The longest consecutively run freshwater sailboat race in the world marks its 100th anniversary on Saturday, July 20.
Bayview Mackinac Race Chair Charlie Trost said it's a remarkable milestone to everyone who has participated, or showed up year after year.
"We've got a letter from the president's office, back during World War II, that gave us permission to keep running the race and then we were able to run it during a pandemic, so it's a huge accomplishment for the club and for the sailing community," said Trost.
Trost said participants will compete on one course, which mimics the original course used by vessels during the first race in 1925.
"It's very similar to our shore course," he said. "It's 204 nautical miles, but we're going south of Bois Blanc Island. Back in the early days, when the race started, this race was run at the same time they were doing the Chicago to Mackinac Race and they shared resources, they shared a finish line."
Trost said a record setting 327 yachts are expected to participate, up from the previous record number of 316 entries, set nearly 40 years ago in 1985.
"There were 12 [vessels] in the first race and six boats finished. When we were planning [the anniversary event] three years ago, we had a goal of 250 boats. Once registration opened, we quickly realized there was a lot more excitement about this event than we originally thought," Trost said.
To mark the milestone, Trost said they have boats coming from 17 states, and as far away as Washington, California and Texas.
Canadians participate in the race as well, and Trost said there's a vessel coming all the way from Winnipeg to compete.
"Those are just the boats that you see, so think about each of the crew members. We have people from all over the world coming in to do this race," Trost said.
Generally it's a family commitment Trost said, who is sailing with his own family on the Pendragon.
"I'm sailing with my dad. This will be his 53rd race he's done consecutively. He hasn't missed one. This will be my 22nd [race], I haven't missed one, and it will be my brother's 25th [race]," he said.
Trost said they have some highly accomplished sailors participating, who've competed in America's Cup, the Olympics, and worldwide races.
"The biggest boat in the class is a 104 foot cruising boat called Whitehawk. They just completed the Chicago to Mackinac Race. A few [other] boats to watch... Wizard is a Transpac 52 [sailboat]. Their whole crew is phenomenal, but they've got one guy who did the Volvo Ocean Race," he said.
Each vessel is outfitted with a GPS tracker, so you can follow the boats online.
The first boats are scheduled to cross the starting line at 11:30 a.m. just north of the Blue Water Bridge in southern Lake Huron.