Port Huron to Mackinac race features nine boats with Flint-area owners
Fenton’s Win Cooper III and the crew of Shape are back to defend their PHRF B Class championship at this year’s Port Huron to Mackinac Yacht Race.Cooper, who co-owns the boat with Chris Benedict of Plymouth, has been sailing with his seven-member crew for some 20 years.
Shape, based at Port Huron Yacht Club, is one of nine yachts with local owners in the race which begins Saturday. That’s up from five local boats last year.
Flash, owned by Lapeer’s Tom Riley, was second in the Cruising B Class a year ago. His crew includes Lapeer’s jack Mirakian and Imlay City’s Henry Nichols. Flash is also based at Port Huron Yacht Club.
Also in the competition are Bernoulli, owned by Linden’s Mike Elliott and based at the Huron Yacht Club, and Quanta, owned by Metamora’s Garry Simmons. The crew also includes wife Rita Simmons, Rob Harris of Flushing and Swartz Creek’s Rob Covers.
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