Welcome to the official team website for the carbon-fiber racing yacht 'Seagoon' - a ILC 46 Farr Designed and build by South African boatbuilders Robertson and Caine. Campaigned by a highly dedicated team of relative novices, Jackal was built in 1993 and continue to remain competetive today. Recently, owner Dale Smirl has resurrested her and has enabled regular racing in a mixed fleet, but we've also kept on adding to the boat's image, as someone told us that 'image is everything'.
Seagoon Racing may be an amateur racing entity, but that doesn't mean we have to behave like the part-time yachtsmen we are. Far from it. We've decided to campaign the yacht with all the professionalism possible: The really gung-ho ocean racers all have their websites on their booms, and in the spirit of yachting, we've decided to join them.
Strictly Sail - Chicago - Posted on 29 Jan 2009 by Seagoon Admin
Show Opens Today—Come See What's New! Escape the cold and get ready for this year’s sailing season at the Midwest’s ONLY all-sail boat show. See more than 250 exhibitors from around the globe—shop the latest boat designs and the newest in sailing gear, accessories and hardware from sailing’s top names. Learn more.
Happy Holidays from Seagoon Racing - Posted on 12 Dec 2008 by Seagoon Admin
Well the season is over and the boat is squared away for the winter season here in Chicago. As the crew of Seagoon Racing prepares to celebrate the holiday with family and friends we wanted to take this time to thank all those who have helped and supported us throughout the 2008 season.
2008 was very successful and after the holidays we will continue to prep for what we hope will be a very successful 2009 season.
Mark your calendars for the 2009 Chicago Strictly Sail show that runs January 29th through February 1st 2009 at Chicago's Navy Pier.
Happy Holidays and a Happy New Years from Seagoon Racing.
Tri-State Regatta - Port-to-Port Series - Posted on 28 Aug 2008 by Seagoon Admin
The annual Tri-State Regatta begins Friday evening with a 50.5 nautical
mile night race from Chicago, across Lake Michigan, to St. Joseph,
Michigan. On Sunday, the fleet will race 28.9 miles from St. Joseph to
Michigan City, Indiana and on Monday, Labor Day, we will race 31.3
miles from Michigan City back to Chicago.
This coming Labor Day weekend will be the last three races in the Port-to-Port Long Distance Boat-of-the-Year (BOY) Series. Seagoon is currently standing in 2nd place 10 points out of 1st. The boat and crew are ready to make up some ground and take first place.Current Standings:
Life on the Edge - Posted on 19 Aug 2008 by Seagoon Admin
I have come across a video produced by Quantum Sails TP52 racing team of what life is like sailing extremely fast aboard a TP52. Imagine the possibilities.
2008 Chicago Verve Cup Regatta: 2nd Place Finish - Posted on 18 Aug 2008 by Seagoon Admin
Seagoon went into a 3-day buoy regatta hosted by the Chicago Yacht Club with high hope and a determined crew after having a less than perfect performance in two previous buoy regatta. Racing in a PHRF fleet that consisted of a TP52, N/M50, Farr 50 as well as other very competitive PHRF machines, Seagoon was conisitant to say the least.
The team finished the first day of racing with three consecutive 4th place finishes. Going into Day #2 the team was more determine to finish better than 4th. Race #4 saw the team finish in 6th place followed by another 4th place finsh. At the end Day #2 with 5 races in the books it was difficult for the team to overcome being in the bottom of the fleet, but perseverance was the teams motto.
Going into Day #3 the team needed to pull out all of the stops to reclaim and places in the results. The team finished Day #3 with two 2nd place finishes putting the team and boat into 2nd place for the regatta.
Congratulations to the team for finishing strong in the last major 3-day buoy regatta of the 2008 Season.
August 9, 2008: Kathy Zukasky Memorial - Posted on 18 Aug 2008 by Seagoon Admin
Another day of Boat of the Year buoy racing. After finishing a disappointing 6th place in race one, the team finished strong with a 2nd place finish in Race #2 and end up in 4th place overall for the 2 race regatta.
Racing was tough going up against two Santa Cruz 70's and a N/M 50.
August 8 2008: Fran Byrne - Posted on 18 Aug 2008 by Seagoon Admin
The boat and crew made the delivery back from Mackinac Island safely and in one-piece. Special thanks to Eric Rahmel, Tony Velazquez and Tim Hord for delivering the boat home.
It is now time to get back into bouy racing. The Fran Byrne is the next race on the LMSRF Area 3 Boat of the Year schedule.
The 100th Mac is now a part of history! - Posted on 18 Aug 2008 by Seagoon Admin
Thanks to Mother Nature, the 100 Chicago to Mackinac Race was able to provide a very challenging Race: light, shifting breezes, dense fog banks, beating, reaching, running, and for some, maddening thunderstorm clusters. Congratulations to the over 4,000 sailors and 460 boats who participated in this year's Race.
Seagoon finished on Monday evening at 17:07:57 with an elapsed time of 51:17:57 and a corrected time of 54:34:56. We corrected into the middle of a very competitive Section 1.
The team and friends had a great time and looking forward to planning for next year 101th Mac.
2008 Race to Mackinac - Posted on 21 Jul 2008 by Seagoon Admin
The historic 100th running of the Mac Race started on Saturday, July 19th and the crew of Seagoon is ready.
This year the Chicago Yacht Club Race Committee has mandated that transponders be attached to every boat racing. Everyone landlocked can follow the action online. Seagoon can be tracked at [HERE]
Video from the start of the 100th running of the Race to Mackinac:
July 6 2008: Mayor Daley - Posted on 21 Jul 2008 by Seagoon Admin
After delivering the boat back home and finding some time to spend with family and friends for the July 4th celebrations the team was back racing buoy races again the in Columbia Yacht Club Mayor Daley Regatta.
The first race did not pan out well with a 7th place finish. But the team regrouped and concluded with a 3rd place finish in the second race. This put the team in 5th place for the Regatta. One point out of 4th and 3 out of finishing 3rd.
June 27 2008: 70th Annual Queens Cup - Posted on 21 Jul 2008 by Seagoon Admin
After coming off a great 2nd place finish in the Waukegan to Chicago Race the weekend before, the Team of Seagoon was looking forward to a great 69nm race across Lake Michigan.
The winds of Lake Michigan did not fair well for the team. We did manage to finish the race in 7 hours and 39 minutes however a few mores team we able to take better advantage of the conditions presented.
June 22 2008: Waukegan to Chicago - Posted on 21 Jul 2008 by Seagoon Admin
The crew of Seagoon seems once again to find their way home
successfully from Waukegan. Seagoon was 3rd to finish and finished in
2nd place in Section 1 for this annual Long Distance, Boat of the Year
Race.
June 7-8 2008: Color Regatta - Posted on 21 Jul 2008 by Seagoon Admin
The fleet of boats racing saw over 30kt gusts on both days of racing. While the team did not take any bullets consistency and getting the boat around the race course in one piece safely gave the team a 2nd Place finish.
This was a great weekend and the crew is now looking forward to some tight racing for the upcoming Chicago NOOD Regatta next weekend.
Seagoon takes 2nd in Long Distance Race - Posted on 01 Jun 2008 by Seagoon Admin
The start of the 2008 LMSRF - Long Distance Series started on Saturday, May31st 2008 with Seagoon taking 2nd in the Columbia Yacht Club Long Distance Race.
The course was a 29.6nm course up and down the Chicago lake front. Seagoon finished at 13:44:51 with an elapsed time of 3 hours 54 minutes and 51 seconds. Corrected time was 4:06:41. Seagoon corrected out to 2nd in section.
2008 Seagoon Racing Schedule - Posted on 01 May 2008 by Seagoon Admin
After a longer winter the 2008 racing season is fast approaching. The boat and crew have been working hard on implementing new upgrades for Seagoon and are looking forward to the start of the racing.
The Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation (LMSRF) Boat of the Year (BOY) schedule has been posted for both bouy and port-to-port (P2P) races.
Seagoon Wins the 2007 Chicago Leukemia Cup - Posted on 30 Oct 2007 by Seagoon Admin
Great day and greater cause, the crew of Seagoon along with family and friends competed in the 2007 Chicago Leukemia Cup sponsored by the Columbia Yacht Club.
Seagoon was the first to finish and won the PHRF Division 1 section beating several bigger boat such as "Nitemare" (Santa Cruz 70).
Video from the 2007 Race to Mackinac - Posted on 23 Jul 2007 by Seagoon Admin
Slowest Race to Mackinac in over 45+ years - Posted on 23 Jul 2007 by Seagoon Admin
This years Race to Mackinac saw a great down wind start and provided our boat an opportunity to fly some of its newest sails allowing us to quickly start passing boats.
This is by far both the fastest and slowest Mac in years. The strong breeze and small craft advisory at the start of the race on Saturday, July 14 was in no way an indication of what was to come, proving the unpredictability of Lake Michigan. The boats flew across the start line with their colorful spinnakers flying in the strong winds. Some boats report going over 25 knots. And then the wind died.
Seagoon's finished the race with an elapsed time of 49 hours, 44 minutes and 12 seconds. We finished in 5th in a very strong Section 1. 1 minute and 32 seconds out of 4th and 2 minutes and 46 seconds out of finishing in 3rd place.
On Tuesday morning of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, normally the day when the preparations for the afternoon awards ceremony & Mt Gay Rum Party are made, over half the fleet is was still on the water. Only 108 boats have finished, and 19 have retired. There are still 172 boats on the lake, and they are trying to catch any puff of breeze they can.
We’ll have to wait until 2008, the 100th running of the world’s longest annual freshwater sailing race to see if the record can be broken. For all the section winners click here. Congratulations Racers. We look forward to the 100th running of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac next year on July 19, 2008.
99th running of the Race to Mackinac - Posted on 11 Jul 2007 by Seagoon Admin
Year after year they come. 99 years to be exact. Over 3,000 sailing enthusiasts will take part in the 333-mile race from Chicago to Mackinac Island, Michigan, during the world’s longest and most prestigious annual freshwater race. The Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, better known as “The Mac,” will weigh anchor and set sail on Saturday, July 14, 2007.
Starting in 1898 with a mere five boats, The Mac has evolved into a world class sporting event. Although the Mac remains primarily an amateur event, this race has a proven track record of attracting some of the finest sailing talent in the sport.
The owner and crew of Seagoon are ready and will be competing in a very competitive Section 1 that comprises the fastest boats in the race:
The day will begin with the parade of boats by the east end of Navy Pier as sailors honor the race's long and colorful history, while family, friends and the curious looked on. Come out and cheer on Team Seagoon as she passes by. It will end 333-miles later as boat cross between Mackinac Island and the Round Island Light House.
Sail hard, sail fast, be safe and see you on the island.
"This is recognized as one of the most challenging and exciting sail boat races in the world on one of the most unpredictable bodies of water in the world."
Seagoon takes line honors in the Navy Cutlass Race - Posted on 25 Jun 2007 by Seagoon Admin
Sunday, June 24th Seagoon takes line honors for the annual Great Lakes Yacht Club - Navy Cutlass Waukegan - Chicago long distance race and finishes 2nd in PHRF 1 on corrected time.
Seagoon takes home 2nd Place in the 2007 Chicago NOOD Regatta - Posted on 18 Jun 2007 by Seagoon Admin
Dale Smirl starts off his second full season with Seagoon with a bang. After a long winter project of removing all deck hardware and re-painting and re-assembling the boat and only one weekend of bouy racing before the Chicago NOOD, the Team of Seagoon finishes 2nd in a very tight PHRF 1 section of the 2007 Chicago NOOD.
After the second day we were in third place one point behind Tyrant (N/M 43) and two point behind Pinball Wizard (Farr 49). Sunday saw Seagoon sail very well up/down wind to take a 1st place in Race #3 and place us into a 1st tie with Tyrant. the last race (Race #4) was a knife fight with Tyrant. While we managed to finish in front of her we lost out on corrected time.
A BIG BIG thanks you to the crew who did a great job in the second regatta of the 2007 season. But most of all thanks to Dale Smirl who has given us a great toy to play with!
Next weekend is a small long distance tune-up race from Chicago to Waukegan (Saturday, June 23rd) and back on sunday (June 24th).
Place
#
Boat Name
Owner
Rating
Boat Type
R 1
R 2
R 3
R 4
Total
1
50218
Tyrant
Don M. Thinschmidt
-15
Nelson Marek 43
1
4
2
2
9
2
2001
Seagoon
Dale L. Smirl
-24
Farr ILC 46
3
3
1
5
12
3
52555
Goblin
Lindy Thomas
-36
N/M 50
7
1
4
4
16
4
48008
Wild Horses
Rick K. Hennig
-30
1d48
6
5
3
3
17
5
38008pw
Pinball Wizard
Leszek Ziolkowski
-39
Farr 49
2
2
5
9
18
6
2615
Scout
Jamie Hummert
15
Sydney 41
4
6
8
1
19
7
52496
Sue
James Moller
6
Farr 42
5
7
6
10
28
8
52144
Eagle Wings
John Gottwald
12
Grand Soleil 44
9
10
7
6
32
9
46892
Fine Line
Rich Montplaisir
-18
Nelson Merek
8
9
9
7
33
10
51356
Jeannine
Jack Roeser
0
J125
10
11
10
8
39
11
26
Renegade
Thomas Papoutsis
15
J133
11
8
11
12
42
12
52192
Patriot
Michael A. Duncan
15
J/133
12
12
12
11
47
Seagoon Fundraising Opportunity - Posted on 11 Jun 2007 by Seagoon Admin
First Race of the Season - Posted on 11 Jun 2007 by Seagoon Admin
This past weekend Seagoon competed in her first Regatta of the 2007 Season. The Colors regatta hosted by Columbia Yacht club provided us an opportunity to work out and issues and prep for this coming weekend Chicago NOOD Regatta.
2007 Columbia Yacht Club Colors Regatta - Posted on 08 Jun 2007 by Seagoon Admin
Seagoon is ready for her first major regatta of the 2007 Seagoon. With much thanks for the crew and family Seagoon is ready with her newly painted painted deck & hardware, the addition of new hardware, sails and an eager crew this will be a a good test and warm-up to the 2007 Chicago NOOD Regatta next weekend.
Please join us for the post racing activities at Columbia Yacht Club: Friday, June 8th: Sign-in at Columbia YC from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Columbia FREE BEER. The Skippers Meeting follows at 7:30 PM.
The Race Committee is scheduled to run 3 race on both Saturday (06/09/07) and Sunday (06/10/07). Boat call is 7am each day with the first warning signal on Saturday and Sunday scheduled for 10:00 hrs.
Seagoon Launch and boat delivery - Posted on 29 May 2007 by Seagoon Admin
Thank you to everyone for their help and to everyone's better half who ave supported us getting the boat ready to go sailing.
Update: Tuesday, May 29th Seagoon has a fresh new "Madderhorn White" deck and new non-skid along with jet black Wheel, Coffee Grinder and hatch boards. We will be getting black sheet bags as well. Check out seagoonracing.com/album to view images from this years boat yard work. I'll have more images tomorrow.
Update: Wednesday, May 30th Seagoon gets splashed. The boat will be put into the water on Wednesday. Bernie and Dale will be delivering the boat to the can in Monroe Harbor. We plan on leaving the boat yard by 11am. Anyone want to joins us for a boat ride up the lake please joins us and let me know you are coming.
Update: Thursday/Friday, May 31/June/1 Dale is picking up the goose neck and getting everything to the boat that we will need.
Update: Saturday: June 1st Prep the boat for racing at the dock. After the boat as been prepped it will go out for a sail. and be ready for Sunday Long Distance Race.
Update: Sunday, June 2nd LMSRF - A3 Long Distance Classic Race. A 34.9nm long distance race that starts and ends in Chicago. Seagoon will use this as an opportunity to check out the boat and get everyone re-acclimated to sailing Seagoon. This will be our only opportunity before the Color Regatta (Saturday/Sunday, June 9/10) the following weekend. See attach images
Please reply back with your availability. This will help us in organizing that we have enough resources to go sailing.
Hope everyone one had a good weekend and is ready to go sailing once again on the new and improved Seagoon.
Seagoon re-build - Posted on 24 May 2007 by Seagoon Admin
SEAGOON - Update: 05/24/07 Last weekend with the help of most of the crew we managed to get the boat a little closer to sailing. With the good weather the deck is to the point of one base coat applied.
Memorial Day Weekend: If you are available, this coming weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon) May 25-28, we will need as many hands available to finish the gloss and non-skid coats after which the boat will start re-assembly.
09:00am Boat Call
2006 Fall Boat Yard Work - Posted on 08 Nov 2006 by Seagoon Admin
Even though the sailing season has concluded the Seagoon
crew is still hard at work getting the boat ready
for the 2007 Season which starts in 6 months.
Many of the crew showed up the weekend of November 3rd
& 4th to kick some major butt on getting the boat torn apart. Thank you to all who could help. Friday was cold and
Saturday was wet and cold.
Most of the deck
hardware has been removed to ready the boat for a new deck. All that is left
is to remove is the Coffee grinder and the last winch holding up the
rig. Then it is time to start filling
holes and sanding. Get ready for the sanding party.
I really cant believe how fast the boat came apart now if we can only remember
how it all goes back without parts left over. Well that's my up date for this
week will talk to you all later and try to get our next work date organized very
shortly.
Thanks again to those that helped and those that
couldn't don't worry there is plenty to do yet you will get your
time... The crew of Seagoon prepare the kevlar wheel for transport to be repaired.
You can view more photos of the weekend activities HERE.
Open Crew Positions on Seagoon - Posted on 28 Jan 2006 by Seagoon Admin
Seagoon will be sailing an aggressive racing campaign for 2006. This include the LMSRF - AREA 3 BOY Series (including all port-to-ports), as well as several other races including Queen's Cup, Chicago NOOD, Chicago to Mackinac Race, and Verve Cup.
In order to compete on this higher level we have several crew opportunities. If your interested in committing to sailing and playing hard while having an Orange Whip at sun-rise on Long Distance Races then we want you!
Please e-mail crew@seagoonracing.com if your interested in racing a big boat.
Seagoon Preparing to Campaign 2006 - Posted on 26 Jan 2006 by Seagoon Admin
Progress on the boat upgrades has started. Seagoon is scheduled to be sailing by the beginning of May and from that date will be ready to campaign in 2006.
An exciting schedule of racing in the USA is available to potential sponsors in what will undoubtedly be one of the most exciting sailing seasons to date. Download the pitch document here to find out more.
Stay posted for more news on Seagoon in the weeks ahead.
