- Sat, 14 Jul 2007 at 10:47 am · I had almost forgotten that today is the big race day for teams of sailors about to chart the unpredictable, chilly waters of Lake Michigan, from Chicago to Mackinac Island, Michigan! When I was little, Mackinac Island was a week-long vacation — including driving the entire way for a full week, following the coast around the Lake. From here in Illinois, with stops at Indiana Dunes and Warren Dunes in Michigan, a number of spontaneous stops to discover interesting little shops and restaurants — up through to Mackinaw City, and a stay at the Island for a day or two — then crossing the Mackinac Bridge, do a tour over the Canadian border through the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, and back down to visit the grandparents near Manitowac, Wisconsin on the way back home. Good times, from what I remember — when a week still seemed like an entire summer. The Chicago Yacht Club has more details at their web site — and if you wish to track the boats during the race, you can do so using the GPS-linked display provided by Flagship FIS Tracking. (Sorry, no KML link.) · (0)