CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- More than 2,000 sailors are taking part in this year's race to Mackinaw.
240 boats are taking part in the 114th Race to Mac, sailing 333 miles to Mackinac Island. The race starts from Navy Pier.
Jennifer Steffler is the Principal Race Officer.
"This is a competitive event-bare bones. You wear the same clothes for two days-maybe three," she said.
A sailor who’s done 25 or more Mac’s is known as a GOAT. Burt Vanderweele, from Michigan, is one of them.
"I can still tell you about my first Mac, because I remember that the best. It's like a moonlight night in the middle of Lake Michigan to a starlit light," he said. "You can't explain it-have to experience it."
Depending on the conditions, some racers could finish in roughly 24 hours. It could take others 60 hours.
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