117th Chicago Mac

250 boats squared off last week on Lake Michigan’s famous 333-mile course and found the full spectrum of race conditions awaiting them. At the end of it all, Jim Nachtman’s J/99 Rambler and Chris Duhon’s GL52 Mockingbird took the top honors of the Mackinac Cup and Mackinac Trophy respectively.

By Lydia Mullan

July 16, 2026

Last week, 250 boats squared off for the 117th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust.

Lake Michigan’s famous 333-mile race unfolded across a range of conditions, with an early upwind start reversing into a downwind sprint. Then a line of thunderstorms with gusts upwards of 30 knots blew through as the fleet was lining up for the approach of the Straits of Mackinac. Despite a number of retirements and some damage including a mast failure, all participants were safe and accounted for.

“This year’s race showcased everything that makes the Race to Mackinac so extraordinary,” said Race Chair Kevin Foote. “The fleet experienced incredible sailing, difficult tactical decisions, and challenging weather that demanded the very best from every crew.”

Competing in the cruising division, Peter Thornton’s 104-foot ketch Whitehawk took line honors for the fifth consecutive year, crossing the line after one day, 23 hours, and 11 minutes.

Jim Nachtman’s J/99 Rambler secured the Mackinac Cup for fastest overall small boat while Chris Duhon’s GL52 Mockingbird received the Mackinac Trophy for the overall winner of the larger boats.

For more results in the 2026 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust, click here.

Class Winners:

Mackinac Trophy (Overall Larger Boats): Mockingbird, GL52, Chris Duhon
Mackinac Cup (Overall Smaller Boats): Rambler, J/99, James Nachtman
Whitehawk Trophy (Overall Cruising Division): Sociable, Beneteau First 44, Robert Arzbaecher
Royono Trophy (First Racing Monohull to Finish): Mockingbird, GL52, Chris Duhon
Doublehanded Division: Exile, J/88, Andy Graff & Scott Eisenhardt
Multihull: Unleaded II, Bleu Marine 46, Etienne St-Laurent

Mark H. Baxter Trophy (Top-Finishing Inaugural Entries):

Whistler, J/105, Ethan Taylor (Mackinac Cup)
Captain Sluggo, Hobie 33 Mod, Tommy Henshaw (Mackinac Trophy)
Banshee-VIII, Express 37, Timothy Corkell & Anthony Corkell (Cruising Division)

Mixed-Plus Award (Top-Finishing Entry with Max 50% Male 18+):

Nyctosaur, J/105, Mark Fruin (Mackinac Cup)
Mise en Place, Beneteau Oceanis 3, Karen Harris (Cruising Division)

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Lydia Mullan

Lydia Mullan is the editor-in-chief of SAIL magazine. She was named the 2025 Young Journalist of the Year by the Yachting Journalist Association and has been recognized as the marine industry's best adventure writer by Boating Writers International three consecutive years (2023-2025). In her eight years with SAIL, she has published over 500 articles and worked on nearly 100 issues of the magazine. Mullan was also the race commentator for the 2025 Transpac and 2025 Marblehead-Halifax races, a 2024 Magenta Project graduate, and the media manager for Cole Brauer’s viral circumnavigation.