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Not just for mega yachts: More young sailors tackling century-old Mackinac race

Picture this: You’re stuck on a boat for days with a bunch of other guys, nothing around but a breeze in the sail and open Lake Michigan water for miles.

What may sound to you like the premise of some new MTV survival show is very much reality for a group of 20-somethings who will compete in the 108^th annual Race to Mackinac this weekend.

David, Teddy, Hunter and Harrison are four of eight crew members who will race the Northstar, a J-109 sailboat owned and skippered by David Gustman. The Race to Mackinac, or “The Mac” for short, is the oldest and longest annual fresh water sailing race in the world, spanning 333 miles. The Mac starts at the Chicago Lighthouse just off Navy Pier and continues to Mackinac Island, located just above the tip of Michigan’s lower peninsula.

The Mac kicks off Saturday morning and if the weather cooperates, the Northstar should expect to reach its destination by Monday afternoon. And although half of the crew is younger than 30, their combined years of sailing experience far surpasses that number.

Hunter Gustman, 28, learned to sail at a young age from his father, David Gustman. In high school, Hunter joined the school’s sailing team and has been sailing recreationally and competitively ever since. His position on the crew is a trimmer or helmsman, which means he’s responsible for trimming (pulling in or letting out) the sails on the boat, including the main sail, jib or spinnaker.

David Gustman, 26, or “Davo” as the other crew members call him since his dad’s name is also David, is Hunter’s younger brother. His dad initially sparked his interest in sailing and he took lessons at the Sheridan Shore Yacht Club in Wilmette throughout his childhood. He got back into competitive sailing after college and also has roughly 20 years’ experience. Like his brother, he’ll be working as a trimmer on Northstar.

Teddy Berman, 24, has been sailing competitively for only eight or nine years. However, he found his passion for sailing as kid when he tried it at a summer camp. For the Mac, he’ll be a bowman, which means he helps take care of the front of the boat. “Our responsibility is to make sure all the sails get changed as quickly and smoothly as possible,” Berman said.

Harrison Faust, 23, is a West Lakeview resident who started sailing competitively six years ago when he joined the University of Wisconsin sailing team his freshman year. Along with Berman, Faust will also be a bowman for the race—which will be only the second Mac he’s raced in.

Once the adrenaline of starting the race wears off, the crew will break up into shifts of three or four people and rotate every few hours throughout the day and night to make sure there is someone racing the boat at all times, Hunter Gustman said.

“Every now and then there might be a few hours when it’s not really exciting or you’re waiting for something to happen, but there is never really a down moment,” Faust said. “You’re always trying to figure out what could make you go faster and you’re paying attention to the sails. There’s not a lot of time to goof off.”

But it’s not all serious tactical chatter and strategic banter. As you’d imagine with a boat full of guys and a “boat mom,” there is also a healthy level of competition among them.

“Teddy and I are from Madison, Wisconsin, and David, Davo and Hunter are from Michigan, so we have this big, fun Michigan and Wisconsin rivalry,” Faust said. “It all started when we were taping down lines on the boat using [University of Wisconsin-Madison] Badger duct tape. When the other crew would come up for their shift, they would put down [University of] Michigan duct tape.”

During downtime, the crew members are reading, listening to music, trying to sleep or … killing horse flies. Hey, whatever floats your boat!

“It’s funny, my brother and I have been notorious for killing as many flies on the boat as possible,” David Gustman said. “I occupy my time killing hundreds for fun, or thinking of new ways to capture and kill them.”

While two of the four young crew members live in different states, Hunter Gustman in Utah and Berman in Ohio, this will be the first year that they’ll all be coming together to race on the Northstar.

“Having Lake Michigan so close is a huge resource and a lot of people think it’s off limits to everyone except the wealthiest people with mega yachts, but it’s not,” Berman said.

Chicago is home to a fairly large sailing community, and the recognition of sailing as a sport is gaining steam across the U.S. In June, Chicago hosted a America’s Cup World Series event, with Lake Michigan serving as the first freshwater venue in the event’s 164-year history.

But while competitive sailboat racing may be seen as a sport of a more seasoned and older crowd, younger sailors are proving themselves worthy of crew positions.

“If you prove that you’re there and willing to learn, then people will treat you like a peer,” Faust said. “On the boat, more or less, everyone is equal if you prove yourself worthy of being there. I think the sailing community is extremely enthusiastic about young people’s interest and we’re looked highly upon.”

@RianneCoale | rcoale@redeyechicago.com