GPYC FEATURE
Bayview to Mackinac, Just as Memorable 50 Races Later By GPYC Sailing Director Wally Cross
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espite the strange circumstances surrounding this year, this year’s Bayview to Mackinac Race turned out to be my favorite. Almost all sailing events were canceled in 2020 because of COVID-19, but Regatta Chair Chris Clark was determined to have the race. The sailing forums were not too kind to Chris, or to Bayview Yacht Club, for pushing on. However, necessary precautions, such as no social events including award celebrations, allowed for a safe race.
Even the harbor at Mackinac was empty, since the DNR was only allowing four boats in the harbor at once. In the end, not one crew or volunteer got sick. This was my 50th race to Mackinac, and it was the best. When I was 13, I sailed with my father for the first time on his C&C 31 along the shore. Back then all the boats would start close to Port Huron and race along the shore to Mackinac. The big boats always start last to give the smaller boats a head start. I will never forget watching the bigger boats
GPYC Sailing Director Wally Cross raced on Heartbreaker,which won this year’s Bayview to Mackinac Race.
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like Gypsy and the wooden 12-meter, Heritage. I also will not forget the refreshing smell of water, land and lake breezes along with the view of beautiful northern Michigan. During most of the races after that first one, we rounded a buoy by Cove Island and then went on to Mackinac. This year the race was along the shore again based on the inability to sail in Canadian waters. The other limiting factor that increased the fun was an invisible Canadian water barrier. In the diagram below, the purple line was the border between US and Canadian water. In effort to limit the number of people at the finish on the island, all boats were required to have the
