPORTANT WARNING
We have been notified by the United States Air Force that a special training will be taking place on Monday, July 16th after 1400 hrs. in the special military training box noted on Lake Huron chart #14860 that lies 13 miles east of Thunder Bay (see chart to the right).

This exercise will involve dropping inert bombs from very high altitude B 52 aircraft. Any BBBMR racing boat that is in that box after 1400 hrs. on Monday will be escorted out of the box by the USCG cutter Bristol Bay.

Failure to obey the USCG, US Air Force, or any other military or law enforcement representatives may result in those persons and vessel being taken into custody and/or fined. This warning supersedes the Racing Rules of Sailing and any other BBBMR race documents.

We ask that all boats who have not finished by 1200 hrs. on Monday, July 16th to monitor VHF channel 16 for any necessary instructions.

Thank you for your strict adherence to this notice.

Gary Shoemaker
Chair, 2018 BBBMR
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UPDATE: The Air Force bombing exercise scheduled for Monday, July 16th in Lake Huron has been postponed.

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Overview and close-up of the 259 nm Cove Island and 204 nm Shore Course for the Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race.

Source: Media Pro Int’l