Zoning docking for Mackinac race — some boats could end up in Mackinac City

Water levels are up — that’s the good news.

But those higher water levels may mean a few boats sailing the Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race could end up docking at Mackinac City instead of on the island.

Whether or not you could be on the mainland instead of the island depends on what docking zone you’ve been assigned.

New this year, boats finishing at the island will, as usual (and as required by the rules) hail the finish line to report their finish to the race committee. Once the race committee acknowledges their finish, they will proceed directly to their docking area.

Skippers DO NOT need to check in with the harbor crew. That step is completely skipped under the new zone docking plan. Harbor crew members will be in the zone areas to assist in docking but they no longer assign slips.

(Skippers do, however, need to switch to Channel 78 for information about whether their boat is selected for the random boat inspections.)

All docking areas are predetermined by zone. The zones are obviously based on the length, width and especially the keel depth of the boats assigned to the zone.

“The idea of the zone was to really cut down on confusion at the end of the race,” Race Chairman Peter Wenzler said. “Sailors as a group … really don’t need a lot of direction once they know where their headed.”

For example, the Great Lakes 70s will continue to be on the outer wall, the shallower drawing C&C 35s will be on the harbor’s inner wall.

Skippers and crew can check their docking zone by going to the race website, click on “Race Info,” then click on “All Classes.” Once there, click on the boat’s name. The zone will be listed with the boat’s other information.

You can see a map of the harbor zones by clicking on the link below the boat’s assigned zone. There are 12 zones, A through L, with about 21 boats per zone.

It’s Zone B that is most likely to end up in Mackinac City. Zone A could possibly also be affected.

“We have an issue with the high water,” Wenzler said. “It’s kind of funny to be in a situation where we’re complaining about high water because we’ve had it low.”

The water level has risen about three feet over last three years. A few years ago when there were lower waters, the owners built a catwalk around the coal dock, closer the water, which made it more accessible for people in small water craft.

“The problem is now that the water’s come up again, there’s a portion of the dock in Zone B that in recent days and weeks have been flooded — it’s been under water,” Wenzler said.

“It’s very dangerous and near impossible to tie-up to a dock that is submerged. There’s are submerged pilings submerged metal gratings,” Wenzler said. “If a dock is flooded we just can’t use it. Otherwise we run the risk of damaging boats.”

It’s the harbor committee’s job to assess the docks as the boats arrive and decide whether to permit the use of that dock.

If they can’t use underwater dock, BYC made arrangements with DNR marina in Mackinac City for dockage.

But, Wenzler cautioned, “We don’t know for sure if that’s going to even be the case because it changes, depending on which way the wind if blowing.”

Dockage in Mackinac City will be free and Shelplers is offering discounts on ferry tickets for any crews docking on the mainland.