PORT HURON, MI — Every July, hundreds of people stroll the Port Huron docks admiring the sleek sailboats preparing for the Bayview Mackinac Race. They snap photos and watch crews load supplies before boats disappear over the horizon toward Mackinac Island.
On Friday, July 17, the day before the 102nd Bayview Mackinac Race, the crew of Skull Cracker invited the Times Herald aboard for a behind-the-scenes look at the boat and the preparations that go into racing more than 200 miles across Lake Huron.
The 52-foot Solaris 50, owned by Dan Kitchens of St. Louis, Missouri, is one of hundreds of boats scheduled to begin the more than 200-mile race Saturday. While spectators see polished teak decks and towering masts from the dock, the crew sees something different: a floating home and workplace for the next two days.
“It’s really cool at night,” Kitchens said. “You’re out on the lake. You look up and see the Milky Way, tons of stars. It’s really nice.”
Below deck, little space goes unused.
The boat includes two sleeping cabins in the stern and another berth in the bow, allowing its six crew members to rotate through four-hour watches while racing around the clock. Three sailors remain on deck while three rest below.
“We don’t stop,” Kitchens said. “Four hours on, four hours off.”
Jake Brodersen, the team’s navigator, said many people are surprised to learn the race never pauses after sunset.
“People often ask me, ‘Do we stop at night?'” Brodersen said. “No, we’re racing. You’re in the middle of the Indy 500. You don’t stop at lap 250 and take a break.”
Life aboard quickly settles into a routine. Breakfast often includes eggs prepared by skipper Lance Kitchens. Refrigerators hold fruit, cold cuts and other fresh food, while frozen meals and grab-and-go snacks keep everyone fueled.
“If you’re really busy, you’ve got one hand to eat, and the other hand is probably doing something — steering or trimming sails,” Brodersen said.
The boat blends racing performance with comfort. A carbon-fiber mast towers above the deck, while an in-boom furling system rolls the mainsail away “like a window shade.” Nearly every control line runs beneath the deck to the cockpit, allowing sails to be adjusted from one location. A sail locker in the bow stores multiple sails, including an emergency storm jib.
During the offseason, Lance Kitchens designed removable carbon-fiber platforms that help keep the helmsman level while steering as the boat heels in strong winds.
Below deck, the galley includes two refrigerators, a freezer, coffee maker and storage for food. The boat also has two heads with stand-up showers and electric toilets — features Dan Kitchens said helped convince his wife the boat could serve as both a racer and cruiser.
“Most race boats are pretty sparse on the inside,” Kitchens said. “We have speed and luxury.”
Safety is another priority. Every cabin is equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Dan Kitchens recalled a previous trip from Mackinac Island when overheating batteries began releasing carbon monoxide about 150 miles from Port Huron. An alarm awakened him before the situation became more serious.
“Fortunately, it hadn’t gotten to the point where it started to burn up,” he said. “That would’ve been a disaster.”
Smoke from Canadian wildfires also remained on the crew’s minds Friday evening. Lance Kitchens said the biggest concern isn’t breathing the smoke but seeing through it.
“You can hear the freighters before you actually see the freighter in front of you,” he said. “We’ve got plenty of technology that helps us see and avoid.”
Brodersen said navigation will depend on changing wind conditions as crews decide when to leave Michigan’s shoreline and head toward Cove Island before turning for Mackinac Island. The crew planned to spend Saturday morning practicing sail changes and reviewing assignments before its Division D start shortly after 1 p.m.
For spectators, the race begins with colorful sails disappearing over the horizon. For the crew aboard Skull Cracker, it’s the start of two days of rotating watches, changing winds, quick meals, little sleep and a race that won’t end until Mackinac Island.
Contact reporter Andy Jeffrey at ajeffrey@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: What it’s like to live aboard a Bayview Mackinac Race sailboat
Reporting by Andy Jeffrey, Port Huron Times Herald / Port Huron Times Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Andy Jeffrey, Port Huron Times Herald | USA TODAY Network
