The fog lifted.
The sun broke through.
And steady, unidirectional winds prompted skippers to lower their spinnakers.
In short, it was a picture-perfect start to the world's longest freshwater yacht race.
The 18th Trans-Superior 2003 race from the Sault to Duluth got underway this afternoon from Gros Cap, with 24 boats participating.
The event, held every two years, is a handicapped race featuring multi-hulls, racers, cruisers and non-spinnaker entries.
Leading the pack off the start line was the Earth Voyager, a 60-foot multi-hull from Rochester, N.Y.
The trimaran holds the record for the 580-kilometre race, at under 27 hours.
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