3 Macomb Boats Sail in Bell's Beer Bayview Mackinac Race

Anchors aweigh, Macomb!

Three Macomb Township boats were among the more than 200 that set sail from Port Huron Saturday to compete in the 2001 Bell's Beer Bayview Mackinac Race.

While some boats were expected to arrive at Mackinac Island late Sunday night, most will arrive all day Monday.

The Mackinac races are the longest freshwater races in the world, with the Shore Course logging in at 204 nautical miles and the Cove Island Course at 254 nautical miles.

Competing in Division I of the Cove Island course is Don Hinckfoot of Macomb Township aboard the Absolute, a Peterson 37. 

The Absolute was one of some two dozen boats that dropped out of the Chicago race to help the Coast Guard search for the crew of the capsized sailboat WingNuts.

Registered to Hinckfoot and Art Mason, the Absolute carries a crew of 10 and is no stranger to the winner's circle, finishing fifth out of 20 boats in its class and first in its class in the 2002 and 2003 Bayview Mackinac Races, respectively.

Competing in the shore course are two Macomb boats, the Boomerang and the Ariel.

Sailing the S2 9.1 Boomerang in Division III is Matthew Schriner and his crew of seven.

In Division IV is Mark W. Aitken and his crew of seven on the Tartan Ariel. The Ariel is making its sixth run in the race this year.