Detroit — In the first 101 years of the Bayview Port Huron to Mackinac Race, sailors have experienced just about every kind of weather conditions. But nobody can quite remember anything like what’s going on now.
The hazardous air quality due to the wildfire smoke likely will make for hazy conditions at various locations for the 102nd race, or at least the race’s start, which still is scheduled for Saturday morning on Lake Huron in Port Huron.
But the approximately 200 boats and 1,600 sailors set to compete in this weekend’s Michigan summertime tradition are used to sailing obstacles on Lake Huron, said Sandra Svoboda, Bayview commodore.
“Sailors are a group who are used to dealing with all kinds of conditions and surprises at any moment,” Svoboda said. “So far, with everybody, it’s business as usual. We are continuously monitoring (the air-quality conditions). It’s not like anybody is coming to Port Huron and not knowing about the situation.
“We’re not canceling or postponing the race. We are providing information to sailors. We haven’t heard about anyone dropping out, either as a boat or an individual sailor.
“That’s not say people may not, with underlying conditions, but we haven’t heard anything.”
Svoboda is an experienced, award-winning sailor herself, but she acknowledged this weekend’s conditions are unique.
“We acknowledge what is happening (in races), and you plan for different scenarios and unfortunately crises, but wildfire smoke?” said Svoboda, who on Friday in Port Huron said she felt the air was significantly better than it was in Detroit the day before — when, on Thursday, Detroit’s air quality was ranked the worst in the world among major cities. “But going forward (we’ll have to).”
Forecasters expect the air quality to improve by the start of the race Saturday.
While the smoke and haze might be abnormal, the feel of the race is familiar and welcoming. The majority of the crews are family members or friends who have competed for multiple years and look forward to historic race. The race brings in about $50 million to the state annually, with the finish on Mackinac Island, capped by Tuesday’s party near Mission Point, always a festive celebration.
The race has a two-course format: The faster boats will race the 259-mile Cove Island Course, while the slower boats in the fleet race will tackle the 204-mile Shore Course. There are 16 classes of boats in four divisions, allowing for opportunities for different levels of experience.
“What differentiates this race, and the Chicago to Mackinac Race shares some of that, is this an element beyond the normal for your typical (recreational) sailor,” said Peter Girard, principal race officer. “It tests the mettle. You get to stretch your legs, and it tests you, you see how good you really are. It tests skill, preparation and mettle.
“That’s hard to do in this world, but people appreciate that and gravitate to that situation.”
Svoboda and Micaela Reardon, race chairman, mark the first year that both the chairman and commodore are women. Both positions have had women in past years, but never in the same year.
102nd Bayview Port Huron to Mackinac Race
Where: The race begins on Lake Huron, just north of the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron
When: The race starts at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Boats should start arriving at Mackinac Island on Sunday afternoon and continue to arrive through Monday night, depending on the wind.
Did you know? The race is one of the longest consecutively run long-distance freshwater races in the country.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Port Huron to Mackinac sailors are used to obstacles, but this is new
Reporting by Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
