The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac has been selected by US Sailing as the Qualifier for the inaugural edition of World Sailing’s Offshore World Championship to be held in October 2020 alongside the Rolex Middle Sea Race in Valletta, Malta. The format is a two-person mixed competition, and the boat selected for this US qualifier is the J/88. The Mackinac Race will have a special division for the Mixed Offshore Double-handed discipline, for both a one-design fleet as well as a rated ORC fleet in J/88s, in the 112th running of the 289nm race this summer. Non-mixed teams will also be able to participate but will have not be eligible for the qualifier. There will be six boats available for charter, but teams can also bring their own boats. Restricted sail choices and specialized safety equipment will apply to all competitors in the class. The US entry to the 2020 Offshore World Championships will be selected from one of the eligible teams competing in the Mixed Two Person division. Shorthanded sailing has gotten a boost by the new Olympic Mixed Offshore Double-handed event that is planned for the 2024 Olympic Games. The 112th edition will start July 17-18, 2020. The inspection, measurement and equalization process for all boats, sails and the complete list of required safety equipment will be specified in the Notice of Race of the Chicago-Mackinac Mixed Two Person division, which will be issued in January. Send an email to [email protected] if you are interested in applying for a charter boat, or if you have any other questions on this process. To learn more about the Mixed Offshore, visit https://www.ussailing.org/olympics/mixed-two-person-offshore-keelboat-2024/.