This is the 10th year we have provided online coverage of the Chicago to Mackinac. Every year the race starts and then the desire for race coverage builds up. Seems like it always gets pent up. Eventually someone will break that dam and say something like ‘it’s been 24 hours, you’ve posted no news, what good are you’?

Believe me we’d love to have information available as soon as possible. However, the nature of the race is that in the 1st 24 hours there is little news. Boats are in the middle of the lake with little cell phone coverage so we don’t hear from them. Race organizers do take boats times as they cross the 45th parallel near the Manitous. For the bulk of the fleet this occurs Sunday afternoon and later. From this point on the flow of information usually speeds up.

We will have a reporter on Mackinac Island from Saturday on. Additionally we will have cameras overlooking the harbor and finish line. Once boats begin reaching the island these will be filled with pertinent images. If it’s a long slow race like last year you’ll see images of calm water in the Straits Of Mackinac.

That’s the most unpredictable variable…wind and weather. A big following breeze and most boats could be finished by Monday. A slow race like last year and we are into Tuesday and Wednesday.

To sum up: don’t expect much news in the race’s 1st 24 hours. Expect things to start happening Sunday afternoon and for multiple news reports and images once Monday comes.

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