The 97th consecutive running of the Bayview Mackinac Race will start in 2021 on July 24, with the first boats crossing the starting line at 11:30 a.m. on Lake Huron, just north of the Blue Water Bridge.
“Last year, we were very proud to run the race to a safe and successful conclusion to keep our record of consecutive races run intact, but no one would say it was like past races,” said Greg Thomas, 2021 Bayview Mackinac Race Chairman.
“This year, we expect things to be more normal, the number of boats and sailors is just about back to where it had been, we have some new boats and some old boats coming back, as well as crews coming from all over the country. We are also holding our post-race awards ceremony on the Island.”
On the water, one change announced last fall is the Bayview Yacht Club Mackinac Race Authority has adopted the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) Rating System to score the Race. The rule will correct the elapsed time difference of competing boats and put them on the same level.
The new rating system offers competitors several benefits, including increased transparency, lower costs for one-design racing boats and a better user experience for other competitors. The rating rule is also being used in the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac which has starts on July 16 and 17.
According to Thomas, “Over the past several years, we have looked for an equitable rating system for the boats and we believe the ORC system will ensure any sailors interested in competing have ample opportunity.”
Approximately 2,000 sailors will take part in the annual regatta.
Again this year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, all competitors will sail on the 204 nautical miles Shore Course along the Michigan shoreline heading west to the Mackinac Island Finish Line. Like last year, boats that in previous years would sailed on the Cove Island Course will the compete for the J.L. Hudson Trophy and the Canadian Club Classic Trophy will be awarded to the overall winner of the Shore Course.
The Corinthian Trophy will go to the boat with the best corrected time in seconds per mile on either course with an all-amateur crew.
Source: scuttlebutt – https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2021/07/17/changes-for-bayview-mackinac-2021/
