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January 12, 202


Dear Bayview Mackinac Race Skippers, Crew, Sponsors, and Spectators:
Happy New Year, and welcome to 2022!

I hope everyone got the new sailing gear they asked Santa for. If Santa brought you a new boat, remember that you must create a new record for the race by completing the form under Race Invitation Request under the Competitors tab on the website. 
General Race Update The Mackinac Race Authority (MRA) will open the website, not registration, on Saturday, January 15, 2022. Notable changes to the 2022 Notice of Race (NOR) and Safety Equipment Requirements (SERs) are as follows:·      The minimum length to participate has been reduced. Read the NOR for details.·      There is a speed limit to sail the shore course. Read the NOR for details.·       New SOLAS Flares are allowed. Read the SERs for details.
Mackinac Harbor Discussion As stated in every Race Chair Communication, I and the MRA would like nothing more than to fill the harbor with Bayview Mackinac Race boats. Over the last two months, we have been meeting with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and I am pleased to report that we may be able to do that with new additional contractual requirements /restrictions. While the ink is not dry, broad harbor use is likely with some rafting and doubling up in wells. The new harbor contractual requirements/restrictions are incorporated into the 2022 NOR. 
If any crew or shore crew of any boat that participates in the race violates any rules that cause the Bayview Mackinac Race or Bayview Yacht Club to violate any contractual requirements, the boat will be immediately disqualified from the current year’s race. Any awards or records will be forfeited. In addition, the boat and owner will be barred from entry in the next year’s race, per our contractual requirement with the DNR.
The boat owner or Person-In-Charge (PIC) is singularly responsible for the actions of the crew and shore crew from when the boat enters the Black River in Port Huron until 11 am on Wednesday, July 21, 2022. There is NO action a boat owner or PIC can take to absolve themselves of their responsibility.
The MRA has had a great working relationship with the Michigan State Waterways Commission, Mackinac Island Businesses, the DNR, and the Chicago Yacht Club during this entire process. I want to take to opportunity to personally thank:

I also want to thank all of those I’ve missed for their contributions to the race being able to use the harbor. It is truly a team effort! 


Remember – Docking preference will be granted to boats in the order of paid registration in the race.  Register late, and you will end up paying for your own well at Mackinaw City or St Ignace. 


www.bycmack.comThe upgrade to the www.bycmack.com website is in its final stages. Testing has been done, but we are not perfect, so please let us know if anyone finds an error or omission. We have become aware that some password/access problems need to be individually addressed. Since docking preference will be granted to boats in the order of paid registration in the race, to make it fair for everyone, this is the plan:

Behavior on the IslandThe City of Mackinac Island is growing very tired of some of the extreme things that have happened on the island after the race. In general, if you are arrested or cause a scene that brings disrepute to the race or Bayview Yacht Club, you and the boat owner are highly likely to have to explain your actions to the MRA and the BYC Board of Governors (BOG). The NOR allows the MRA and BYC BOG to penalize boats at their discretion without protest.

Please help us preserve the privilege of using this destination as the race’s finish.
Safety at SeaThe US Sailing Safety at Sea in-the-water class is being offered by US Sailing, Bayview Yacht Club, and Detroit Yacht Club on Saturday, April 23, 2022. This is ONLY the in-the-water class portion of the certification. The classroom training must be done online before attending the in-the-water course. Come for a swim on Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Detroit Yacht Club! Registration has opened, and info can be found at the following link. https://www.ussailing.org/education/adult/safety-at-sea-courses/find-a-course-near-you/
What do I want you to remember? 

I want to thank our sponsors and supporters for the race: Atwater Brewery, Bayview Mackinac Race Foundation, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry. 
We at Bayview Yacht Club are honored that you choose to participate in the Bayview Mackinac Race and are putting forth our best effort to make it the best it can be for you.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns at any time over the next year. 

Chris Clark Chair,

2022 Bayview Mackinac Race 

Mackchair2022@byc.com