The Chicago Yacht Club’s annual race to Mackinac begins Friday

CHICAGO – Hundreds of sailboats are preparing to race across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club’s Race to Mackinac.

The Cruising Division starts on Friday afternoon and the Racing Division sets sail for Mackinac Island on Saturday.

This year’s participants include a nine-woman team sailing to Mackinac on the Moxie with the goal of developing the next generation of female sailors.

Two hundred and fifty boats are registered for the 115th annual race, which starts near Navy Pier, continues north across Lake Michigan to Lake Huron and ends on Mackinac Island in Michigan.

Organizers said winds were favorable for faster racing, but the fleet was also likely to encounter storms. Crews have been completing their final preparations and safety checks to ensure they are ready to go.

“It’s like nothing else. There’s a camaraderie. You’re just forced to work together under very stressful conditions. I think our team is 100 percent prepared for that,” said Laura McCranner, skipper of Moxie.

The fastest boats in the racing division need about 25 hours to complete the 300-mile route to Mackinac Island.