AIS required for Chicago Mackinac Race

When the 2026 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac starts on July 10-11, the 117th edition will require entrants to have an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder to improve safety along the 289 nm course.

The device is designed to automatically provide position, identification, and other information about a vessel to other vessels and coastal authorities.

In 2019, the race began recommending AIS transponders to foster early fleet-wide adoption, and in 2025 more than 70% of entrants had the equipment. In the 2024 race, AIS vital when a crew overboard was quickly located and recovered during severe nighttime storm conditions.

Under newly adopted US Sailing Safety Equipment Requirement (SER) 3.9 requires that:
All boats shall have an AIS Transponder, sharing a masthead VHF antenna via a low-loss AIS antenna splitter. An acceptable alternative is a dedicated AIS antenna that is a minimum of 0.9 meters long, mounted with its base at least 3 meters above the water, and fed with coax that has a maximum 40% power loss.

“The safety of our sailors is our highest priority,” said Kevin Foote, Chairman of the 2026 Race. “AIS transponders have proven their value in offshore sailing, and adopting this requirement ensures all our competitors will benefit from this important safety technology.”

Details: http://cycracetomackinac.com/