One of the greatest things that happened in my life is the Chicago Mackinac Race. Before the start of the race, I get this wonderful feeling that there is no place in the world that I would rather be or nothing else that I would rather be doing.

In last year’s Mac, a powerboat off Frankfort came out Sunday morning to tell us that we were leading the fleet. We could see the three boats behind us. From there to the Island, we had a great 4-boat race. We finished within five minutes of each other. We finished in third place! The racing, for us in our new 12-year old boat, was sensational!

It reminded me of the race three years ago, when three miles from the finish, we saw these green clouds coming at us. The prediction was 30-40 miles per hour winds. We knew that we only had to hold onto our position and with our time allowance we would win. Instead of 30-40 miles per hour winds, it came in at 70 to 80! We got the boat up to 23 miles per hour before we broke our mast.

I could go on and on and on, but “What a Great Life”!

John Nedeau is a member of the Island Goat’s Sailing Society (or Old Goats). To be an Old Goat you must have sailed in at least 25 Chicago Mackinac races. John Nedeau has currently sailed in 58 Chicago Mackinac races. He is the senior “Old Goat” and has not missed a “Mac” race since 1958. His current boat is Windancer VII a Santa Cruz 70.

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