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A BOAT RACING ENTHUSIAST'S PERFECT WEEKEND IN MICHIGANBy Susan R. NortonLeaning up against the airplane window, I realized that I
was in for a water filled weekend as I descended into Traverse City Airport. I
knew that Lake Michigan was in the state of Michigan but I had no idea that
almost every square mile of land was punctuated by dozens of streams, inlets and
mini lakes, all surrounded by sumptuous forests. What a treat for a girl from
Los Angeles whose main experience with the color of green was the astro turf on
the local miniature golf course. I had no idea there were so many different
variations of that simple color. This would be a learning weekend. |
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TM
The third annual BoyneThunder
poker run on Lake Charlevoix, Friday, July 14-15, was gearing up to begin, and I
was all set to take part in whatever that meant. I soon learned that a poker run
was a race of a different sort. High-performance / high speed / offshore boats
with upwards of $50, 000 paint jobs and fueled to the brim with testosterone
sped to different designated points where they picked up giant playing cards.
The goal is to get the best poker hand. Speed is not supposed to be the goal,
but you would never know it.
The
contestants were just pulling into designated slips for final checkouts and
tender, loving hand washings when I arrived at the marina on Friday. These boats
were sleek, gorgeous and down right sexy. I had never seen such love and
appreciation oozing out of men's eyes before. 
The official beginnings of the weekend started at 5:00 PM at Garrett's Water
Street Restaurant with food, music and a silent auction. Proceeds went to Camp
Quality, and a carnival and classic wooden boat show went on for the entire two
days.
I had been invited as a guest on a luscious and long power boat. We went out and
tethered along side ten other boats at the final poker card distribution point. We swam ashore for lunch, jumped from boat to boat and generally
caroused just a bit while waiting for the boats to arrive. We could hear them
coming miles off, and cheered, clapped and tooted our boat horns as each grabbed
the last card then hurried off to the finish line.
On Sunday the 16th, we sprinted off early to reach Mackinac Island and watch the
ending of The 2006 Bacardi Bayview Mackinac Race from Port Huron to Mackinac
Island. Begun in 1925, it is the largest freshwater sporting event in the world.
Over 265 boats, ranging in length from 26 to 90 feet come from all over the
world, and nearly 3000 sailors compete. Boats departed Saturday, July 15th at
9:00 AM. These dedicated sailors follow a 235-mile shoreline course up the
Michigan coastline, aiming towards Southhampton, Ontario and ending in Mackinaw
City.
I had heard much of Mackinac Island since the movie, “Somewhere In Time” with
Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour was filmed at the posh Grand Hotel, and had
always fostered daydreams of sitting and rocking on its elegant and very long
(660 feet) wooden porch. This was my chance and I wasn't about to
miss it, even with the crowds that this sailing event promised.
The next day we strolled past a 30 fudge shops to the marina where the sailing
ships were docking at race's end. The bars and restaurants were
hopping. I especially liked The Pink Pony with its friendly outside dining and
fully packed bar. The boats were beautiful and packed in there, too, one against
another, The day was baked by a warm sun and a holiday attitude. All too soon,
it was time to jump on the ferry for the ride to the mainland, and the airplane
that would take us back to reality with wonderful new boating memories.