UPDATE: Crew who helped capsized boat last year win 2012 race...
Crews for more than 350 yachts cast off on Saturday setting a course for Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club's Annual Race to Mackinac.
This year's race marked the 104th year of crews traveling 333 miles from Chicago to Mackinac Island, Michigan.
To celebrate a tradition more than a century old, the boats paraded by Navy Pier before taking off in 10-minute increments.
The weather was sunny and hot, a contrast from last year's race which marred by a strong storm that caused a boat to capsize, killing two of its crew members.
On Thursday, many crews made last minute preparations in anticipation of the race.
The boats will sail through the night and begin arriving on Sunday. Typically, boats take between 40 and 60 hours to cross the finish line.
Mackinac is the oldest annual freshwater distance race in the world.
Note: This post was originally published July 21, 2012.
