Category Archives: Spring Series

Results for the Spring racing series.

Spring Series Week #1 Updates

Good morning ALCA members!
If anyone needs crew for today let me know. I will be bringing my friend Ananda down to the boat launch to show her what a Tuesday night at Austin Lake is all about! She has sailing experience and I have set her up with a trap harness, just in case 😉 We will be shore support for whoever needs us as well for rigging and launching boats.
-Nicole Berkel

I show 59° water temp on the east side of the lake. -Dave Stiemsma

Well that averages us at 66.5° lol —Fair Winds
Walter (Wall-E) Elsner ALCA Fleet 519 Secretary

Spring Series Week #1 – May 17, 2022

Hello everyone, 
Well it’s FINALLY here! Our spring season starts Tomorrow (Tuesday, May 17, 2022)!!!! This week may not be as warm as last but the forecast is looking pretty good from here reports of water temps in the mid 60s and forecasted air temps to be about the same, generally sunny winds WNW pretty steady right around 10 mph. should make for a pretty good night of racing. REMEMBER it’s still very much wetsuit weather so dress smart. Any potential cancellations will be communicated via email and facebook.
Race committee for the night will be Dave Dunlap on Jeff Daanes Pontoon. Thanks in advance guys. Remember to check in with Race Committee once you are on the water and notify them of any changes from how you are registered.  
After sailing (or in the event of a cancellation) we will be meeting at Jac’s Cekola’s Portage  https://jacscekolaspizza.com/ I would encourage people with boats to park either in the back or to the north (by Habitat or Colonial Kitchen)7640 S Westnedge Ave, Portage, MI 49002 https://goo.gl/maps/Fe9YfKVtfKPeeiKJA

If I missed anything or have more information for you stay tuned. —
Fair Winds
Walter (Wall-E) ElsnerALCA Fleet 519 Secretary CRAM H-16 Fleet Captain

Water Temp update… Jerry Mohney says he’s got 74 degrees at the end of his dock!!! 

ALCA Sailing Reminders

Hello All,
I hope you are all as excited as I am. Tuesday May 17th is our first day of racing for this year!!!
First start will be at 6:30 PM.  Stay tuned to your emails and our facebook page for potential cancellations as well as further updates and the “Weather According to Wall-E” prior to racing. 
However if you are like me you may also find yourself with some last minute boat projects to get done! Below is a very good Safety checklist put together by Dave Stiemsma to go through before you consider hitting the water. This is of course not all inclusive…
If you have ANY questions or are in search of parts please reach out!  
Let’s start with SAFETY (it’s no accident)–
Fair Winds
Walter (Wall-E) ElsnerALCA Fleet 519 Secretary CRAM H-16 Fleet Captain

Catamaran Sailing Checklist

Mast: If you leave your boat rigged with the mast up this may be the only chance you have to inspect the standing rigging for the season.
Check that the mast is straight, sight down the length of the mast with the groove up and you can pull the halyard tight to give you a nice line of sight. Be sure the mast is sealed, any loose rivets can create a leak. You might be able to hear the water rush when the mast is lifted from level. Inspect the top pulley, it should be free to turn. Comp tip mast head can easily be damaged and not allow the halyard crimp to pass. Also take a look at the hook/fork on top to be sure it’s not bent. Clean the sail track of debris by running a short piece of line with a knot in it, slide it end to end.
Cables:  Most cables break at or in between the crimps or swage. Look for an unnatural twist or bulge in the strands of the braid. Be sure the clevis at the top is assembled correctly and is tight. The screw should be locked with a wire or at least taped to prevent it coming loose. Don’t forget the bridle, bow tangs and hull anchor points, all should be tight.
Trapeze: Inspect the line for wear, replace often with a good quality line. Check the plastic stoppers as they are known to break. No worse feeling watching your boat sail away without you.
Mast Base: The rounded end should be smooth and free of burrs, check the righting pin and hardware. Be sure to use a good teflon chip and that it stays centered under the mast. In the event you lose your chip you can use a Gatoraid cap or 1/2 of a wiffle golf ball.
Righting Line: Be sure it’s long enough to do the job, it needs to be 14 foot or so, tied to the dolphin stryker and tossed up and over the hull. Use a diameter line that you can easily grip. If you have the elastic type that goes all the way around the boat be sure it is free of the shrouds.
Personal Gear: Don’t forget to check your wetsuit, boots, gloves and life jacket for proper fit and function.
Trailers: Be sure to check tire pressure (including spare), lights chains and wheel hubs (grease if need be) check your boat and mast is secured before putting on any miles and follow the 1,10,100 rule and check after 1 mile, 10 miles and 100 miles. 
More to come on tuning before Tuesday but if you have individual questions feel free to ask.
See you on the water, — Dave Stiemsma

Spring Series Week #2 – May 11, 2021

Alright everyone, round 2. 

Tomorrow is week 2 of our spring series, I think we are in a little better condition this week than last. The forecast is calling for mid 50s but SUNNY with winds 10 to 12 mph gusting 14… The water more than likely hasn’t had much of a chance to warm since last week when the temp was reported to be 60 degrees by shore.  It feels like temp (windchill) is predicted to be around 48 degrees. All that being said, make sure to check Facebook/email for potential cancellations and if we do race make sure to dress appropriately and be safe.

Please dress warm! 

Inexperienced sailors please come out with a crew while it’s cold like this.

First start sequence is at 6:30 PM

Dave Dunlap is RC this week so thanks in advance for the effort Dave! 

Summer is coming! (eventually) 

Fair Winds-

Spring Series Begins 5/3/16

Tomorrow is our first Tuesday for the Spring Series, with sunny skies, temps in the low 60’s and 5 to 7 mph WNW winds.  First starting sequence is scheduled for 6:30 pm.  After the races, we meet at Brewster’s on Portage, for results.  If you have yet to join for 2016, remember to bring your money or checkbook to join – I will have forms.  Our new PRO, Jerry Mohney will discuss the new set up for weekly race chair and committee boating staffing sign-ups.
Remember, we are racing two fleets, Portsmouth A and Portsmouth B with one start for the 2016 Spring Series.

Final Results for 2015 Sailing Series All Posted

The Final Results of the Spring Portsmouth, Summer A Portsmouth and Summer B Portsmouth series racing is now posted on the Results page.

Based on the number of sailors in the “core fleets” (sailors that sailed at least 60% of the actual races raced in the series) for each fleet, and going at LEAST 50% deep into a core fleet, year end trophies will be awarded as follows:

Spring Portsmouth Fleet:  10 Races raced, 10 races x 60% = 6 races (sailors who raced at least 6 races in the Spring series are part of the “core fleet”), 19 Sailors in core fleet, 19 sailors x 50% = trophies awarded to 10th place.

Summer Portsmouth B Fleet:  17 Races raced, 17 races x 60% = 10 races (sailors who raced at least 10 races in the Summer series are part of the “core fleet”), 8 Sailors in core fleet, 8 sailors x 50% = trophies awarded to 4th place.

Summer Portsmouth A Fleet:  17 Races raced, 17 races x 60% = 10 races (sailors who raced at least 10 races in the Summer series are part of the “core fleet”), 12 Sailors in core fleet, 12 sailors x 50% = trophies awarded to 6th place.

Awards for the Most Improved New and Seasoned Skipper will be awarded at the year end banquet on Saturday, October 3, 2015.

Sailors that didn’t qualify for one of the above trophies are eligible for a participation brass plate to add to their trophy base, if they sailed at least 50% of the actual races for the ENTIRE YEAR.  The cost of the brass plate is $5.00.  If you are eligible for the participation brass plate and don’t yet have a trophy base, you will be provided with one free of charge.

All fleet members that are eligible for one (or more trophies) or a participation plate, will be contacted via email by Andy Lenczycki during the week of September 21, 2015 to get any specific information required for your individual brass plate.  If I haven’t gotten a response back by Friday, September 25, you may not get a plate (or it may not display the full/correct data).

Week 7 Spring Series (6/16/15)

Three major items on the agenda for this week’s e-mail:

  1. You all should have received another invite for the committee boat sign-up page.  We have been fortunate to have Dave D, Steve C. and Jeff D. provide a pontoon boat for the Spring Series, thanks guys!  However, we only have a single 2 week slot signed up for summer, and that’s by Dave S. in August (thanks Dave!). WE NEED BOATS FOR JULY, or we will not be able to start the summer series!  You can forward your invite to anyone else you may think is interested – including non-fleet members who live on the lake.
  2. After sailing results this week is at the Taproom at the Airway Fun Center at 5626 Portage Rd. Portage, MI (see map below for trailer parking areas).  Next week and July 7th we go back to Brewster’s.  I think everyone enjoyed Brewster’s last week – I really appreciated their huge menu selection!  We will try to secure more Tuesday’s at Brewster’s if everyone likes it, but there is another group who has the room on alternate weeks, and we may need an alternate site.  The parking situation at Latitude 42 remains an issue, since even at 8 :45 pm on a Tuesday night, the parking lot is packed!
  3. 2015 ALCA Pontoon Boat Party:  We have a volunteer host location for the post float dinner, for July 18th or July 19th. (Thanks Jim and Kathy Kuk!).  During announcements this Tuesday, we will vote on these dates.  If anyone cannot attend either the July 18th or 19th (but would if it were on a different date) please let us know!

    Tap Room at Airway Lanes & Trailer Parking - Click on Pic for larger version.
    Tap Room at Airway Lanes & Trailer Parking – Click on Pic for larger version.