Sailors Begin 100th Race to Mackinac

CHICAGO (AP) - Sailors are a hearty bunch. That's according to Celeste Johnson, spokeswoman for the Chicago Yacht Club's Race to Mackinac, who says Saturday's rain didn't put a damper on the race's start.

The last of the 439 boats had left Chicago by Saturday afternoon for what is considered the world's longest and most prestigious annual freshwater race.

The 333-mile race goes from Navy Pier in Chicago to Mackinac Island in Michigan. Race organizers say it takes most boats between 40 and 60 hours to finish.

Johnson says for first time in the race's history, every boat can be tracked by GPS on the race's Web site. This year marks the 100th running of the event.