The Bayview Mackinac Boat Race is run by the Bayview Yacht Club of Detroit, Michigan. It is one of the longest fresh-water races in the world with over two hundred boats entering the race each year. There have been at least six changes to the course throughout the race's history. All of the race's courses start in the waters of Lower Lake Huron, north of the Blue Water Bridge near the American shoreline, traverse the length of Lake Huron, and finish in the Round Island Channel off Mackinac Island, Michigan. Currently, the Race features two courses, one Shore Course sailing up the Michigan shoreline, and a Cove Island Course that takes boats around a buoy off Cove Island in northeast Lake Huron. Both courses finish at Mackinac Island. History The first race was held in 1925 with the sloop Bernida skippered by Russ Pouliot winning against 12 yachts. In the 2012 race, Bernida once again raced with owner/skipper Al Declercq claiming victory in PHRF H and Overall for the Shore Course along with his crew Matthew (son), Ken and Connor Flaska, and Fred and Ward Detwiler. They finished around 1130 AM Monday. Dozens of divisions and classes of boats were added over the years. During the 1985 sail race, the whole fleet experienced heavy weather. The 35-foot yacht Tomahawk was damaged and her crew of eight abandoned ship. They were rescued from their life raft by Charles Bayer, skipper of the yacht Old Bear. Tomahawk sank 28 miles northwest of Tobermory, Ontario. Of the 305 boats entered in the 1985 race, 96 abandoned the race. The estimated total damage to the fleet was $500,000. Throughout the history of the race, with strict safety enforcements, Bayview prides itself on never having had a fatality. The inaugural race course was up the Michigan shore line south of Bois Blanc. Originally it was started at the same time as the Chicago Race to Mackinac with the yachts crossing the finish line from two different directions. In 1935, the course was lengthened to and required participants to round Cove Island Buoy off the Bruce Peninsula. Fog created confusion and the longer course was abandoned as dangerous and slow in 1936. In 1940 the race rounded the Six Fathoms Shoal buoy for that year only. The following year the race went back to shore course but left Bois Blanc to port. In 1972 the Cove