When sailor fun gets too fun

Mackinac Island is famous for being car-free, horse and carriage rides, bikes, fudge, caramel corn, and saltwater taffy. Located in Lake Huron, between Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas, it is where people go to get away, relax, and have some fun.

But when you race to Mackinac, sailor fun can get a little too fun, and when it occurs during the high season for tourism, the locals may become a bit less accommodating.

The organizing authority for the Bayview Mackinac Race is eager to keep the peace, so when the 2023 edition begins July 15, they hope the following message resonates with the racers:

The City of Mackinac Island is growing tired of some extreme things that have happened on the island after the race.

In general, if you are arrested or cause a scene that brings disrepute to the race or Bayview Yacht Club (byc), you and the boat owner will likely have to explain your actions to the Mackinac Race Authority MRA and the BYC Board of Governors (BOG). The NOR allows the MRA and BYC BOG to penalize boats at their discretion without protest.

More so, if any crew or shore crew of any boat that participates in the race violates any rules that cause the Bayview Mackinac Race or Bayview Yacht Club to violate any contractual requirements, the boat will be immediately disqualified from the current year’s race. Any awards or records will be forfeited.

In addition, the boat and owner will be barred from entry in the next year’s race, per our contractual requirement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The boat owner or Person-In-Charge (PIC) is singularly responsible for the actions of the crew and shore crew from when the boat enters the Black River in Port Huron until 11 am on Wednesday, July 19, 2022. There is NO action a boat owner or PIC can take to absolve themselves of their responsibility.

Please help us preserve the privilege of using this destination as the race’s finish.

Race details – Facebook

Overview and close-up of the 259 nm Cove Island and 204 nm Shore Course, however, due to Canadian border restriction, the 2020 will use only the Shore Course.