With excitement already surging for the 2026 Bayview Mackinac Race, Bayview Yacht Club has announced its top race leadership for the 102nd running of the iconic Great Lakes event. Mica Reardon will serve as Race Chair, joined by Peter Gerard as Principal Race Officer, as registration has already surpassed 145 boats just days after opening.

The 2026 Bayview Mackinac Race will begin Saturday, July 18, starting in Port Huron. Spectators can view boats as they travel to the starting line from the Black River and along both the U.S. and Canadian shorelines of southern Lake Huron. From there, competitors will sail north toward Mackinac Island in one of the longest-running freshwater distance races in the world.

First sailed in 1925, the Bayview Mackinac Race has been held annually without interruption, weathering wars, economic downturns, and global challenges. Roughly 200 boats compete each year, with a record-breaking fleet of 350 boats taking part in 2024 during the race’s 100th anniversary. That milestone event attracted sailors from 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and 14 countries across four continents.

The race offers numerous viewing opportunities along Michigan’s Thumb Coast, other Lake Huron shorelines, and on Mackinac Island itself. Shoreside fans can also follow the action through live race tracking as crews navigate the demanding course known for its mix of endurance, strategy, and tradition.

Reardon, who discovered sailing in 2018 through Bayview’s Thursday Night Race Series, brings extensive race management experience to the role. She has served as Principal Race Officer for numerous Bayview and regional events, including the Women-on-Water Regatta and the North Channel Race. A southeast Michigan native, Reardon works professionally as a marketing project manager for the Detroit Pistons.

“The Bayview Mackinac Race is the flagship event for our club, and it’s been exciting to see the enthusiasm sailors already have for the 102nd running,” Reardon said. “We’re looking forward to another exceptional year on the water.”

Gerard will make his debut as Principal Race Officer for a Great Lakes distance race at the 2026 Bayview Mackinac Race, bringing decades of experience from top-tier sailing events around the world. A resident of Newport, Rhode Island, and Dallas, Texas, Gerard has held leadership roles within US Sailing and multiple yacht clubs and has served as PRO for prestigious regattas including the New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta and the Ida Lewis Distance Race.

“It’s an honor to join the team behind the Bayview Mackinac Race, one of the most respected distance races in North American sailing,” Gerard said.

Founded in 1915, Bayview Yacht Club is widely regarded as one of the premier sailing clubs in the Midwest and has hosted the Bayview Mackinac Race continuously since its inception. More information about the race, including sponsorship opportunities, is available at bycmack.com.