Rick Hennig and crew on the podium in 2017.
TRACK THE FLEET: LINK
The start of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac feels like the halfway point of the off-season until ice sailing season begins. Here’s the annual look through the fleet to see which iceboaters are making the trip north.
This year, though, there’s one familiar name missing. Rick Hennig was a longtime Mackinac sailor, and his absence will be felt both on Lake Michigan and in the iceboating community. As the fleet sets out today, many of us will be thinking of Rick.
Iceboaters racing to Mackinac this year include:
USUAL SUSPECTS
DN champion Ron Sherry
CALLISTO
Co-skipper Steve Orelebeke and crew member Jay Yaeso, both longtime Skeeter sailors
LEGACY
DN sailors Ben Witman and Dave Elsmo, along with Mendota Yacht Club sailor Matt Baron
KASHMIR
DN sailor hailing from the Toledo Ice Yacht Club Jody Kjoller
Best of luck to everyone headed north. Have a safe race, and we’ll be following along from shore.
