Hope everyone had a nice 4th of July and survived the heat! Tuesday’s forecast is for sunny skies, temps in the mid 80s and SW winds 5-10 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph in the evening. Dave Stiemsma is our race chair with Gail on the Race Committee. Please remember to sail past the committee boat to check in. After racing we go to Main St Pub on Westnedge.
Our Standard Sailing Instructions (SSI) are located HERE… new sailors should familiarize themselves with them.
An additional email will go out soon for the ALCA FLOAT Party on July 20th – please watch for it.
– Kathy ALCA Secretary
Update: Racing Cancelled Due to Low/Variable Winds
Yes, it’s now summer and absolutely sweltering out there! For sailing this Tuesday we are looking at yet another hot day, with a heat advisory and temperatures in the low 90’s and a 30% chance of thunderstorms. Winds will be 7mph west winds decreasing a bit, shifting to the northwest (according to SailFlow) and then back to the west. Good times! Nick Harmer is RC on the Lenczycki pontoon boat.
Also – take note that Austin Lake is once again being treated for weeds Monday and Tuesday of this week – see diagram. There has been a “no swimming” instruction for these treatments, and in the past, we had learned that this was more of a precautionary measure to not disturb the treatments. See diagram for areas that are to be treated. It is up to each sailor’s discretion of whether they choose to sail or not. See map below.
ALCA Weed Treatment Map 2025
Last week was challenging, as the winds decreased and we had to abandon the second race because of lightning and thunder in the area. The Race Committee raised the N or abandon race flag to abandon the race and send boats off the water, however there was some confusion with raising this flag alone, which instructs sailors to return to the starting area. The intent to send everyone off the water did not match with what is on the flag stickers and what was flown from committee boat. There will be a quick discussion of this and about what direction the fleet wants to go for clarification. The officers are suggesting to comply with the rules ( and flag stickers) and purchase the “A” flag, to be flown with either the N or the AP (postponement) flag. You can view the Standard Sailing Instructions here SSI. If you have anything to add, please come to Main St on Westnedge after sailing. ⛵️
As always, see our SSI.
Kathy – ALCA Secretary
UPDATE
Due to persistent storms in the area, light wind and weed treatment and harvesting, our RC has canceled racing for tonight. That’s a wrap on the Spring Series! We do not race next Tuesday – Summer Series starts Tuesday July 8th. Some of us are still planning to go to Main Street at 6:30.
Wowie is it great out there today! Tuesday promises to be warmer and even more of the same, with a high of 88 degrees, and southwest winds 5-10 mph. However, there is a 30% of storms, some being of the “pop-up” variety, so keep your eyes to the sky, or better yet, your radar and lightning weather apps on your phones! Nick Harmer is the Race Chair on the Lenczycki pontoon boat. Additionally, the officers would like to emphasize to the new sailors, and remind the fleet as a whole, of our SSI (Standard Sailing Instructions). You will find these on our webpage. Remember, a boat could be DSQ-ed by the RC for not sailing the correct course (which includes going around the marks or through the gates incorrectly) or going through the start finish line except when starting or finishing.
Also theRace Chairman sign-up where you will see that there is one slot of two weeks open (8/5 and 8/12). We will meet at Main St. Grill, 7509 S. Westnedge in Portage. Watch your emails and Facebook for any cancellations and going to Main St. early.
Wow – last week was crazy! Kudos to all of you who ventured out in those conditions! Thanks to Wally for helping out when Faith flipped and also to the Race Committee to see that everyone who had gone over were back on two hulls at the end of the evening.
Conditions for this Tuesday seem a bit more tame, with 13 mph westerly winds to start, decreasing to below 10 mph before the night is over. Gusts “only” to 20mph. Our Race Chair is John Koryto this week again – nice job last week!
Afterwards we will meet at Main St, Grill on Westnedge.
Here it is: a hot sunny day with lots of wind! Forecast for Tuesday is sunny, with a high of 86 degrees and SSW winds at 10-20 mph gusting to 30. Make sure you are comfortable with these conditions and that you have a righting line if you go out on the water. Race Chairman is John Koryto on his gorgeous Viaggio pontoon boat and as always, make sure you check in at the committee boat so they can note your sail # and if you have a crew or are flying solo 😳.
We meet at Main St Pub on Westnedge after sailing, and if you aren’t sailing, please rsvp to this email if you will be joining us. I will see you at the bar if I don’t have to show up for jury duty Wednesday morning.
Hope everyone had a great weekend! Temperatures are finally warming up, with Tuesday’s high being in the low 70s, with mostly cloudy skies and 10-15 mph winds out of the east. Yours truly is the race chair with Dave Dunlap assisting on Jeff Daane’s pontoon. 1st race start sequence will be at 6:30 pm sharp! Hope to see many of you on the water – please remember to sail by the committee boat as soon as we are on station to check in. Also, attached are the membership form and the race chair sign up sheet. We are almost full for race chairs for the season, thanks to all who have signed up and/or provided their pontoon boats!
After racing we go to Main St. Pub on Westnedge, if you do not race but still are coming out, please let us know that you are coming so that we get sufficient seating for everyone.
Mother Nature just won’t give us a break! Tuesday we’re looking at a cloudy day with a high of 58 degrees and breezy conditions of 10-20 mph ENE winds and an 80% chance of rain, even into the evening. I am the Race Chair (🥶❄️❄️) with Dave Dunlap assisting on Jeff Daane’s pontoon boat. We typically do not cancel until after 5 because we all know how the weather can change from the original forecast. After sailing we will go to Main Street Pub on Westnedge.
Last Tuesday there was a discussion about mid summer social activities, and how much fun our float parties used to be. So, the ALCA FLOAT PARTY IS BACK this year! Save the date for Sunday July 20th. Paid members will receive details on upcoming details for this event. In the meantime, let me know if you are on the lake and will be joining us via pontoon. We need at least 5 boats to accommodate the non-lake members who will be attending.
Just a reminder, if you have a question or comment – just reply to this email (to me), not the entire mailing list (as in reply to all), unless you really want the whole fleet to receive your comment!
Seems that we are in a great weather pattern with all this warm weather – gardens are getting planted and the lake is starting to warm up! Tuesday is our 2nd week of Spring Series, and we are looking at highs in the mid 70s with a 40% of scattered thunderstorms. Winds will be from the east/southeast at 5-10 mph, decreasing into the evening. Our race chair is once again Win Larsen.
Afterwards we will go to Main St Pub on Westnedge, and be prepared to sit outside if the conditions permit. Also, thanks to all who came out last week and were patient with the staff getting used to our big group!
Stay tuned to your email and Facebook for changes in tomorrow’s schedule!
So have we had enough rain? Guess mother nature doesn’t think so, Tuesday’s forecast is for a high of 60 degrees, with (cold) NW wind 10-15mph and a slight chance of afternoon showers, maybe some lightning too. Temps at racetime are predicted to be 58 degrees. Win Larsen is race chair on his pontoon, with Margaret Larsen and Dave Dunlap as the Race Committee. Stay tuned to your emails and Facebook to any changes in the schedule or cancellation.
New this year, we are trying out a new venue for Tuesday night sailing, at Main St Pub on Westnedge, which is on the opposite side of the street as Jac’s. Trailer parking would be best on the south side of the property (by their new outdoor area that is a work in progress) or maybe at Jimmy Johns – talk to Wally, he’s parked there before when we met there one night last year when we were cancelled. Address of Main St Pub is 7509 S Westnedge Ave, Portage.
We have the indoor side area reserved unless it’s beautiful and nice to be outside – which is unlikely for tomorrow night! See attached for our membership form – there may be some printouts at the landing and the bar as well.
Stay tuned to emails and Facebook for any changes in the schedule or cancellation.
Do you go to regattas? If so, you realize how important it is to have cat tracks to easily move your catamaran through the sand/grass! Many of you already have your own cat tracks, but for those of you who do not, we have a deal for you! ALCA has decided (since most fleet members who regatta bring their own) to sell the fleet cat tracks. These will fit H14, H16, H17, and H18, have new carpet on the cradles and are reasonably priced at $400 for fleet members (or best reasonable offer). On the outside market, you can expect to pay at least $500 for these, and much more for a new pair. Also, currently, new cat tracks are not available. See the photos below.
Note: In order to be eligible to purchase these for the great price of $400, your 2025 ALCA membership must be paid.
Contact me or Dave Stiemsma if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Kathy Rubino
ALCA Cat Trax for SailJust $400 for ALCA Fleet Member
