WhoDo Refloated After Sinking in Chicago Mac Race

The One-Design 48 WhoDo, owned by Erik Owen of Northport, Michigan, was refloated after sinking during the stormy Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac.

This year’s Chicago Mac race, which started July 23, was marked by squalls and heavy downwind conditions. The wind at the time of the sinking was at 30 knots from the southwest as the Sections 2, 3 and 4 boats were entering the Manitou Passage, roughly two-thirds into the 289-nautical-mile race.

At around 4:00 p.m. July 24, the United States Coast Guard received a distress call that WhoDo was sinking off Sleeping Bear Bay after the boat’s rudder shaft broke. The 10-person crew safely boarded their life raft as several competitors were on the scene providing assistance.

The sailors were rescued by Mark Bremer’s C&C 30 City Girl, which dropped out of the race to transfer the crew to Leland, Michigan, where the Leelanau County Sheriff Department met them at the dock. No medical attention was requested for the crew of WhoDo, and all crew were reported in good condition.

WhoDo was towed north on July 27 to Irish Boat Shop in Charlevoix, Michigan.

Update courtesy of SAILING magazine. More photos here.