Tag Archives: Summer Series

News, Series Racing

Summer Series Week #4 – July 29, 2025

Hi Fleet!

It was awesome to have 11 boats on the water last week – can we get more this Tuesday?  The forecast is for a steamy 90 degrees, with southwest winds around 7 mph.  With this heat and humidity, there is a chance of thunderstorms, so be aware!  Race chair is Jeff Daane;  we go to Main St. on Westnedge after sailing.  Remember to sail by committee boat before the race starts so that they could check you in.  

I’ve attached the SSI, and our current committee boat sign up sheet. We do not have a race chair or a pontoon boat for sailing the first two weeks of August (the next two weeks).  Races will be cancelled unless we have a Race Chair and pontoon boat for running the races AND getting the equipment in place beforehand.  

See you soon – hopefully on the water and not hiding from a thunderstorm/lightning!

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

News, Series Racing

Summer Series Week #3 – July 22, 2025

Hi All!

So is this the week we actually race?  I’m thinking we will, with SE winds forecasted at 5-10 mph. (woo-hoo!)  Jeff Daane is Race Chair on his beautiful pontoon.  Please sail by the committee boat to check in before the race.  See the SSI (Standard Sailing Instructions), especially for you newbies, and these are great to review for all of us.  Next, if the race committee abandons a race with no more racing for the night (in other words, “hit the beach”) you will see an additional flag flown below the Abandon Flag.  Dave S. sent the photo below in reply to one of our cancellations emails recently.  This “A” flag is also used with the Postponement flag to signify no more racing for today.  

Abandon Racing Flags

As a reminder, Fleet 126 is having a single day regatta at Washington Beach in Michigan City this coming Saturday, July 26th.  Michael Kucharski can elaborate on the details, and note the time difference, as they are 1 hour behind us.  

And lastly, see below for the RC sign up for Summer Series. We need a race chair and a committee boat for the first two Tuesdays in August.  If this gap is not filled, we will be canceled. 

See you on the water – or at Main St. on Westnedge after sailing for results.

Kathy – ALCA Secretary 

News, Series Racing

Summer Series Week #2 -July 15, 2025

Hi Folks!

Let’s try this again!  Tuesday’s forecast is for sunny skies, a high of 90 with winds out of the SSW at 5-10 becoming light into the evening.  Once again, Dave Stiemsma is your RC with Gail on their pontoon.  Please sail by committee boat to check in so that they could mark you as on the water on the attendance sheet.  Also, see the SSI (Standard Sailing Instructions, for you newbies), which are great to review for all of us.  Also, if the race committee abandons a race with no more racing for the night (in other words, “hit the beach”) you will see an additional flag flown below the Abandon Flag.  Dave sent this photo in reply to our cancellation email last week.  I’ve copied it below.  This “A” flag is also used with the Postponement flag to signify no more racing for today. 

We will meet at Main St. on Westnedge after sailing for results.

Also, a reminder to RSVP to Julie or myself for the float party on Sunday the 20th.  PLease see the email that was sent last week for details.

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

Update: Racing Cancelled Due to Low/Variable Winds 5:45 PM

Abandon Racing Flags
News, Series Racing

Summer Series Week #1 – July 8, 2025

Happy Summer!

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

Abandon Racing Flags
Events, News

2024 Year End Awards Banquet Info & RSVP

Our year-end dinner/celebration is Sunday September 22 at 5:00pm at La Cantina in Paw Paw.  If you were at our last get together at Jac’s, you may have seen the limited menu that Julie L and I selected.  This menu is included below. We ask that you RSVP with either a yes or no – by replying to this email, along with your dinner selections and if you want to add a side salad.  We have the back of the restaurant to ourselves, and later, we will have our trophies/gifts/meeting in the room downstairs.  Fleet-provided appetizers will be provided soon after 5pm, so be sure to arrive on time!

Again, simply reply to this email by no later than Monday September 16th with your RSVP.  

Weather permitting, our commodore Wally Elsner has offered to host a bonfire not far away.  If you want to attend,  BYOB and your own chair.  

Let me know if you have any questions – 

Kathy  – ALCA Secretary 

ALCA Year End Banquet Meal RSVP
ALCA Year End Banquet Meal RSVP
News, Series Racing, Summer Series

Summer Series Week #7 – August 20, 2024

Apologies for this coming out to you so late!

Today’s RC is Dave Stiemsma and the weather is in the high 60s, with a NE wind of 8 mph and decreasing.  You will hear a different horn for signals tonight, our equipment manager, Dave D is testing out an electronic air horn.  The canisters for the existing air horn do not last long and are getting expensive.  Below is a photo of the setup and I’ll try to send the video.  If it seems to work, the set up will be streamlined for next year with the possibility of having it run by the starting sequence on the tablet.

We are going to Jac’s after racing tonight.  Remember the year end party is Sunday September 22 – we are getting close to securing a venue and details. Kathy Rubino – Fleet 519 Secretary

Events, News, Series Racing, Summer Series

Summer Series Week #6 – August 13, 2024

UPDATE: We are CANCELLED for the night due to <3 winds on the course. Any interested sailors can meet us, at 6:30 PM, on the patio at Main Street Pub on S. Westnedge (just North of Jac’s, on the opposite side of the road).

Tuesday marks our 6th week of the summer racing series – and the forecast looks a lot more pleasant, temperature and sunshine – wise than last week……but sadly light variable winds of maybe 5mph – ugh!  Feast or famine!  Wally is our RC on John Koryto’s pontoon, and we go to Jac’s afterwards for results.  If we are cancelled, stay tuned, as I know there is music from 6-9pm at Jac’s and we may find another venue.  

Great news – we have a pontoon and RC for our last two weeks – thank you Dave Stiemsma!  

This week the Wave 100 is being held off the Lake Michigan coast – they start off Tuesday from South Haven, sailing to St Joe, then to New Buffalo Wednesday and finally on to Michigan City on Thursday.  You can learn more about the event on the Formula Wave Class Facebook page.

Save the date: Saturday, September 7th (rain date Sunday, September 8th) for the Commodore’s cup, Fleet 126 racing off Washington Beach in Michigan City.  Stay tuned for more details!  

Kathy – ALCA Secretary 

News, Series Racing, Summer Series

Summer Series Week #5 – August 6, 2024

Hey ALCA!

Before I get into tomorrow’s specifics, I wanted to mention a few things about our volunteer RC, helpers and pontoon boat owners:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH for putting in the time and offering your pontoons to run the races this year!  Your efforts and dedication are very much appreciated!  However, as we head into the last month of sailing, we have no one signed up for summer series Weeks 7 and 8 (August 20th and 27th).  If we don’t have an RC with a pontoon boat, we will cancel the last 2 weeks of racing, which means we will only have 2 weeks of sailing remaining.   Below is the link in Google Docs – all you have to do is click on it and fill in your name.  Let me know if you have any questions.  Of course, it’s always easiest if a member on the lake who owns a pontoon signs up for this. Committee Boat Signup.

Tuesday we have a brand new RC:  Commodore Walter Elsner is RC and John Koryto is pontoon boat captain.  The weather doesn’t look so good, but as we know, things do change.  Right now, it’s looking like a decent chance of rain/thunder, with highs of 68 degrees F, and NE winds of 10-15 mph.  SailFlow is predicting 18 mph winds gusting to 30 mph with rain.  If this rings true, and races are held, please consider your comfort level with these winds, as we have no chase boat.  Any cancellations will be posted on FaceBook and via email.  We go to Jac’s after sailing for results, and if we are cancelled, I believe we may still go to Jac’s as it doesn’t seem they have any music scheduled for tomorrow night.  

Again, any questions about the RC link, please contact me.

Kathy – ALCA Secretary

News, Series Racing

Summer Series Week #4 – July 30, 2024

Hi folks!  

Hard to believe – tomorrow is Week 4 and marks the midpoint of our summer racing series!  Time flies when we’re having fun, doesn’t it!  Tomorrow’s conditions are predicted to be hot and humid, with 11 mph winds out of the west, decreasing to 5 mph by 9pm (according to SailFlow).  Steve Chapman is our RC once again, and as always – sail past the committee boat to let them know you’re there.  After sailing we go to Jac’s.

Cya!

– Kathy Rubino, Fleet Secretary

News, Series Racing, Summer Series

Summer Series Week #3, July 23, 2024

Hi Everyone!

Tuesday is the 3rd week of the summer racing series – and we are looking at partly cloudy skies with temps in the mid 80s and SW winds around 8 mph.  There is a 30% chance of isolated thunderstorms.  Steve Chapman is our Race Chair – remember to check in at committee boat when you get out onto the water!  After sailing we will go to Jac’s.  If we are cancelled, we will go somewhere TBD, we will let you know via email or on Facebook.  

Kirk Bartling, a new skipper, is looking for an experienced skipper to race with him;  if interested, contact Kirk at kirkbartling@yahoo.com if you’d like to help him out.

Also, many of you receiving this email have not sailed or joined the fleet this year.  If you would like to still receive emails let me know by replying to this email.  Otherwise this is your last email, particularly if you’re not a fleet member.  

That’s all for now!

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary