We take a break from the Refitting Puffin series to share the race from Chicago to Mackinac Island experience with you. Sailed on a J105 for the 113th Mac.
Thanks for the memory. I sailed the 50th. Mac in 1957 on a Herrshoff Fisher Island Sloop then Fortuna which was previously named Venturon when she sailed from Chicago. Last I saw she was back in Chicago as "Judy". We had some storms too, I remember beating through the Grays Reef channel in the middle of the night. We took three days, your under 48 hours is amazing! We went under the Mackinaw bridge when it as under construction. I have lived in the San Francisco area the last 50 years but have great memories sailing Lake Michigan out of Milwaukee. It was really fun to relive that experience. Warren Gammeter
Thanks for sharing,
Thanks for the memory. I sailed the 50th. Mac in 1957 on a Herrshoff Fisher Island Sloop then Fortuna which was previously named Venturon when she sailed from Chicago. Last I saw she was back in Chicago as "Judy". We had some storms too, I remember beating through the Grays Reef channel in the middle of the night. We took three days, your under 48 hours is amazing! We went under the Mackinaw bridge when it as under construction. I have lived in the San Francisco area the last 50 years but have great memories sailing Lake Michigan out of Milwaukee. It was really fun to relive that experience.
Warren Gammeter
Glad I was able to share that with you. Sailing the Mac in the 1950's with no GPS or electronic navigation aids must have been an amazing experience!
This is very cool - my Wednesday night ride is a J105, Rakali in the Chesapeake Bay (bow / tactician). Aargh…flies! LoL head packed with spinnakers!
They are fun boats! And yes those flies were thick and feisty.
Nice pictures of machinaw island and for those that don’t know yes the harbor waters are that clear.
What do you do after the race? Do you sail all the way back to Chicago?
I race on Vytis. 105 on a MAC Race might be a little cramped for most. I'll introduce myself next time.
I look forward to meeting you!
ooooooooooooooooooooo the flies...oh how I will never forget those pesty pests
They were exceptionally thick this year.
Isn’t the trans superior the longest freshwater race in the world?