While the big sailboat race this weekend on Lake Michigan is the 100th running of the Chicago-Mackinaw race, a shorter but more technically difficult race is running at the same time.
The Hook, also know as the "Death's Door Challenge" sails from Racine, Wisconsin, just south of Milwaukee up to the "Death's Door" passage at the tip of the Door county peninsula, into Green Bay and across to Menomenee in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
While it is shorter than the Chicago-Mack, the navigational hazards are greater. The Death's Door passage's name fits with the fact that the area has one of the largest concentrations of shipwrecks in the Great Lakes.
I'm crewing on the Alchemist, a Catalina 380T, skippered by Steve Magennis. There are 8 of us total on the crew, and the plan is for 4 hour watches, just like tall ship navies of old.
We will leave Racine around 10am Saturday morning and be hitting the straight some time around Sunday evening or night, and hopefully pulling into Menomenee Monday morning.
Prayers would be appreciated as a stationary front is sitting over the north end of Lake Michigan and both fleets will be sailing into what could be foul weather.
I've linked the post to the Wikipedia entry on the passage for those who would like to know more.
Bill
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