June 2025

Dear Island Goats,

       This is my first Commodore’s letter since taking over the role from our Past Commodore, Paul Murray.   Thank you Paul, and all past Commodores for blazing the trail that I will follow.   I am excited about the future of our organization, and plan to do my best to make it better.   With your help, my efforts will be easier to achieve. Let us together celebrate the camaraderie that makes our organization unique and fun to be a part of.  

       Our 65th Annual Spring Dinner was held at Chicago Yacht Club’s Monroe Station.   Yes, you read that correctly, we switched from the Belmont Station to the Monroe station this year, and as far as I know no Goat went to Belmont following their trail from last year.   Michael Blanker, CYC’s Catering Director at Monroe, and his staff worked hard to make our event one to remember.   I received many positive comments about holding our Spring Dinner at Monroe, and a good time was had by all.  

        Our 2025 Fresh Water Award was presented to Greg Miarecki.   Greg’s contributions to offshore sailing center around his passion for racing sailboats which he has been doing for 50 years.   He has completed 38 Chicago to Mac Races.   His accomplishments include being Commodore of CYC, serving as the Mackinac Race Chair, helped create CASRA, is a certified US Sailing Judge, chaired the Chicago Regatta (a major fundraising event for worthy causes), and most recently became the President of the CYC Foundation, which has been instrumental in creating a program focused on getting Chicagoland youth to experience the joys and benefits of boating.  

        We had two members achieve the status of Master Mariner.   Ken Johnson and Rich Stearns have both raced 50 Chicago to Mac Island Races.   Rich joins his Father, Dick, as the only Father/Son team to both reach this achievement.  

        This year the Fastest Goats to the Island awards went to Robert Hughes on Heartbreaker in the Trophy Division, Michael Kaczor on Erica in the Cup Division, and Dan Emery on Fuzzy Logic in the Cruising Division.   The Smoked Goat Award went to Don Reynertson on Legacy.  

        Our 2025 Class of New Inductees totaled 23.   Thirteen of the Inductees attended the dinner, and told entertaining Mac Race stories.   The total number of active Island Goats has reached the lofty height of 417 members.   This record number is growing each year, and we now have members living in 26 different states.   Our active members have raced to the Island an incredible 12,814 times.   That is a lot of racing miles (do the math)!  

        The dinner attendees joined me in a moment of silence giving our respects to the members that we have lost in the last year.   The members receiving our 8 Bells notice were:   Rudy Vedovell, Jairo Cruz, David Dickerson, Jim Hilliard, Jeff Monger, and one of our Master Mariners, Captain John “BB” Whitton.  

        We will again be celebrating before and after the Chicago to Mac Race.   The Pre-Race Party will again be located at Columbia Yacht Club on Friday July 18th from 6:30 – 8:00, on the Upper Deck.   Hors d’oeuvres will be provided, and each active member will receive two free drink tickets.   We will also raffle off a few Sponsor provided door prizes.   Afterwards, Columbia Yacht Club offers a buffet dinner.   Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling ColYC directly at 312-938-3625.   Credit cards will be accepted.  

        A Post-Race Party will take place on the porch of the Island House Hotel on Tuesday, July 22nd from Noon – 1:30pm Island time (EDT).   We will again break tradition and distribute two drink tickets to each member, with a cash bar available for guests and thirsty members that need more than two drinks.   Our Sponsors this year include Mount Gay, ACR Electronics, Boaters Closet / Crowley’s Yacht Yard, North Sails, Chicago Yacht Club, Columbia Yacht Club, Quantum Sails, and Team One Newport.   A raffle will be held to distribute the generous donations that we have received from our Sponsors.   Please let anyone you know that is completing their 25th Chicago to Mac Race this year that they are welcome to attend the Post- Race Party as our guest.

        We have a new sponsor this year for our IGSS Mac caps.   One of our members has graciously and generously donated the funds to support the tradition of giving out Mac Race caps at the Post Race Party.   This currently anonymous member stepped up on behalf of the Mackinac Island Yacht Club to help us continue the tradition of the highly anticipated IGSS Mac Race cap.   All IGSS members can pick up their cap at the Post-Race Party at the Island House.  

        We will again recognize the “Boat Load of Goats” awards for the boat with the largest number of “Goat” Mac Races, and a separate award for the highest average number of “Goat years”.   All members should have already received the contest announcement via email.  

        If your boat has completed in 25 Chicago to Mac Races, please use the regular online membership application, putting in the boat name as the applicant first name, and list the years the boat sailed in the race.   Use your full name as the last name, and don’t forget to include your contact information.  

        Sail fast, sail safe, have fun! See you on the Island.

Cheers
Rick Hayes
Commodore