Heartbreaker leads sunrise finishers in 2025 Race to Mackinac
by Laura Muma 21 Jul 19:30 UTC
July 21, 2025
In the early morning hours, the sleek fleet of Great Lakes 52s sailed under the Mackinac Bridge and past the iconic Round Island Lighthouse to finish at Mackinac Island, completing their 333-mile journey in the 116th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust.
Beating the sunrise, Bob Hughes' GL52 Heartbreaker was the first GL52 across the line in the 13-boat section, finishing at 3:53 a.m. ET with an elapsed time of 1 day, 13 hours, 3 minutes, and 4 seconds.
"I'm ecstatic," said Hughes. "This is my favorite race in the world, and this year is the first time I've won not only the 52 section, but potentially, the entire racing division."
Hughes is on a hot streak. Last week, the Heartbreaker team won the GL 52 class and the overall division at the Bayview Mackinac Race. It's a feat that may be repeated this year in the 2025 Race to Mackinac. As of press time, Heartbreaker sits atop the provisional standings for the Mackinac Cup, awarded to the top finisher among the big boats in the Racing Division.
"The team did such a phenomenal job," said Hughes. After the race was over, we realized nobody ever crossed our bow. I don't know how that happened in such a competitive fleet; it's the most talented big boat fleet in the country by far."
Hughes said the Race to Mackinac is what first sparked his passion for offshore racing many years ago. "It's such a special race--the beautiful coastline, the iconic finish, and the big, deep breath you take when you cross the line. It's magic. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, that's for sure."
Meanwhile, a steady stream of sailboats are each making the final turn at Grays Reef into the Straits of Mackinac. During this morning's weather and race analysis, Race Chair Winn Soldani noted that many boats remain stalled in the Manitou Passage, where light winds and adverse currents are slowing their progress. Some teams are now gambling on an outside route beyond the Manitou Islands - a tactical move that could define their finish if it pays off.
Track the fleet here.
Find out more at www.cycracetomackinac.com