So what’s it like sailing a 42-foot boat complete with kitchen, bathroom, shower and sleeping accommodations for eight people across the Great Lakes?
‘Take a mobile home, put a sail on it, that’s what you’re doing,? said boat owner and sailor Larry Soutar. ‘You’re moving a mobile home across the water at 15 miles an hour without the use of any gasoline-powered devices.?
For the 21st time in his life, the 55-year-old Oxford resident is preparing to compete in the Detroit-based Bayview Yacht Club’s annual Port Huron-to-Mackinac Island sailboat race July 21.
‘There are a lot of things about this sport that are a little bit more challenging than say playing golf or tennis,? said Soutar, who noted competitive sailing combines athletic ability, strategic thinking and sheer endurance.
This year’s Port Huron-to-Mackinac race, the 83rd in its history, will feature 246 boats divided into 16 classes and ranging in length from 27 to 70 feet.
‘The longer the hull, the faster it (moves) through the water,? Soutar noted.
Soutar and his 12-man crew will be racing his boat, the Blitz, a 42-foot, 3-inch vessel built in 1982.
His crew, which ranges in age from 17 to 61, includes his children Ashley, 21, and Brian, 18, along with a core group of five guys he’s been sailing with since college.
‘We’ve been friends for 37 years ? that has to say something,? Soutar said.
The crew consists of four helmsmen (of which Soutar is one) who steer the boat, two navigators, two tacticians and four basic crewmen, who contribute ‘raw muscle? to the vessel’s operation.
During his sailing career which dates back to 1970, Soutar’s finished first, second or third in more than 200 races as either a crew member or boat owner.
And he’s got the flags to prove it. In competitive sailing, winners receive flags to display at future races.
In 1978, Soutar was part of a crew that won first place in its class in both the Port Huron-to-Mackinac race and the Chicago-to-Mackinac race.
These are the only two freshwater yacht races in the world and Soutar described them as the ‘pinnacle of the sport.?
Since becoming a boat owner in 1993, Soutar’s record in the Port Huron-to-Mackinac race consists of winning first place in his class in 2005 and third place in 1999.
His current vessel, which he acquired in 2003, has won about 25 flags.
‘It’s been a very successful boat,? he said.
Soutar’s interest in sailing began with his college roommate’s invitation to go sailing on Lake Erie.
He thought he was just going for a friendly ride. It turned out he was competing in a regatta.
‘One thing led to another and 37 years later we’re still doing it,? he said.
In the old days, Soutar said he and his buddies ‘literally lived on the boat,? spending entire weekends racing on Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie.
‘We used to put in 25-30 races a year throughout the summer,? he said.
Soutar loves the physical and mental challenges that come with competitive sailing.
If there’s wind, which is ‘always unpredictable,? Soutar said his boat should finish Port Huron-to-Mackinac in 48-50 hours.
Although the crew is divided into two, six-man teams that work rotating four-hour shifts on deck, the whole crew stays awake for most of the race.
‘You try to get some sleep down below; but it usually doesn’t happen,? he said.
Mother Nature doesn’t rest either.
‘The waves on the Great Lakes can get very large,? Soutar said. ‘It’s not uncommon to see waves 8-10 feet. You’re at the mercy of Mother Nature and you’ve got to take precautions.?
As if battling fatigue and the elements weren’t enough, you also have to worry about what your competitors are doing ? even though you often can’t see them.
‘As odd as it sounds, you can have 300 boats start a race and five or six hours later there’s not a boat in sight,? Soutar said.
That’s where the ‘chess game? aspect, as Soutar called it, comes in.
‘There’s a great deal of strategy that goes into play,? he said.
Choosing whether to sail toward shore or stay out in the lake can be a critical strategic decision. Going toward shore a boat might encounter better winds or ‘hit a calm spot and come to a complete halt,? according to Soutar.
To help make those types of vital decisions, the Blitz will have ‘several computers running on board.?
From digital GPS chartplotters helping keep the boat on course to satellite downloads featuring live information about wind strength and weather systems moving in, Soutar said, ‘There’s a lot of data coming in.?
Computer data combined with human decisions can make the difference when it all comes down to the wire.
‘In a race that’s 50 hours long, we’ve won by sometimes less than 10 seconds,? Soutar said.
Seconds mattered in 1999 when Soutar’s boat just barely beat a competing vessel ? who’s helmsman was then-Secretary of State Candice Miller ? for third place.
‘After two days, we were literally battling down to the finish line,? he said.
Seconds also matter considering each boat is given a handicap in order to equalize the differences in weight and size of sail. These handicaps can affect the outcome of the race.
‘Even though you cross the finish line first, that doesn’t guarantee you’re going to be in first place,? Soutar explained.
Don’t look for Soutar to retire from what he called the ‘one of the more intriguing sports? anytime soon.
Even with 37 years experience under his belt, he’s not done learning yet.
‘You can learn something every time you go out and race,? he said. ‘You can start when you’re 20 years old and still not have it figured out by the time you quit.?