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Huron - Mackinac yacht race


raygun

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8 boats carrying <3 crew members currently traveling NW 'cross Saginaw Bay's NE opening; each boat ~32'

 

There is a hope and a change: WINDQUEST.

 

This boat's admiral is called: Dick DeVoss.

 

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The Bernida was this year's event darling.

 

The 32' R-class sloop was built in 1921. It won the original Port Huron - Mackinac event in 1925 in nearly 50 hrs. Out of a field of 12, it finished 1st 3 hrs ahead of its nearest rival after severe thunderstorms caused the rest of the 'fleet' to retire.

 

In 1927 it won the event again in as many tries and then went 'dark'. Nobody is certain of its history. There are images of it in the mid-30's 'somewhere'.

 

It was rediscovered in some farmer's barn near Ludington, MI in 2003. The boat received 3,000 hrs of TLC over NINE years. Nov 2011 an eMail went out and its present owner purchased the boat for an unknwn amount. Original restoration estimates were >$175,000 and put oodles more hours and $'s into getting the boat race-worthy.

 

The boat needed waivers to compete in the Huron-Mackinac event in that certain 'safety' equipment didn't exist. One of the biggest issues with respect to safety equipment, the 1921 restored yacht didn't have an engine. As such, it needed to be towed to the start line.

 

Here's a shot of the Bernida underway during this year's Port Huron - Mackinac 'slow'"

 

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Here's a shot taken of Bernida during sea trials off the Gloucester, Massachusetts coast in August, 1921:

 

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Here's a shot of Bernida's 'sister' ship - identical in her lines and look:

 

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Original estimates where $175,000 for restoration. NINE years and 3,000 hours were put into the project to get the boat to saleable status. It was purchased for an unknown $'s in Nov 2011, and many more hours of work went into the boat.

 

The yacht finished the 'slow' in 47:27:48 w/ corrected time of 41:31:42. If finished first in the H class, and in the racing Overall class, i.e., against Cruising classes A, B, C & racing classes D, E, F, G combined.

 

This year's event was not a race - that would be a misnomer - this years even would be appropriately called the 'Port Huron to Mackinac yacht slow'.

 

http://voicenews.com...9e436031775.txt

 

In below image 'words' are exchanged concerning right-of-way rules of the sea during the start of this year's 'slow'

 

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Sleeping berths on the Equation (the ship berths 14):

 

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Revelry of Grosse Point Sail Club, left; Prosecco of Whitby Yacht Club Pointe Sailing Club, center; and Whirlwind of Tawas Bay Yacht Club sail Saturday, July 14, 2012, during the annual Port Huron to Mackinac Island sailboat 'slow'.

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The green sailed boat ended up quitting the 'slow' because it was takin' just too stinkin' long

 

Here's Dick De Voss's boat, with some guy sent up to the very tippy top of the mast to unfurl the last bit of sail available to get the 86' footer moving.

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Currently there are 6 protests lodged with racing officials. All protests are lodged with the Shore Course 'slowers'. Right now they're all hot under the collars, and miffed they'll have to buff their boats out because of right-of-way issues that ensued while 100 boats were all maneuvering wi/in 5 mille radius in < 5 kt winds.

 

Everybody will be ducky amonsgt themselves once the after 'slow'-party gets into full swing.

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