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1999 Mackinac Solo Challenges
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1999 Mac Solo and Super Mac
The 21st running of the "Port to Mac" and the 3rd start of the "Chicago to Mac" solo challenge put 21 boats on Lake Huron and 7 on Lake Michigan. 1999 was also the year for a "Super Mac" event. Three boats started from Port Huron and finished in Chicago. Dave Rearick trucked Geronimo from Chicago to sail the "Super Mac". The race this year was very quiet and tedious on the Port Huron side as well as the Chicago side.
The weather report that we received Friday night was 90% on the money, light winds and hot (thank you Chuck Drummond). We got the first Port Huron start under way, but the race committee had to postpone the next start for 10 minutes because the wind totally "shut-off". I watched Sea Drifter do just that, and I was wondering if Dan was going to have to turn his motor on to get back to the start line. Everyone went in different directions to find wind. Dave Rearick on Geronimo went to shore to try and catch a shore breeze; others went straight up the rhumb line. Dave Evans, on Ratso, was one of those, and mounted an impressive lead and then sat with no wind. Geronimo sat with no wind at first then moved out when the land heated up. Then the wind slowly filled in from the east-southeast at about 8 knots - if you were east of the rhumb line you got it - if not, you sat. Sunday was an uneventful day except for the flies, which I have never seen so many - they were incredible! I went to the bow of the boat and when I returned to the cockpit, I heard a buzzing sound and thought that I had the radar on. When I looked up the backstay was black, covered with flies; they were all over everything. In the afternoon the wind came in from the northeast in bands, then fill in, and then "went to sleep" at night. Monday was a lot better sailing day. It started slow but the wind filled in to about 10-15 knots from the northeast. It finally looked promising for a nice ride to "the island". We had enough air to finish Monday night with chutes up.
I take my hat off to the guys that went on to Chicago for the Super-Mac. Bob VanEck on Tango, Dave Rearick on Geronimo and Jim Otten on Cornwall. These guys had a long slow trip up Lake Huron and then a beat down Lake Michigan in 30 knots of air. They were near Chicago by Friday morning but again sat until the breeze filled in so that they could finish by afternoon. Almost a solid week of sailing, congratulations guys! Unfortunately there were no skippers going from Chicago to Port Huron.
The party on the island was wonderful, Chris at the MIYC and his crew once again took very good care of us with lodging for the R.C. and a luncheon for the awards presentation. The Bauman's party was again a great success and everyone had a good time. I want to thank the race committee and everyone involved in making this race a success.
Peter Fisher Award Presentation
During the 1983 Port Huron to Mackinac Singlehanded Challenge, Peter Fisher died of a heart attack. The Fisher family, in his memory, commissioned an artist to design and cast a likeness of his boat, Pelican, and created this award. First awarded in 1984, it has come to represent the pinnacle of achievement for Great Lakes Singlehanded Sailors.
The GLSS Board of Directors follow pre-determined selection criteria, which is based on years of participation as well as competitive standing. These two elements account for the basis, continuation and spirit of this Great Lakes Challenge.
The 1999 Peter Fisher Memorial Trophy was awarded to Ray Mason sailing Red Star. Ray has completed eight singlehanded challenges and served on the Board of Directors.
Presidents Challenge Cup
Congratulations to Ron Wells aboard Free To Choose, this years recipient of the Lake Michigan Presidents Challenge Cup. This trophy is to recognize the outstanding effort of the skippers in their first ever Mackinac Island singlehanded challenge. It is awarded to the challenger who has the fastest corrected time among first time challengers.
Bill Dembek
1999 Race Chairman