2026 Bayview Mackinac Race is on!

After months of preparation, anticipation, and countless hours spent getting ready, race day has finally arrived. The traditional sound of live bagpipes filled the air outside the Port Huron Yacht Club as spectators lined the shores of Black River, the St. Clair River and Lake Huron in anticipation of the 102nd Bayview Mackinac Race on July 18, 2026. On race day, the National Weather Service open lake forecast predicted Lake Huron waves of 6- to 9-feet until midnight with 15-20 knot winds and gusts up to 30 knots. Within two hours of the first start, a downpour drenched sailors. Harsh weather generous means strong breeze. And strong breeze delivers a faster race.

While 201 boats initially registered to compete in the multi-day race from Port Huron to Mackinac Island, the total dropped to 190 by race morning. Reasons included weather concerns, equipment issues and lack of crew, Colleen Robar, Bayview Mackinac Race spokeswoman, said. As sailors come from all over the world, the boats are from Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Florida, California, Connecticut, Texas, Missouri and throughout Ontario, Canada.

In a year where wildfire smoke has dominated the news in the run-up to this Mackinac race, and race organizers have urged sailors to take extra safety measures as needed, prep by Make Hanke, 60, of Franklin, is impressive by every measure.

Hanke, owner of Bad Habits, a Beneteau First 40.7 sailboat, has a nurse aboard with sailor Katie Doherty, 47, of Troy, and also a nebulizer device to treat chronic respiratory issues and an automated external debrillator (AED) device to treat sudden cardiac arrest. “Everything we can think of, we’ve got it. I operate with an abundance of caution. Crew first,” said Hanke, an Eagle Scout and certified master captain with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Daniel Sweet, 45, of Grosse Pointe Woods, said crewmates on Bad Habits are looking forward to a fast and bumpy race. “Hopefully the wind blows away the smoke and we get to the island by Sunday night.”

Becky MacDonald, 63, of Beverly Hills, Michigan, provides land support for Bad Habits. She was at PHYC to see the boat off on race morning.

“It’s gonna be rough,” said C. John Anter, 64, of Port Huron, past commodore of the Port Huron Yacht Club and crew on Good Lookin,’ a J/105.

This is a snapshot of life from docks in the hours prior to 11:30 a.m., the first start:

Chuck Stormes, 63, of Grosse Pointe Farms, owner of DeTour, an Italia 9.98: “Weather has been all over the place. It’s been very unstable. I’ve been looking for days and nothing is settled in. We’ll see.”
JB Shumaker, 40, of Grosse Pointe Farms, crew on DeTour: “The key is to just stay on the boat.” (His first victory came then two decades ago racing with Stormes on his J/105.)

Mark Sawka, 66, of Grosse Ile, crew on Tar Baby, a Tartan 10: “Smoke — visibility — is a big unknown for navigation. Our goal is to get ahead early and stay there. We have a boat of Old Goats.” (An Old Goat is a sailor who has raced 25 times to Mackinac.)

Don Lang, 83, of Grosse Pointe Woods, owns Tar Baby, named for his road paving company. “This will be my 49th race on this boat.” He began the morning with an exercise bike routine, coffee and yogurt. (When sailors finish 50 races, they achieve Grand Ram status.)

Owen Knupp, 18, of Port Huron, a varsity hockey and football player, is racing his first Mackinac on Angry Cupcake, a Corsair 31. I got a good night’s sleep. I’m definitely excited. I didn’t even eat breakfast but I’ve got protein bars in my bag and they bought Jimmy John’s (sandwiches) for us later.”

Jeffrey Muir, 54, of Fort Gratiot, crew on Blue Eyes, an Ericson 35 MKII, slotted in for one of three injured crew members. “This will be fourth Mackinac and first on Blue Eyes. I found out six days ago. I’m 70% excited and 30% nervous.”

Sam Pillsbury, 64, of Rochester Hills, owner of Full Tilt, a C&C 37, turned heads while walking to his boat while wearing a kilt cut from Guthrie tartan, honoring his mother. The crew carries bagpipes to honor Scotland with music during the race. “I hope the weather treats us well!”

Kelli Bracken, 44, of Port Huron, crew on Full Tilt (also wearing the Guthrie tartan), said, “I was too excited to sleep last night.”

Kellen McGee, 37, of Chicago, crew on Fast Tango, a North American 40: “Everybody on the boat has been doing a lot of races. Our energy level is up. It sounds like we’ll have an upwind slog so it’s guaranteed to be uncomfortable. Everybody will … bouncing around.” (She pointed to her race shorts and announced to the crew, “My zipper is broken I can’t fix it. But I have underwear on underneath!”

Denise Kulas, 65, of Canton, crew on Day’s End, a Catalina 320 WK: “I never wished more for fair winds and calm waters. We’re expecting some heavy air and waves. I hope everybody stays safe.”
The race from Port Huron to Mackinac Island, which begins on Lake Huron just beyond the Blue Water Bridge to Canada, has two routes: The Shore Course is 204 nautical miles (235 statute miles) and the Cove Island Course is 259 nautical miles (298 statute miles).

Irene Hoy, 54, and her daughter Meghan Hoy, 19, of Port Sanilac, planned to race on Blue Eyes until they were put on the injured list. They’ll be glued to the tracker.

“It’s such an adrenalin rush for that first 5 or 10 minutes — you’ve been preparing and waiting for this to happen and, all of a sudden, the gun goes off and you’re like, ‘let’s go,’” Irene Hoy said after the race began, before driving to the island. “The hair will stand up on your arms. Then it’s, OK, game on. You settle down and focus on strategy.”

Event Details – Tracker – Facebook

Source: Phoebe Wall Howard