News
Pentastar Aviation Partners with Chicago Yacht Club as Official Charter Provider of the 2019 Race to Mackinac
Jul 2, 2019
Waterford, Mich.–Pentastar Aviation announces its role as the official charter provider of the 111th running of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac presented by Wintrust, which begins July 12th, in Chicago, and concludes on Mackinac Island.
“The Race to Mackinac is excited to have the support of Pentastar Aviation for this annual race,” said Sarah Renz, chair of the race. “As a leader in the aviation industry, Pentastar brings a valuable alliance to our club, its members and the race participants.”
Starting just past Navy Pier in Chicago, and finishing on Mackinac Island, MI the 333 statute mile race is the oldest annual freshwater distance race in the world. Participation features approximately 270 competing boats and 2,500 sailors, and takes most of the fleet between 30 and 75 hours to finish.
“The Chicago Yacht Club is appreciative of Pentastar and all our sponsors for their support of the Race to Mackinac and all our initiatives” said Lou Sandoval, Commodore of the Chicago Yacht Club.
“Over the past five years we have developed a great relationship with the sailors and families of similar yacht clubs, and it seemed only natural to engage with the Chicago Yacht Club,” said Greg Schmidt, Pentastar Aviation’s President & CEO. “It’s an honor to partner with this historic sailing club and we look forward to providing them a fast and convenient transportation option, while experiencing the world-class service that made us the most awarded aviation company in the country.”
The race begins at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, July 12th with the Cruising Division, and the Racing Division starts begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, departing every 10 minutes until the last race section starts at approximately 1:30 p.m. CT. Spectators can watch real-time GPS positioning and keep up on the race at www.cycracetomackinac.com.
About Pentastar Aviation
Pentastar Aviation, wholly owned by Edsel B. Ford II, is a leader in the world of business aviation, providing aircraft management, advisory services, aircraft maintenance, avionics services, interior services and award-winning Executive Terminal services. Air charter transportation services are provided by Pentastar Aviation Charter, Inc., a U.S. FAR Part 135 on-demand air carrier, or by other U.S., FAR Part 135 certificated on-demand air carriers arranged by Pentastar Aviation, LLC. Their team is committed to delivering the highest standards of safety and service excellence to their customers.
Pentastar Aviation has been servicing regional and global travelers for more than 50 years and is headquartered at Oakland County International Airport (PTK). For more information, please visit www.pentastaraviation.com
ABOUT CHICAGO YACHT CLUB: Founded in 1875, the Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the world. Its mission is to encourage, promote, and develop knowledge, participation, and enjoyment of all aspects of yachting. To that end, the Club hosts many world class competitions and Predicted-Log events, including its signature Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac and numerous North American and World Championships. The Club is also recognized as a leader in sailing education, with one of the largest junior sailing programs in the United States. The Club is home to nearly 1500 members, including winning America’s Cup skippers, Olympic medalists and hopefuls, and outstanding boaters of all types, from ages 4 to 104. The Club offers an array of spectacular off-the-water amenities, including fine dining, full-service catering and year-round activities for its diverse membership at two locations on the city’s shoreline, at Monroe and Belmont Harbors. Learn more at chicagoyachtclub.org.