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Gros Cap shrouded in smoke prior to yacht race start.

As we approached the starting line for the 2007 Trans Superior International Yacht Race today, all of Gros Cap was enveloped in smoke.

Water bombers could be seen in the air and the consensus among race officials was that a forest fire must be nearby.

There wasn't enough breeze to turn the turbines atop the bluff.

But by some miracle of either nature or the deity responsible for yacht-racing, most of the smoke had cleared by the time the red flag was raised, sending about 35 yachts on their way across the big lake, 338 nautical miles to entrance to the ship canal in Duluth, Minnesota.

Marketed as "a race for serious sailors," the Trans Superior International Yacht Race is held once every two years, under the auspices of the Duluth Yacht Club, the Lake Superior Yachting Association and the Algoma Sailing Club.

Race divisions include an open class for multihulled boats, a cruising class, as well as single-handed and double-handed classes.

Winners will be recognized at an awards party on Thursday, August 9 in Duluth.

The weather forecast for tonight is calling for partly cloudy conditions with southeast winds from five to 10 knots.

SooToday.com photographed the race start today from Roy Wilson's tub Queensville, and later today, we hope to add additional photos to the image gallery below.

Each boat is carrying a satellite transponder and the progression of the race can be tracking online through link on the official website.