Happy New Year!  With the new year comes the time for planning your 2012 Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race, the 88th consecutive running of this Blue Water Classic and the Jewel of July.

We have some exciting new changes in store.

* The first thing you should note is that the race is scheduled for Saturday, July 14, 2012.  Mark your calendar!

* This year we will offer 5 Divisions:  Cove Island Racing; Shore Course Racing; Shore Course Cruising; Multi-Hull; and Double-Handed.  All competitors will be handicapped using PHRF, and you will be required to have a valid, DRYA issued PHRF certificate.  PHRF will be administered using Time on Time coefficients as recommended by the US Sailing formula.   We are working with DRYA to see if we can come up with single use, Mackinac Race only valid PHRF certificates for little or no cost.  We are putting in place a rating appeal procedure utilizing well-respected and non-Detroit based, independent third parties.

* Please note that we did run into problems last year trying to accommodate competitors that submitted applications and/or supporting documents well after established deadlines.  The result was truly unfortunate, and it has been determined that the only fair solution is to strictly enforce the deadlines set for in the Notice of Race.  We expect the Notice of Race to be published soon, and I suggest you study it and calendar appropriate dates right away.

* The publication of revised Safety Requirements will made soon, and you should not expect any major changes.  While subject to change, we will likely recommend but not require that each vessel have a GPIRB or Personal Locator Beacon.  We will likely require that each crew member have a tether equipped with a quick-release shackle (i.e. releases under load) at the crew member’s end of the tether.  Each crew member will also be required to carry a personal safety knife, capable of being opened with one hand, or, a non-folding sheath knife.  Man-overboard poles will also be required to  be “quick release”.  Life rafts will be required for the Cove Island Course and optional for the Shore Course.

* We will have a committee responsible for reviewing the applications of each competitor for compliance with the requirements of the Notice of Race, including crew experience and boat stability.  Because PHRF does not have a readily available stability index, and because we have determined that available stability indexes are difficult to obtain and of questionable reliability, the committee will review each applicant for stability consideration.  In event that an applicant is selected for further consideration, a full review will be performed by a group of experienced racing veterans and professionals.

I am looking very much forward to the honor of being your race chairman once again.

Commodore Gregory I Thomas
2012 Mackinac Race Chairman