News

Spring Series Week #5 – June 2, 2026

Hi ALCA!

Tomorrow is the 5th scheduled race night of the 2026 Spring Series and it’s supposed to be a gorgeous night!  We are looking at sunny skies with temperatures in the mid 70s with ENE winds at 5-10 mph, becoming light as the night progresses. Race Chair is John Koryto on his pontoon.

Remember to check in at the race committee boat when you get out on the water – the start sequence starts promptly at 6:30 pm.

After sailing we meet at Main St Grill on Westnedge Ave.

Remember – if we do not have a Race Chair, races will be cancelled – please sign up if you haven’t already done so.

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary

News, Series Racing

Spring Series Week #4 – May 27, 2026

Hiya!  

Wow, did someone turn on the light switch for summer or what?  We go from rainy drizzly chilly last Tuesday to beautiful sunny skies and warm temperatures for Memorial Day!  Hope you had a chance to enjoy today’s weather!  Tuesday is much of the same – YAY! – but with very light and possibly calm winds – BOO!  RC is the Rubino-Dunlap-Daane team once more.  Stay tuned to your email and Facebook for any cancellation if the wind doesn’t fill in.  We may still go to Main St if we don’t sail.  

Kathy – ALCA Secretary

Update – Racing is cancelled for tonight due to the wind (or lack thereof).

News, Series Racing, Spring Series

Spring Series Week #3 – May 19, 2026

Hi ALCA!

Tuesday is our 3rd Tuesday of scheduled racing, and once again, we are looking at potential strong storms in the afternoon.  RIght now, they may blow out of here by 5pm, but things may change.  Temps will be in the upper 70s, with cloudy skies, and falling to the 60s after the thunderstorms. Winds will be strong all day, 15-30 mph with gusts, however, after the storms blow through, winds are predicted to be 13-15 mph out of the WSW.  It’s all in the timing of these storms as to whether we will be able to set a course and race.  RC is yours truly, with assistance from Dave Dunlap on Jeff Daane’s pontoon.  As always, check into the committee boat when you get out on the water, and we will go to Main St. after sailing, or in the event of a cancellation – stay tuned to your email inbox and Facebook for announcements.

Attached is the membership form, which I will have blank copied at the bar.  

Kathy – ALCA Secretary  

News, Series Racing

Spring Series Week #2 – May 12, 2026

Hi ALCA!

Nice to see a few boats out braving the cold last week!  Thanks to Dave, Gail and Ananda for the race committee work!  They will be out there again tomorrow, unless mother nature has other plans. We are looking at slightly warmer temperatures, with a high of 65 degrees, under cloudy skies and a 30% chance of rain showers. Winds are forecasted to be SSW at 15-25 mph, which would be expected to lower the “feels like” temperature.  Again, dress appropriately, know your comfort zone when heading out on the water, as it may be gusty. Remember to check in with the committee boat before the first race. We will go to Main St. again after sailing. 

Attached are the Membership and Race Chairman forms.

– Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

UPDATE -4:20 PM May 12. 2026

Our RC Dave Stiemsma has cancelled the races tonight due to the weather.  Possible T-storms will bring strong gusty winds and rain, especially towards the end of the evening.  And who wants to de-rig in a storm?  

– cya next week!

Kathy 

News, Series Racing, Spring Series

ALCA Spring Series Begins 5/5/26

Greetings!

We gathered at Louie’s for our Spring meeting on April 19th and decided what our sailing seasons for 2026 will look like:  we will race two Portsmouth Fleets, A and B (we need 2 boats to make a fleet), with a single start at 6:30 pm on the following Tuesdays, which were voted on by the fleet members present at the meeting:  

8 Week Spring Series:   May 5th to June 23rd

8 Week Summer Series:  June 30th to August 25th (no racing on July 7th for the holiday break)

We plan to meet at Main Street Pub after racing for results as we did last year – stay tuned for the weekly racing emails in regard to this and other important information.

Thank you to those who have already paid their memberships – see attached for a form. Memberships can be either mailed to Faith Akert, or paid at the restaurant after sailing; cash or check accepted.  

Also a big thanks to Dave and Gail Stiemsma for offering to be our RC for the first two weeks to kick off the season, and thanks to Micahel Kucharski for volunteering for the last two weeks.  See attached for the sign up form and let us know, either by email, phone or at the bar if you would like to fill in the gaps.

That’s it for now, so get busy cleaning up your boats and making sure all working parts are in order!  

until next email (just before the first Tuesday) –

Kathy  – ALCA Secretary  

News, Series Racing

ALCA Spring Kick-Off Meeting

Sunday, April 19, 2026 at Louie’s Lake Bar & Grill 8946 S Sprinkle Rd, Portage, MI 49002

Hello Fleet!

With it being mid-April and these warmer temperatures – it’s that time again to meet and get our ducks in a row for our 2026 Sailing Season!  We have a room reserved at Louie’s Lake Bar & Grill, 8946 Sprinkle Rd. Portage. We will start at 3:00pm with social time and fleet provided snacks, then move on to our meeting and dinner. There is construction on Sprinkle, however, the road is open to local businesses – so ignore the road closed signs and make your way through the cones carefully!

This is a great time to reconnect with our sailing peeps, help shape what the sailing schedule will look like for 2026 (voting by 2025 members) and pay your membership dues. Attached is a form which can be printed, but I will have additional at the meeting, as well as sign ups for the race committees for each Tuesday. Be sure to bring cash or check for your dues. 

Hope everyone had a great weekend, especially today – either playing or getting all those outdoor chores done!

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

News, Series Racing

Save The Date – ALCA 2026 Spring Meeting

The fleet officers met on 3/12/26 and have set the 2026 Spring Meeting date for Sunday, April 19, 2026.

Happy Almost-Spring!

Wanted to get out a quick “Save-The-Date” for our spring meeting:  Sunday April 19th 3:00 pm at Louie’s Lake Bar on Sprinkle Road. We will have the back room to ourselves and can order off the menu – the fleet will supply some light appetizers to get us started. There is planned construction on Sprinkle Road and we will provide some helpful details as we get closer to the date – so watch your inbox.  

At this meeting we will discuss the upcoming sailing season, race format and fleets, and sailing members and social members will be voting on the sailing calendar as well. Membership forms will be available (at the meeting and I will attach it on the next communication) so be sure to bring either cash or check (if you are like many of us and write checks, lol).  Additionally, the officers have discussed having ALCA swag for a limited time for purchase – and need ideas of what you might be looking to get.  

There’s a lot more to get out before the meeting in the next communication – we will be in touch!  

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

Events, News

ALCA Year End Party/Brunch

Happy Fall!

I know it doesn’t feel like it, but it is October and I hope many of you have gotten to extend your sailing/water activities!  This is a reminder about the ALCA year-end celebration, which is a brunch at Louie’s Corner Bar in Texas Corners on Sunday, October 19th.  We will gather at 11:30 am for some snacks and cocktails, followed by a meal and trophy presentations.  Lastly we will be electing officers for the upcoming sailing season, if you are interested, this is the time to give back to the fleet!  

Commodore Wally Elsner has put together a survey for – please click on the following link and tell us what you think. If you are interested in one of the officer positions, please include your name in one of the comments.  https://form.jotform.com/252734405817055

RSVP either to Kathy Rubino or Julie Lenczycki

ALCA Brunch Sunday October 19th 11:30am

Louie’s Corner Bar (Texas Corners) 7177 W Q Ave. Kalamazoo, MI  49009

Thanks,

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary