A total of 37 boats took part on the sixth annual Mackinac to Manitoulin International Yacht Race, July 23-25.
The competitive racing/cruising event offers a spinnaker/genniker division for serious competitors, a white sail class for those who don't want the fuss of a spinnaker and a double-handed class, for those who are into the added challenge.
The race, dubbed “MacMan” by the sailors, was founded in 2004 to promote sailing in the North Channel and around Manitoulin Island.
I had the privilege to join the crew on board the Azzurro, which sails out of Little Current. Having had experience in sailing, I was asked to document this race as a media sponsor, but was a little intimidated since I am more of a fair weather cruiser, not a racer. Dennis Centis, skipper and captain of the 33 foot Mirage, assured me I’d be fine.
For six years the crew of Azzurro has participated in the MacMan Race. Dennis and his wife, Marianne, sailed Azzurro earlier in the week to Mackinac Island while the rest of the crew hopped on a 45-foot coach, thanks to long time friend and driver Ron, who transports the crew every year from Espanola to St. Ignace. From there, a ferry carried us to Mackinac Island to meet the Centis'.
Mackinac Island is an all natural theme park. Limited in transportation to horse and buggy, bicycle or foot, it has escaped the vast changes of time. Its real Victorian image is preserved and enhanced by a small population of 500 permanent residents and scores of summer residents, maintaining bluff cottages in their original state. Families, especially children, love their new-found "freedom” exploring the historic, natural beauty of the state park that has been honored by National Geographic as one of the 10 finest in America.
We checked into the Chippewa Hotel and later registered at the Mackinac Yacht Club for the race and reception.
The next day, the crews met for breakfast and later gathered on board the committee boat to motor out to their vessels in preparation for the start. The race was monitored on VHF channel No. 80. With a crew of six, I was the seventh on board and found it to be somewhat tight quarters, no matter which way you turned. Thoughts kept flashing in my head. Where do we all sleep? I found out later we don't; well, not really, because we sail through the night. Nonetheless, I’m glad I’m not very tall. I tried to stay out of the crew's way as each member had their station to man.
The race began at noon. This year, 18 boats were registered for the event and 15 raced from the start at Mackinac. The course consisted of two legs: the first being an overnight passage from Mackinac Island to Gore Bay, and the second, from Gore Bay to Little Current. Twenty-two more boats entered the latter part.
I had arranged with Beyond Wireless and SPOT to donate two SPOT Satellite Messengers for the MacMan race. Azzurro and Natural High carried the spots on their boats. Many boaters didn't know about SPOT, so this was a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the features of this amazing tracking tool. Spectators also enjoyed going online to see the progress of the race as well. Beyond Wireless and SPOT also donated two units with one year service for the silent auction.
So, the race begins, the boats get into start mode, shut off their engines, some sails are up, but… there was fog and absolutely no wind! The gun went off and we were sitting in the same place it seems for quite a while!
This is a race? Talk about going nowhere fast. This is crazy, put the engines on and full speed ahead, but no. We're in a race!
One hour later and we had sailed 2,000 feet from the shores of Mackinac Island. The crew never experienced this kind of calm before. Azzurro's instruments read zero. So what now? Didn't matter what kind of technology one had on board, we were all in a dead calm. So, what do sailors do when they can't sail? Regale everyone with stories of past races, near misses and high speed chases. It was a great time for camaraderie combined with a fabulous lunch and a lot of shared laughter.
As the evening sun set into darkness, and the sky and water became one in the same. We were alone on the big water, us and 15 other boats. We couldn't see them, nor could we see a freighter passing us by as we crossed over the channel. We heard the fog horn in the distance on port side and it was getting closer, definitely getting closer. Adrenaline sets in and somehow you don’t feel sleepy anymore. We shone our flashlights on the sails and then heard a call on the radio from one of the boats in the race giving the freighter their position. We heard the next day, the boat that announced their co-ordinates saw the freighter's stern light! YIKES! That would have been it for me.
Sunset to sunrise is an awesome experience. The wind picked up to about three knots. At 10 a.m., the committee radios the racers to say at the speed we were going we will never make it into Gore Bay for the traditional fish fry. No sooner did we hear that is when all the boat's engine's went on and silence was no more as every sailor followed their nose to supper.
We arrived in Gore Bay around 6:30 p.m. to be greeted by local residents, partners who were following their crew. Mayor J.S. Foster of Gore Bay welcomed everyone and joined in on the fish fry feast, hosted by the Gore Bay Rotary Club.
The next morning, a pancake breakfast was served to the entire fleet while it poured rain, lots of rain. As we mozzied towards our vessels the rain stopped and the winds picked up. No more quiet dinners. The race had really begun with Azzurro piquing at seven to eight knots. The instruments really did work even after the laptop was hurled to the floor by a quick tack.
I was behind Dennis who was at the helm. He didn’t move an inch, pinching that sail into the wind to gain speed. Boats are tacking back and forth, it was like being on Highway 401 in rush hour!
I was holding onto the rail with one hand and shooting video with the other. Hold on for my life, or hold the shot! I’ve had enough adrenaline for a year in just one race. What an awesome experience! Thank you to the crew from Azzurro. As we sailed to the finish line, the gun went off and the champagne was poured for all!
The Awards dinner with over 125 people took place at Little Current’s new West Dock Pavilion, with entertainment provided by a local singer. Mayor Jim Stringer welcomed everyone to Little Current.
RACE RESULTS
Class A
First – Stryder, Skipper: John Smulders Little Current Yacht Club
Second - Sail La Vie, Skipper: Sam H Williamson, Charlevoux Yacht Club
Third - Natural High, Skipper: Andrew Hallet, Algoma Sailing Club
Class B
Mollikett, Skipper: John Rilet, Home Port Hilton Beach
Second, Azzuro, Skipper: Dennis Centis, Little Current Yacht Club
Third - Gael Na Mara III, Skipper: Dawson Proudfoot, Little Current Yacht Club
Class C
Aurora Borealis, Skipper: Chris Gotmalm, Home Port Hilton Beach
Second, Blue Jacket, Skipper: Peter Zieleniewski, Little Current Yacht Club
Dos Capitanes, Skippers: Ron & Diane Baigrie, Little Current Yacht Club
Overall MacMan winner: Stryder John Smulders, Little Current Yacht Club
Getrude Hibbard trophy for oldest winning skipper Sam H Williamson
Overall Gore Bay to Little Current Leg 2 Stryder John Smulders
On the Edge trophy Winner: Rod MacLeod
Thank you to this year’s participants, organizers and sponsors, the MacMan Yacht Race was a huge success and will be remembered for years to come …no wind…zero knots!!! MacMan When it doubt…let it out!!!
MacMan calls all sailors in Northern Ontario to join us for the seventh annual race. Contact www.lcyc.ca for more information on how to register.
www.mackinac.com
www.miyachtclub.com
www.beyondwireless.ca
www.findmespot.com
