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 

Events, News

Save The Date! Sunday, October 19th

Hello!

We just wanted to get a save the date out to everyone about our year end celebration!  

It will be a brunch on Sunday October 19th at Louie’s Corner Bar in Texas Corners. We plan to gather around 11:30 for snacks and brunch cocktails, with brunch to follow, ordering off the menu.  If there are others who were on the water with us (who aren’t included in the email list above – since I didn’t have their e-mails) please extend this to them and copy me so that I will have their email for the future.  

An additional email will be sent as we get closer to the event.   Thanks and have a wonderful weekend!  

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

News, Series Racing

Summer Series Week #8 – August 26, 2025

Is it Fall ALCA?

It sure feels like it!  I can’t say that I mind though – it’s pretty refreshing if you ask me!  It is our last Tuesday of 2025 racing on Austin Lake. We are looking at temperatures in the high 60S, sunny skies, and northwest winds 10-15 mph.  Michael Kucharski is our Race Chairman on John Hayward’s pontoon, remember to sail by to check in when you get on the water.  After racing we will go to Main Street on Westnedge.    

Lastly, save this date for our year-end celebration: Sunday October 19th.  Venue is TBD and we are looking at starting in the late afternoon.  More details to follow.  

That’s it for now – cya on the water!

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

News, Series Racing

Summer Series Week #7 – August 19, 2025

Hi ALCA!

This Tuesday is our second to last Tuesday of racing for 2025 – wow has time flown by!  After the rain showers clear, we are looking at temps in the high 70s, with NW winds around 9mph.  If you follow SailFlow, winds are predicted to be a little higher at 14mph.  Michael Kucharski is the Race Chair, on John Hayward’s pontoon.  Please sail by the committee boat to check in before the first race.  Afterwards we meet at Main St. on Westnedge for results. 

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary