The Chicago Yacht Club Race To Mackinac

Known in popular circles simply as “The Mac,” the Chicago Yacht Club’s Race to Mackinac is one of the longest and most beautiful fresh water races in the world.

Just ask one of the Island Goats, members of a society that have completed 25 races and work to preserve the legends and lore of The Mac.

Racers embark with the daunting Chicago skyline at their backs, from the mouth of the Chicago River, and quickly skirt across Lake Michigan then make their way up the state’s rugged western coast line to the islands at the peninsula’s northern terminus, finishing in the Round Island Channel, just off of beautiful Mackinac Island.

As concerns accommodations, the races beginning and ending points offers great, although very different, amenities.

Chicago boasts more hotel, shopping, and restaurant options than you can shake a credit card at.

On the far end of the course sits Mackinac Island, boasting a serene and welcome escape from city life, and lending to the uniqueness of this storied tradition.