Winners crowned in 102nd Bayview Mackinac Race after 3 days of tough conditions

MACKINAC ISLAND – After a difficult three days sailing through thick wildfire smoke and navigating high winds and multiple squalls, the 102nd Bayview Mackinac Race has come to an end — with the final boat crossing the finish line off Mackinac Island at 7:36 a.m. on Tuesday.

Nearly 200 boats competed in this year’s race, which kicked off on Saturday in Port Huron. Only 107 crossed the finish line.

At the front of the pack was Natalie J, led by Dr. Philip D. O’Niel III, of Bloomfield Hills, finishing the race in first place at 10:13 p.m. on Sunday and earning the coveted J.L. Hudson Trophy.

Considered the world’s longest continuously run long-distance freshwater yacht race, the Bayview Mackinac Race is hosted by the Bayview Yacht Club and is also one of the oldest freshwater sailing races in the world. It draws more than 1,600 sailors to compete on the Great Lakes each year, with this year’s competitors having the choice of competing in either the Cove Island Course (259 nautical miles), or the Shore Course (204 nautical miles).

“The Bayview Mackinac Race is about much more than who crosses the finish line first,” said 2026 race chair Micaela Reardon in a news release. “The challenging weather underscored what makes this race so special. Success isn’t just about finishing. It’s about good seamanship, sound judgment and knowing when safety must come first. Congratulations to all of our competitors.”

View the winners of the 102nd Bayview Mackinac Race below:

Cove Island Course (259 nautical mile course)

Shore Course (204 nautical mile course)

For more detailed results, visit bycmack.com/results.