Join other surf ski, SUP, sea kayak and stand up paddle board enthusiasts for the 7th annual 13.5 mile Michigan Waterways Festival Open Water Challenge/ Great Lakes Downwind Championship  Saturday, June 29, 2019. The open water race will take place in Lake Huron's Straits of Mackinaw. The Straits are known for great downwind conditions especially with prevailing Northwest winds.  This is the Great Lakes Downwind Championship!

This Unique course will start with the majestic Mackinaw Bridge and Mackinaw Island as a backdrop and proceed downwind to the mouth of the Cheboygan River (long course). The races  final mile will take racers past the coast guard cutter Mackinaw and various working barges and tug boats to the final finish under Cheboygan's pedestrian bridge. After a short walk across the bridge, participants will have the opportunity to swap stories at the post race party and awards ceremony at Festival Square. Paddlers can then continue their evening enjoying live bands and refreshments at the Michigan Waterways Festival in the heart of downtown Cheboygan.