MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — The 115th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac witnessed history on July 14 as the Maverick yacht broke a 22-year-old record with a time of 22 hours, 24 minutes, and 23 seconds. Skippered by Sanford Burris alongside William and Ward Kinney, Maverick outpaced the previous record held by Roy P. Disney’s Pyewacket in 2002 by over an hour.

In addition to setting a new course record, the Maverick team also secured the prestigious Royono Trophy as the first racing monohull to finish the 115th edition. 

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Despite initial weather concerns, strong southerly winds and overnight storms created optimal conditions, propelling the team to a new record. In fact, the 115th edition of the race, presented by Wintrust Financial, saw some of the fastest times in recent years. Nearly ideal downwind conditions allowed the 250 participating boats to achieve impressive speeds, with larger boats averaging 10 to 15 knots, according to Sail World.

The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, known as “America’s Offshore Challenge,” is one of the world’s largest and oldest annual offshore regattas. Beginning near Chicago’s Navy Pier, the race spans 289 nautical miles (333 statute miles) to Mackinac Island, challenging sailors with diverse conditions. 

This year, in particular, the race placed a special emphasis on attracting new participants, resulting in over 2,200 competing sailors.

Following their record-breaking run, Maverick continued into the “Super Mac” race, an extended course that combines the Chicago Mackinac and Bayview Mackinac races. The total distance covered in this extended race is 565 statute miles.

The Super Mac race is still underway, and final results are yet to be determined.