Clark DeRoy Trophy and the Point Betsie Trophy Winners

by Rachelle Treiber on 10 Sep 2011 The Chicago Yacht Club Mackinac Committee has announced that Natalie J, owned by Dr. Philip D. O’Niel III of Bloomfield Hills, MI, is the winner of the 2011 Clark DeRoy Trophy. The Trophy is awarded to the yacht with the lowest combined corrected time for the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac and the Bayview Yacht Club Race to Mackinac.

Dr. O’Niel is a member of the Bayview Yacht Club, which also is the recipient of the Point Betsie Trophy, given to the winner of the 2011 Yacht Club Challenge.

To be eligible for the Challenge yacht clubs must have five or more boats sailing under its name, according to the Notice of Race. 'Eligible yacht clubs wishing to participate in the Challenge may enter by having one of its Commodores send an e-mail to racecoordinator@chicagoyachtclub.org on or before the Late Entry Deadline,' the NOR states.

There were eight entries this year. This year’s second place winner is the St. Joseph River Yacht Club, and third place goes to the Macatawa Bay Yacht Club. The Mac Race Committee congratulated everyone and said all clubs are encouraged to enter the Yacht Club Challenge - 'race within the race' - in 2012.

All of the 2011 Race to Mackinac trophies will be awarded at the Mac Awards Dinner on Saturday, November 5, 2011.

For more information, please contact Rachelle Treiber, Chicago Yacht Club Communications Manager, at 312.861.7772, or communications@chicagoyachtclub.org.

Chicago Yacht Club website

About Chicago Yacht Club: The Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the world. Today, the club boasts a membership of nearly 1500 boating enthusiasts, and is one of the preeminent organizers of regattas, races and predicted-log events in the United States. The club offers an array of spectacular off-the-water amenities, including fine dining and full-service catering at both its Monroe and Belmont stations.
About the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac: At 333 miles (289.4 nautical miles), the Race to Mackinac is the oldest annual freshwater distance race in the world.

‘The Mac’ starts at the Chicago Lighthouse, just off Navy Pier and continues to Mackinac Island. 2010 marked the 102nd Running of the Race to Mackinac in which 362 boats competed in the third consecutive sellout of the Race. The Race has also amassed a strong following using technology and social networking; it can be followed virtually using Facebook, Twitter and its Race tracking interface. The 102nd race and yacht club site was visited by over 300,000 website visitors.

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