Intellectual property law firm McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP (“MBHB”) is pleased to be an official sponsor of the 104th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. MBHB partners Marcus J. Thymian and Leif R. Sigmond, Jr. will participate in the race. Affectionately known as the Mac Race, it is the oldest annual freshwater distance race in the world. This year’s race officially kicks off on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at the Chicago Lighthouse just off Navy Pier and is expected to include around 375 boats and 3,500 sailors. Proceeding north from Chicago across Lake Michigan to Mackinac Island, Michigan, participation in the 333-mile sailing regatta is by invitation from the Chicago Yacht Club. MBHB was also a sponsor of this premier sailing event in previous years.
Boats participating in the Mac Race are handicapped by a series of mathematical rating systems which predict how fast they should be capable of sailing under a variety of conditions. Applying these ratings to each boat’s elapsed time on the racecourse determines which boat sailed the best relative to their rating, and therefore determines the winner. This allows the entire fleet to compete against each other. The race usually takes most of the fleet between 40 and 60 hours to finish.
The fleet is divided into groups or sections based on rating. Each section is comprised of 8-30 boats of similar ratings wherein each section starts the race at a specific time. The Cruising Division will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, July 15 while the rest of the fleet will start at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 16 and continue every 10 minutes until the last section has started. A cannon is fired at the specific start time for each section.
Because the sailing boats will race around the clock until they reach Mackinac Island, sailing at night is required. Running lights and lighted instruments are required for navigation and safety. Typically a boat crew works in shifts, or “watches,” so that there is time for sleeping and eating.
About the Chicago Yacht Club
Founded in 1875, the Chicago Yacht Club is one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the world. In keeping with the Club’s original purpose, it sponsors over 100 races and other yachting activities and provides opportunities to introduce individuals to the sport year after year. The Club is a preeminent organizer and host of regattas, races and predicted log contests in the United States. Website: www.chicagoyachtclub.org.
About McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP provides creative, pragmatic business solutions through a variety of intellectual property services, including litigation, prosecution, and general client counseling. With offices in Chicago, North Carolina and Washington state, MBHB provides comprehensive legal services to obtain and enforce its clients’ intellectual property rights, from navigating patent office procedures to litigating complex infringement actions. MBHB attorneys prosecute patent and trademark applications in both the U.S. and abroad, handle intellectual property litigation matters in trial and appellate courts across the country, and counsel clients nationwide and worldwide on the enforcement and defense of their intellectual property rights. MBHB attorneys are experienced in the procurement, licensing, enforcement, and defense of patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and unfair competition actions in a number of technological disciplines and product categories including biotechnology, business methods, chemical, electrical, mechanical and materials, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, software and telecommunications. Comprised of over 75 attorneys, the law firm provides effective and service-oriented representation on a case-by-case basis. MBHB attorneys undertake each challenge with a full understanding of their client’s business plan and the ways in which the firm’s services help their clients reach their goals. Regardless of MBHB’s role, the firm never lose sight of their clients’ business objectives. MBHB clients know they have trusted their legal issues and plans for the future with knowledgeable, principled professionals who have their best business interests in mind. Website: www.mbhb.com.