This is a picture of what we think was a Beneteau 40.7 Returning from the Chicago to Mackinac race last Thursday (July 19). It was headed into the channel at from Lake Michigan to Portage Lake (Onekama, MI). The big lake was very rough and they were evidently headed for refuge. Chart depth for the channel is 12 feet but it is shoaled up to 5 feet or less. There were no funds available for channel dredging this year. Unfortunatley, they went aground on the way in with 4 to 5 foot waves. A private tug, in an attempt to pull them off, apparently broke off the keel. With Coast Guard assistance everybody got off safely, but this is what was left:
