Chicago-Mackinac fleet spreads- here is the latest update

9:24 PM Mon 20 Jul 2009 GMT

There are 350 sailing boats in the world's longest freshwater race, the 333 nautical mile Chicago to Mackinac race.

The 101st Chicago Race to Mackinac is turning out to be one of the slowest is recent history, but spectators are still following the action of the 260 boats being tracked by GPS at www.cycracetomackinac.com .

Here's a mid-race tracking analysis of several sections making their way up to Mackinac Island.

Track Shot Ben 36.7 - 2009 Chicago-Mackinac race -

Beneteau 36.7

Leading the 36.7 fleet is 'Karma' skippered by Lou Sandoval (Chicago, IL) positioned roughly 110 miles from the finish line between Frankfort and the Manitou passage. The boat is drifting in only 1.5 knots of breeze, but is still about 7 miles ahead of the rest of the 36.7's. Trailing the fleet is 'Idyllwild,' just north of Manistee and 140 miles from the finish line, but with 4.5 knots catching up with the most wind in the fleet as of noon on Monday.

Track Shot Multi’s - 2009 Chicago-Mackinac race -

Multihulls

It's a tight race for the two leading multihulls, with 'Cheekee Monkee' and 'Lucretia' less than a mile apart at 79 miles to the finish line, both with about 5 knots pushing them past the tip of the Leelanau Penninsula. Rounding out the multihull fleet is 'Ahyadooin,' with 117 miles to Round Island in about 4.5 knots of breeze just a few miles north of Frankfort.

Track Shot GL70 Turbo Sec1-Sec2 - 2009 Chicago-Mackinac race -

Turbo and GL 70

'Windquest' is leading the Turbos at 25.5 miles from the finish line and moving along at 6.1 knots near Gray's Reef. 'Vincitore' and 'Defiance' are following with 68.5 miles and 66.3 miles from the finish respectively, both with about 7 knots of wind passing the 45th parallel. Evolution is leading the GL 70s with 6.9 knots of wind and about 60 miles from the finish off Charlevoix. Trailing the fleet are 'Thirsty Tiger' and 'Nitemare' with 80 miles from the finish moving at 6 knots off the top of the Leelanau peninsula.

Track Shot Flash Gordon 5 - 2009 Chicago-Mackinac race -

Section 1 & Section 2

Leading Section 2 is 'Flash Gordon 5,' owned by Helmut Jahn (Chicago, IL) shooting up the west side of the lake, this Farr 40 is 55 miles from the finish, roughly 18 miles ahead of the rest of the section and moving along at 5.8 knots.

Next behind 'Flash Gordon 5' and leading the rest of Sections 1 and 2, is 'Talisman,' a T10 with Skipper Bruce Aikens (West Bloomfield) 70 miles out moving at 4.5 knots crossing the top of the Leelanau Peninsula. 50 Free rounds out Sections 1 and 2, and is moving at 5.4 knots just north of Frankfort with 109 miles between them and Round Island.

Track Shot Double-handed - 2009 Chicago-Mackinac race -

Doublehanded

Leading the Doublehanded division with 87 miles to finish is 'Skye.' The boat is just north of the Manitou passage moving at 3.2 knots. Trailing the fleet is 'Elusive,' just off Manistee moving along at 6.9 knots with 141 miles to finish.

Track Shot 10 - 2009 Chicago-Mackinac race -

T10

'Norboy' is leading the T10 fleet, sailing at 5.6 knots just below the Manitou's and 100 miles to the finish line. 'Siege' is rounding out the T10 fleet moving at 7.2 knots off Big Point Sable between Ludington and Manistee, with 153 miles to the finish line.

by Christie Denton