Crew from Naval Academy readying for race to Mackinac Island

McKenna Golat, Port Huron Times Herald
·3 min read
Colin Caraher tightening a safety line to the Avenger while Isabelle Navolio scrubs the hull below at Desmond Marine on July 10, 2023.
Colin Caraher tightening a safety line to the Avenger while Isabelle Navolio scrubs the hull below at Desmond Marine on July 10, 2023.

An Avenger is coming to Port Huron, but not the Marvel kind.

A crew from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis will be participating in the Port Huron-to-Mackinac Island Sailboat Race on Saturday. The crew opted to tow the boat to Michigan using a commercial truck.

Pete Carrico, the safety officer and coach on board, is the only member of the crew who has been in the race before. He said the crew is excited and ready to take on the race.

The seven-member crew will be sailing on a 34-foot-long J-105 vessel that they have dubbed the Avenger. Carrico said the boat's red hull makes it hard to miss.

"We let the midshipmen name the boats, and they are often named after prior naval vessels and aircraft," he said. "There's a World War II aircraft named the Avenger that our boat signifies."

Pete Carrico preparing the mast for the Avenger at Desmond Marine on July 10, 2023.
Pete Carrico preparing the mast for the Avenger at Desmond Marine on July 10, 2023.

The crew arrived in Port Huron on Monday to get the boat ready and practice a bit before the race. The Avenger will be one of the over 200 boats sailing Saturday morning for the 99th Bayview to Mackinac Race. The race is the last of Blue Water Fest's festivities.

The last time Carrico participated in the race was in 2001. He said he's looking forward to being back in the Port Huron area and seeing the other boaters. He said the Avenger crew has been practicing in saltwater races in Annapolis, so it will be interesting to race in fresh water.

"These are still big waters," he said. "We have a lot of respect for the Great Lakes."

Nate Bramwell working on the Avenger's bow at Desmond Marine on July 10, 2023.
Nate Bramwell working on the Avenger's bow at Desmond Marine on July 10, 2023.

Pat Fisher is a skipper on the Avenger and will be in charge of leading the boat and making tactile decisions during the race. Originally from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Fisher has previous experience sailing in the Great Lakes. He said sailing the Great Lakes is a whole different experience from sailing in the ocean.

"The Great Lakes have different conditions compared to sailing in the ocean for sure," Fisher said. "They have different waves, different weather, which makes the experience more challenging in some ways, but also a lot of fun."

Fisher is currently a senior at the Naval Academy and is on track to graduate in May 2024.

Pat Fisher, left; Elliot Brandicourt, middle; and Isabelle Navolio, right scrubbing the Avenger's hull at Desmond Marine on July 10, 2023. The Avenger crew is made up of midshipmen from the U.S Naval Academy.
Pat Fisher, left; Elliot Brandicourt, middle; and Isabelle Navolio, right scrubbing the Avenger's hull at Desmond Marine on July 10, 2023. The Avenger crew is made up of midshipmen from the U.S Naval Academy.

Carrico said the advisory committee for the Naval Academy's sailing program suggested the race could potentially help recruit interested sailors. He said there would be a chance other racers could meet with midshipmen and talk about a future within the Naval Academy.

Carrico said the crew will be docked at the Port Huron Yacht Club until the race and that people are welcome to stop by.

"We're always approachable," he said. "We'll be honorary Michiganders with how friendly we are."

Colin Caraher prepping one of the Avenger's safety lines at Desmond Marine on July 10, 2023.
Colin Caraher prepping one of the Avenger's safety lines at Desmond Marine on July 10, 2023.

Carrico will be retiring later this year after working at the sailing center in the Naval Academy for 34 years.

"This is kind of my swan song," he said.

Fisher said the midshipmen crew is excited to be in the race. He said the race is a great opportunity and is one of the many unique events that take place within the Great Lakes.

The boats are slated to start the race at 11:30 a.m., Saturday. People can watch at the yacht club, or watch them enter Lake Huron from the banks of the St. Clair River.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.

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This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Naval Academy crew readying for race from Port Huron to Mackinac Island