After Windquest flew in under spinnaker to beautiful conditions on Mackinac Island last night at 7:00 p.m. CDT, the Chicago Yacht Club flag that was flying high in the wind outside the finish tent dropped still. At the time of this release only one other boat has finished. Equation,skipered by Bill Alcott of St. Clair Shores, Mich. crossed the finish at 10:16 a.m. CDT with an elapsed time of 44 hours 06 minutes and 05 seconds - 15 hours, 21 minutes and 22 seconds later. Windquest maintained a corrected time over Equation solidifying the Devos’ as the first place winner in Section One. As to the outcome of the other Divisional winners, we have to wait.

Greg Freeman, crew aboard Salsa, reported to be around Fox Island, south of Gray’s Reef at 9:41 a.m. CDT. “We crossed the Manitous about 3:00 a.m. this morning and are progressing slowly. It’s been extremely light.”

Salsa is one of many boats hanging out in the last leg of the race in extremely light air. It was reported last night around 10:00 p.m. that a mass of 180 boats in the fleet were congregated around the 45th parallel, which is the traditional call-in point for skippers to gauge their location. The 45th is right through the Manitou passage and still approximately 95 statute miles (82 nautical) from the finish.

It looks like a crazy finish is inevitable with a log-jam of boats finishing at the same time, likely late this afternoon and into the night. Principal Race Officer Janet Crabb commented, ‘it is very difficult for the race committee to score busy finishes in the dark. We have spot lights that will operate after dusk to see the sail numbers as the boats cross the finish. It’s going to be a long night’

In a slow race like this food and water provisions become a concern for the crews, when boats are so far from the finish in light air. Four more boats have retired since last night, Trinity, Jugband, Never Enough, and SoChail; Juband and Never Enough are part of the new Cruising Division.

The winds are currently at 4-7 knots and will increase slightly this afternoon and evening.

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