CHICAGO (AP) -- The crews of more than 350 yachts have set sail in this year's Chicago-to-Mackinac Island race, a Lake Michigan tradition that's more than a century old.

Teams sailed throughout the day and overnight into Sunday on the 333 statute-mile course.

Last year's race was marred by the deaths of two crew members when their Kiwi 35-foot sport boat capsized during a storm.

An investigation by the governing body U.S. Sailing found the vessel's sails were too large for its weight under the conditions of a long overnight competition in an area known to have frequent violent thunderstorms.

Saturday's forecast called for sunny skies and modest south-southwest winds.

Beginning in 1898, Mackinac is the oldest annual freshwater distance race in the world. It takes about 24 hours to complete.