Flying Buffalo, Natalie J overall winners of boat race

(CHICAGO) The annual 333-mile sailboat race from Chicago to Mackinac, Michigan ended with Flying Buffalo winning the Mackinac Trophy Division of 108th running of the Chicago Yacht Club event for the fourth time.

Flying Buffalo, owned by Al and Bob Declercq, completed the race at a corrected time of 46 hours 52 minutes, an hour ahead of second place Providence.

Natalie J won the Mackinac Cup Division and Turbo Section with a time of 26 hours 15 minutes.

Windquest was the first across the finish line Monday, followed seven minutes later by Il Mostro, according to results posted on the Chicago Yacht Club’s website. Windquest is owned by Amway heirs Dick and Doug DeVos and took about 36 hours to reach the island.

A severe thunderstorm hammered the 326-boat fleet off Waukegan late Saturday, with the rough weather continuing into early Sunday. A 48-foot yacht sank during the storm, and 22 boats were forced to drop out.

First held in 1898, it’s the oldest annual freshwater distance race in the world. Winners are determined based on a handicapping system.
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