Windquest is first to finish in racing fleet in Chicago-Mackinac Race

CHICAGO (July 15, 2013) – Congratulations to Windquest, a Max Z86 owned by Dick and Doug DeVos, on being first to finish in the racing fleet in the 105th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, presented by Veuve Clicquot.

Windquest finished late Sunday evening at 21:56 CDT. Doug DeVos said it seemed like there were two different races in one, with the first leg benefitting from a good breeze, and the second facing challenging wind conditions.

“The first part of the race was lots of fun, good breeze, we made good time and moved along. Then the last bit from just north of the Manitous on up was very challenging, a lot of light air and really tough,” he said.

With seven family members among the crew of 20, two of whom sailed in their first Mac, DeVos said it was the memories that were most important this year.

“I think they’re lifelong memories. I don’t know if they’ll do another Mackinac and catch the bug or not, but they’ll know how important it’s been in our family for so many years. For them to experience it and understand the feeling – the feeling of win, no win, of finishing – that’s a great memory,” he said.

Il Mostro, a Volvo 70 owned by Peter Thornton, was neck and neck with Windquest in the Turbo Section for most of the race but slowed a bit with light winds toward the end, finishing at 23:18 CDT.

Thornton said it was a “long, hard race.”

“It was okay until this morning, but then it got very difficult. We thought we were gonna be in at 4:30, 5 o’clock, but then everything quit,” he said. “Overall, it was great except for this morning. It was very light, fluky air and we didn’t come in first, so when that happens you don’t have the greatest time, but it was all right.”

Despite an admittedly disappointing finish, Thornton said the camaraderie among the crew was “what it’s all about.”

Infinite Diversion, a Hanse 630 owned and skippered by Joseph Haas, was first to finish in the cruising division, coming in earlier Sunday at 13:48 CDT.

As of 1:00 a.m. CDT (Monday, July 15), the majority of the fleet had passed Point Betsie, still fighting light winds.

Be a part of the Race:
Track the boats online in real-time with Yellowbrick Tracking – The live race view will be available to all via the regatta website, www.cycracetomackinac.com. Additionally, the Chicago Yacht Club is making the tremendously popular iOS and Android apps available free of charge to the general public. The newly-upgraded Yellowbrick app, which incorporates the latest Google Maps interface and a number of performance upgrades designed to enhance the user experience, are available for download today in the Apple and Android app stores. Click here for the link!

Facebook and Twitter – Our live race commentator Winn Soldani will be posting videos and updates continuously throughout the race to our Facebook and Twitter pages! Follow @racetomackinac and #CYCRTM on Twitter and on Facebook at facebook.com/ChicagoYCRaceToMackinac.

Photo: Randy Hull, Grizzly Air Photo

Rachelle Treiber
Communications Director
Office: 312.861.7772
Cell: 312.617.6995
communications@chicagoyachtclub.org