Bayview Mackinac Race 2025 Race Chair Communication #6

100th Bayview Mackinac Race presented by National Fleet Services © Lynn Kotwicki

2025 ORC Certificates

USSailing's application was designed to be completed in sections. An owner can submit their initial application without having all the required measurement data on hand, including your final crew weight. The initial application is a high-level overview of their certificate configuration, and season plans. The deadline for the 2025 Bayview Mackinac Race to APPLY for your ORC rating certificate is May 1, 2025.

Once the owner completes the base application form (either the New Boat Application or 2025 Certificate Application), they will receive an email with instructions on their next steps. These steps will include additional forms that will be used to submit their measurement data once collected from their sail makers or boat measurers. The deadline for submitting all rating requirements to ORC and ORC Amended Certificates (Test Certs) is June 1, 2025, at 1700 hours EDT.

Please have the correct boat data when completing the information for your ORC rating, including accurate crew weight, all required sail certificates, etc.

If you are re-measuring existing sails or adding a new sail that is replacing a currently reported sail, you will want to select both "Add new, additional, or remeasured sail(s)" and "Remove previously reported sail(s)". When the field pops up to report which sails to remove, you will input the sail type and sail ID (as listed on your current ORC certificate).

The configuration shown on your certificate is the configuration your boat MUST race in. Remember, we will be enforcing the ORC Minimum crew weights, as well as the Maximum crew weights, for the Racing Monohull and Cruising Divisions.

Per USSailing, once your certificate is finalized, any changes will incur an amendment fee for re-issuance. If you are considering changes (e.g. new sail, measurement, crew changes, etc.) note this in the comment box on the base application. This will alert the Offshore Office that you may have changes, and they should wait before finalizing your rating.

Please apply early! The USSailing Offshore Office would like to know what is in the pipeline for the season rather than have owners wait to apply once they have all the data. If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email the USSailing Offshore Office at .

As you receive your ORC certificates for 2025, many of you have noticed a significant difference from last year in your BYCMACK Cove or Shore course ratings.

This is going to be true for everyone, as two changes have occurred in ORC:

• 1. The ORC VPP has been expanded to include 4 knots windspeed. Previously, the lowest windspeed in the VPP was 6 knots.
• 2. The BYCMACK Custom Wind Mix was adjusted to:
  • a. Include 4 knots windspeed
  • b. Use historical windspeed and direction data for the past 10 years.

Please keep this in mind when you review your 2025 ORC certificate.

From the Technical Committee:

When you get your 2025 ORC certificate, please log on to the Bayview Mackinac Race owner portal and update your boat information with the 2025 ORC reference number, which appears at the bottom left side on each page of the certificate. It consists of 10 alphanumeric characters. Example: 045600023TT

Many owners have inserted the wrong information in the reference number field, which creates headaches for race administrators.

To be clear:

• Until you have received your 2025 ORC certificate, you should leave the field asking for your ORC reference number blank.
• Do not enter your sail number. Your sail number is not your 2025 ORC reference number.
• Do not enter an ORC certificate number that appears near the top right of the first page. The ORC certificate number is different from the ORC reference number.
• Do not enter last year's ORC reference number or any reference number on a certificate from a prior year. The ORC reference number changes every year.

Your cooperation is appreciated.

2025 Bayview Mackinac Race Safety Equipment Requirements

The 2025 Bayview Mackinac Race Safety Equipment Requirements (SERs) have been posted on the website. Please review the complete document before determining that you have met the requirements. A list of changes from the 2024 Bayview Mackinac Race SERs is included in the document.

The official website has several safety articles and a video related to safety. It is strongly recommended that all participants review and download each of these so they are available when racing. These are in addition to the Safety Equipment Requirements (SER) all competitors must comply with.

For those interested in Safety at Sea courses, you may find available courses here.

Mackinac Island Docking

For fairness to all competitors, docking will be assigned in the order of paid registration in the race. We may be unable to accommodate docking for all competitors at Mackinac Island. An entry in the race does NOT guarantee a dock on Mackinac Island. Docking on Mackinac Island will be at one of two locations:

1) Mackinac Island State Harbor (slips or rafted)
2) Arnold Freight Coal Dock (broadside or rafted)

Looking for crew?

The crew-finder page lists many good candidates. If you are a boat owner looking for crew, you can post your crew needs as well!

Visit here for Crew/Boat Board

Calling all potential Society of Mackinac Island Old Goats, Detroit - Grand Rams

Membership is open to all sailors who have completed or will complete fifty Bayview Mackinac Races in the year of their application. Applications are available on the Bayview Mackinac Race website, www.bycmack.com, under the About tab. Applications are accepted for sailors who have completed a minimum of fifty Bayview Mackinac Races or plan to complete their fiftieth race in the year of their application. Applications are due by April 15 each year.

Visit here for Grand Ram application

2025 Entry

If you are experiencing any issues with entry, please contact Melissa at . Please remember that you will be shown as registered for the 2025 race when your entry fee is paid.

I want to thank our sponsors and supporters for the 2025 race: Bayview Mackinac Race Foundation, Deep Eddy Vodka, Detroit Liquid Ventures, Casamigos, Detroit City Distillery, Mission Point Resort, National Fleet Services, Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry, Aitken & Ormond Insurance, Frankenmuth Insurance, and MicroCODE. Without our sponsors, we cannot run the quality event we are known for.

We at Bayview Yacht Club are thrilled to be starting our second century of the Bayview Mackinac Race and are honored that you have chosen to join us.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

And don't forget, read the NOR!
Register!
Prep your boat and crew!
Race!

See you on the starting line.