A new website page has been added, titled Want Crew/Will Crew. This page is for listing individuals and their contact information for people needing a crew (Want Crew) and those wishing to get on someone’s boat to crew (Will Crew). Contact Andy Lenczycki to add or update your contact or availability info.
Spring Series Week 4 – May 24, 2016
This week looks much more promising for sailing, with partly sunny skies, a high of 82 degrees and SSW winds at 7-11 MPH. Perfect conditions (at least in my book)!
We have a new sailor on our mailing list, Stuar Casteel, who Is from Marquette, MI, has sailed the Hobie 16 – mostly on Lake Superior. He is interested in crewing, so if you need a crew, contact him using the information below. Welcome Stuart! I will be including this crew list weekly now, and for anyone who either knows someone who would like to crew, or is available to crew themselves, please contact me and I will add the information to the list for that week.
Stuart Casteel: casteelstuart@gmail.com (269) 929-5092
Also, just a reminder, some have yet to join the fleet. Please remember to bring your checkbook or money to the after sailing gathering at Brewster’s Junction on Portage Road.
Spring Series Week 3 Races Cancelled
Due to a complete lack of any visible signs of wind on the lake, racing for tonight (5/17) has been cancelled. We will be meeting at Brewsters to make offerings to the wind gods.
Spring Series Week 3 – May 17, 2016
This is our 3rd week of the Spring series – good call on the cancellation for last week, Jerry!
For this week, we are looking at cloudy skies, temps in the high 50’s, with light and variable winds. Mother nature is just not cooperating lately, is it? Maybe the forecast is not exactly accurate for Austin L – let’s hope at least……… All cancellations will be posted on Facebook and through an email like last week. We are meeting at Brewster’s as always, after or instead of racing.
Spring Series Week 2 Races Cancelled
Sailing tonight is cancelled due to weather – rain and cold temps! We are still going to Brewsters, 6:30/7:00 so come on out!
Spring Series Week 2 – May 10, 2016
We had 9 boats for a first night out last week – nice!
This Tuesday, we’re looking at a 40% chance of rain at race time, with winds out of he east at 12 mph, and very chilly temps with a high of 58 degrees! Dress warm if you will be sailing, and stayed tuned for any cancellations. If you have yet to join and pay your dues you can do so at Brewster’s after racing. If we are cancelled, we still will be going over there.
Thanks to all who showed up this past Saturday for boat tuning!
Boat Tuning Event Saturday, May 7th, 2016
So we’re on! Please RSVP and let Kathy Rubino know if you are coming! If you can’t or choose to not bring your boat, you are more than welcome to come out to help or observe from the ALCA gurus.
Here are the details:
- Meet at the Austin Lake landing at 11 am Saturday May 7th.
- tune boats there and around the lake at houses who RSVP
- lunch – either at landing or where ever the group is time and place TBD around 1 pm – 2 pm
- Race Chair seminar on Dunlap/Rubino pontoon boat 3 – 4 pm – meet at landing if interested
- A weather-related go or no-go will be decided on Saturday by 10 am. We will e-mail and also post on Facebook if cancelled
- Possible rain date Saturday May 14th
Spring Series Begins 5/3/16
Tomorrow is our first Tuesday for the Spring Series, with sunny skies, temps in the low 60’s and 5 to 7 mph WNW winds. First starting sequence is scheduled for 6:30 pm. After the races, we meet at Brewster’s on Portage, for results. If you have yet to join for 2016, remember to bring your money or checkbook to join – I will have forms. Our new PRO, Jerry Mohney will discuss the new set up for weekly race chair and committee boating staffing sign-ups.
Remember, we are racing two fleets, Portsmouth A and Portsmouth B with one start for the 2016 Spring Series.
Spring Series 2016 Begins Tuesday, May 3!
The first scheduled racing for the Spring Series for 2016 is Tuesday, May 3rd. Starting sequence will begin at 6:30 PM.
We will be meeting for results afterwards at Brewster’s on Portage Road once again.
Don’t forget your membership fees are due NOW! You won’t be scored if you’re not a current member. You can pay ALCA Treasurer Faith Akert at Brewster’s Tuesday night.
Watch here for updates on possible weather related delay or cancellation for Tuesday’s racing.
Important Information from the 4/2/16 Fleet Meeting
- The new by-laws were voted on unanimously by all members who voted, representing >50% of the fleet membership. A big thanks to all who took time to go to the meeting as well as those who voted.
- These by-laws allowed for a PRO (Principal Race Officer) who will lead a team of weekly race chairmen. Thank you Jerry Mohney for volunteering to be ALCA’s first PRO and coming up with this plan! The PRO is a newly added Fleet Officer, per the revised fleet by-laws. Jerry will be managing three sign up sheets for the racing season:
- Pontoon boats used for weekly races (typically, the owner/driver will be scored Help points for their time and volunteering their boat). This person may be the weekly Race Chairman, but not necessarily.
- Weekly race chairmen (who doesn’t have to be the pontoon boat owner, who will be making the on-the-water calls for the night), who will also be scored Help points.
- Committee boat volunteers. Depending on the amount of help on the boat already available, this person may not be scored Help points. Jerry will be the arbiter of this and you should know going onto the boat whether you are eligible for Help points or not.
We are pretty much set for the first month of the Spring Series. You can refer to your new by-laws that had been sent out a few weeks ago for more details on the different responsibilities of the PRO and weekly race chairmen. We ask all members help keep the races running – either by assisting on committee boat or by being a weekly race chair. With this current system, you DON’T have to live on the lake or be a pontoon boat owner. If everyone does a stint, then no one person needs to take all the responsibility for the season.
- Spring Series: Tuesday May 3rd to June 21st
Summer Series: June 28th to Sept 6th No racing on July 5th. - For BOTH Spring and Summer, we will be racing Portsmouth A and Portsmouth B, with one start. The start sequence for the first race each Tuesday is scheduled to start at 6:30 pm.
- We will be going to Brewster’s on Portage Rd for the year – unless notified otherwise. Thank you Win for taking care of this!
- We will set the dates for the Pontoon Float Party as well as the Year – End Party during the season. Stay tuned!
- There may be a regatta in St. Joe in September – Cesar Santana and Jesse Ward will be forming a committee of fleet members to explore this option.
- Lastly, the Saturday before the season starts, April 30th, is not going to work for a boat tuning day. This has been rescheduled for May 7th, at 11 AM at the Austin Lake Public Access. More info on this to follow.