Page 10 - 2012 Lake St. Clair Guide

Offshore Racing Fireworks Along the Water
There are several boat races happening in our
area this year... the Gold Cup on the Detroit River, the
2nd Annual OPA Race in Port Huron, and the St. Clair New Baltimore - Anchor Bay June 21

River Classic in the city of St. Clair. Detroit/Windsor - Detroit River June 25
We went last year to St. Clair, intending on just
Friday nights fun, but had such a great time we went Mt. Clemens-Clinton River Downtown June 29

back on Sunday! The St. Clair River Classic is three Marysville - St. Clair River June 29
days full of fun. On Friday and Saturday, M29 along the
river is closed off for the Avenue of Vendors, Carnival, Algonac - St. Clair River June 30

& Beer Tents. Race boats are lined up along the road, Belle Maer/MacRay - Anchor Bay July 4
with pit crews around to talk, while you listen to great
live music played on the waterfront with big name acts.
I'm not sure if we had more fun seeing the boats on St. Clair - St. Clair River July 4

shore or during the race! Seeing all the boats on shore Port Huron - St. Clair River July 14

was really awesome.
The racing on Sunday is free to watch and there is plenty
of viewing
River closures will be in place from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM local
along the time. At the decision of Coast Guard PATCOM, traffic may be al-
lowed between races. Mariners are advised to listen to the regu-
waterfront lar marine information broadcasts on their VHF-FM marine radio
and may contact the Coast Guard Patrol Commander on VHF-FM
in the park. Channel 16. There could be closures also on Saturday from 11-
6pm during boat testing.
There are

several rac-

es, which

start around

noon, and

Great viewing along the run through
St. Clair boardwalk the after-
noon. Boats

are grouped by speed class, with separate races running for each

class. Steve Brunner, Blue Water Off-

shore Race Association president and

race chairman said the St. Clair River

Classic is the second largest race of

its kind in the United States, with about

45 to 50 boats expected to compete. The 50' Mystic - World's fastest offshore
catamaran at 213 MPH with twin T-55
Boats range in speeds from approxi- Chinook Helicopter Turbines - 6000 HP

mately 200 mph with the turbine-pow-

ered Miss Geico to other offshore boats

seeing 70mph.

Canadian Viewing - The best viewing spot on the Cana-

dian side of the river is from Mooretown to Courtright.

Attention boaters on the St. Clair River .....River clo-
sure for Sunday, July 29, 2012 – This closure applies to ALL non-
commercial vessel

traffic (pleasure and

fishing craft). Coast

Guard PATCOM will

begin enforcing the

established safety

zone at 11:00 AM.

The author, publisher, or seller assumes no liability with respect to the use of information contained herein. Page 10