Tag Archives: Spring Series

Spring Series Week #1 – May 23, 2023

UPDATE: As of 5;30 PM we are officially CANCELLED for racing tonight, due to a significant lack of wind. We will be meeting at Jac’s on S. Westnedge at 6:30 PM if anyone is interested. Hopefully we have better luck next week.

Tuesday is our first day of racing for week 1 of our Spring Series. 

Please be sure to fill out your membership form (attached) and bring either cash or check! Some of us officers will try to have some forms on hand as well. 

First race start sequence is at 6:30pm, please check in with Race Committee prior to the start of the first race.

The weather looks to be nice and warm with temps in the lower 80s. I’m not sure about the water temp of Austin Lake, but I’m sure it’s nice with how warm it’s been. The wind forecast is a little less than exciting with forecasts showing sustained winds of 2 MPH with gusts of 3 MPH out of the SW/W. Hopefully that changes! 

Race Chair for this week will be Commodore Kathy! Thanks In advance Kathy! 

Stay tuned for potential cancellations. TBD what we’ll do or where we’ll meet if canceled. 

We plan to go to Jac’s at 7640 S. Westnedge after racing each week (link below). 

https://goo.gl/maps/Rcqt6NTP35vpn4Mo8

Fair Winds

Walter (Wall-E) Elsner

ALCA Fleet 519 Secretary

2023 ALCA Series Racing Schedule Set

The Austin Lake Catamaran Association 2023 series racing schedule was formalized at the Spring Kick-Off Meeting on April 29, 2023.

  • Spring Series will be for 6 weeks, starting on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 thru June 27, 2023.
  • Summer Series will be for 8 weeks, starting on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 thru August 29, 2023.
  • The Starting Sequence will commence at 6:30 PM each race night.
  • We will have a Portsmouth A and Portsmouth B fleet (as long as there are at least 2 boats in a fleet).
  • Check-in with the on the water Committee Boat before the 1st race begins each week so we can ascertain who and how many are on the boat.
  • We plan on going to Jac’s at 7640 S. Westnedge after racing each week for race results and eating/drinking.
  • Stayed tuned to your email and our Facebook page, ALCA FLEET #519, for updates on cancellations each week. 

Spring Series Week #7 – June 28, 2022

NOTE: This is the LAST week of the Spring Series. The Summer Series begins July 12, 2022.

Ahoy hoy, 
Well the final week of our spring season is upon us. Weather is looking good! Temps forecasted in around 80 F Winds predicted to be SW 6-9 MPH guesting 11 MPH 
Committee boat will be the Lenczycki Pontoon with Andy as Race chair. Thanks in advance! 

This week’s After Sailing results will be at Cattail’s, the Lenczycki Lake House – 9833 Woodlawn Drive. The fleet will provide the meat, taco shells, taco fixings and Mac & cheese.

9833 Woodlawn Dr.
9833 Woodlawn Dr.


Please bring either a salad or dessert to share and any adult beverage if you want more than water or lemonade.
Parking along Woodlawn or Bayside or you can leave your boat and walk from the landing, they are about 25 lots south and have left their red Christmas lights up on the garage and are just across the street from the Woodlawn SailFlow monitoring station.


Fair Winds
Walter (Wall-E) ElsnerALCA Fleet 519 Secretary CRAM H-16 Fleet Captain

Spring Series Week #6 – June 21, 2022

Ahoy Sailors, 
Week 6 already (next week is the last week of Spring series)! 
Another Tuesday in the mid 90s – STAY HYDRATED!  Winds predicted SW 10-14 gusting 24-26 MPH
Committee boat will be the Lenczycki Pontoon with Andy as Race chair. Thanks in advance!  He is planning on taking pictures of boats & crews from the committee boat with a nice 400mm lense, so be there.

ALSO, attached to the email that went out to all current fleet members, is the ALCA Standard Sailing Instructions. These are general rules we’ve been sailing to, but now are formally posting them. New exceptions are the race time limits and provision that sailors must start within 5 minutes of the race start. Also new is the time to have protest documentation submitted to PRO.

Also note last week’s first race had 5 DSQs (disqualified). We ran a course 6 both races which has an upwind finish. In these scenarios you are only allowed to cross the start/finish line when starting or finishing; the rest of the time the start/finish line is to be treated as an obstruction. The other issue was all (single) marks are to be rounded to PORT unless there is a gate, in which case you enter between the two marks and exit to the outside side of either gate mark… Please review the SSI and US Sailing Rules for further clarification. 
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

Fair Winds
Walter (Wall-E) Elsner ALCA Fleet 519 Secretary  CRAM H-16 Fleet Captain

Spring Series Week #5 – June 14, 2022

Hello All,
Welcome to week 5 (only 2 weeks left in Spring series after this week)! 
Get ready it’s gonna be a hot one…. forecast says high 90s near record highs light cloud cover. STAY HYDRATED! Winds predicted SSE 6-10 MPH pretty light.
Committee boat will be the Lenczycki Pontoon with Julie as Race chair. Thanks in advance! 

ALSO, all current members were emailed the ALCA Standard Sailing Instructions. These are general rules we’ve been sailing to but now are formally posting them. Except the time limits and to start within 5 minutes is new. Also new is the time to have protest documentation submitted to PRO.
Also note that the document will reside on our website education page.
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


Fair Winds
Walter (Wall-E) ElsnerALCA Fleet 519 Secretary

Spring Series Week #4 – June 7, 2022

Ahoy-hoy, 
Well even though today may be rainy and gross out Tuesday night is looking pretty good as far as the weather gurus can predict anyway…  Looking like High 60s sunny Winds  NW 11-12 MPH Gusting 15-16 mph Should make for a pretty good night out there!
Julie Lenczycki is Race Chair on their pontoon, Thanks in advance Julie! 
As always remember to check in with RC before racing and inform them of any crew changes. 
If you have not yet registered please get with Faith or one of the other officers. 
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

Fair Winds
Walter (Wall-E) Elsner ALCA Fleet 519 Secretary  CRAM H-16 Fleet Captain

Spring Series Week #2 – May 24, 2022

Ahoy,
Week 2 is upon us, last week had a small turnout but it was good sailing! 
The forecast is looking pretty good from here: forecasted air temps around 69 F, generally sunny winds ENE 10mph gusting 15 mph. Should make for a pretty good night of racing.  Water was warm enough last week but REMEMBER dress smart. Any potential cancellations will be communicated via email and facebook.
Race committee for the night will be Dave Dunlap on Jeff Danes 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


Fair Winds
Walter (Wall-E) ElsnerALCA Fleet 519 Secretary 

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!!!