JEROME WINS SECTION IN BAYVIEW MACKINAC RACE

The Melges IC37 Class congratulates Fred and Ward Detwiler and the crew aboard Jerome for winning their section in the 2020 Bayview Mackinac Race. Starting in Port Huron, MI and finishing off Mackinac Island, the race served as North America’s first offshore event since the pause from COVID-19.

 In an ever-changing world, patience paid off for the Mackinac Committee who opted to remove the Cove Island course that would cross into Canadian waters and condensed the fleet onto the 200-mile Shore Course.

Jerome competed in the inaugural Sport Boat Section consisting of six smaller, lighter boats including a Melges 32. Racing with Fred was his son, Ward, and friends from Bayview Yacht Club.

Winds pounded the course at up to 25 knots for the entirety of the race producing up to five-foot waves. Detwiler reported that the crew spent very little time off the rail for the 38-hour upwind slog.

“Although there was a general lift for the last 10 miles which benefitted the boats behind, we managed to win our class,” said Detwiler. “The good news is that the Melges IC37s are tough boats and we didn’t break anything… It was good to be back sailing.”

Bayview Mackinac Race Results: https://bit.ly/33fqAxy