LELAND -- Several sailors in the Race to Mackinac were forced to take refuge at the Leland Harbor Marina.
The damage included a broken mast, a broken boom, ripped sails as well as deck damage. The skipper of "Free Agent", Miles Depaepe, said emergency communication was also made difficult by the storm.
"The Coast Guard did try and get a hold of us but with the radio communication partially damaged even our emergency handheld radios, because of low altitude, made it difficult to communicate with the Coast Guard. But we did a relay system with another boat to communicate to the Coast Guard or the race committee so people knew we were safe and making way to harbor," said Depaepe.
No crew members taking refuge in the Leland Harbor were hurt. The ten people on the 'Free Agent' will head back to Chicago in the next few days.
