Category Archives: Events

News about upcoming Events (typically not related to a specific racing event).

Events, News

ALCA Year end party updates

Remember we have our year-end party on Saturday, October 19th at Lodo’s.  If you haven’t RSVP-ed your dinner choices yet to Julie and me, please do!  Thank you to those who have already.  The dinner selections are:

  • Sirloin with roasted potatoes
  • Chicken Scampi
  • Fish and Chips
  • Vegetarian Lo Do Pasta

Also, for those of you who have ordered ALCA/World’s shirts, the cost turned out to be $19 each.  Lori will have the shirts on the 19th at the party, please bring your money to pay her then. If you ordered a shirt and can’t make it to the party, please pay Lori some other way. 

Finally, when many of us are planning our ski trips, there’s still more sailing to be had.  A few of us were thinking of getting out on Austin L.  (Sunday 9/6/19) for some fun sailing – the World’s are less than a month away, and we don’t want to forget what being on the boat, at the tiller or jib sheets feels like……. IF the bug hits you, please join us!  
Just thought of something so you can remember the money for the shirts…… $19 on the 19th!  LOL! 

Year End Party Flyer
Events, News

Year End Awards Banquet – Saturday, October 19, 2019

This year’s Year End Party will be at LoDo’s starting with happy hour at 5:30 pm and we will eat about 6:30-6:45 with awards and elections to follow. Please RSVP to either Kathy or Julie with what you want to eat. The fleet will provide appetizers for the happy hour but you will be responsible for your entree and it will be a cash bar, they will do separate checks.

Here are the choices to rsvp with by October 14:
Sirloin with roasted potatoes
Chicken Scampi
Fish and Chips
Vegetarian LoDo Pasta

Events, News, Series Racing

Summer Series Week #6 – August 13, 2019

Wow, Week 6 is happening! – can’t believe the summer is just zipping along!  Andy Lenczycki is our RC for a night of partly cloudy skies, 78 degrees and NNW winds of around 9 mph. 

This week, we are starting an informal education series, in which there will be an attachment included with each weekly e-mail, followed up by discussion after sailing at Brewster’s.  This will take place even if we’re cancelled, so all you new sailors, take note, read the material, and hopefully you’ll be able to participate on Tuesdays.  It’s also a great review for all of us seasoned folks as we head to the Hobie World’s in Captiva this November.  This week’s topic is “Signals and Marks” and “Definitions & Right of Way Rules“.  This is a progressive series – so this first topic is important to know in order to fully understand the next two topics.  Thanks to Jerry Mohney for starting this up and to Julie for providing the material.  


Also, a reminder that the next one day regatta for Hobie Fleet 126 is coming up this next Saturday, August 17th at Washington Beach in Michigan City, IN.  Weather looks pleasant, so there’s fun just waiting to be had!  Hope to see you there!

Another save the date – for all of us Hobie World Competitors (gotta love the sound of that!):  Tuesday September 17th – the first Tuesday we don’t sail- Lori Mohney is gathering us together at their place for a discussion of important things we’ll need to know to compete in the event.  Please create room in your schedules to attend!

Events, News, Series Racing

Summer Series Week #5 – Aug 6, 2019

What a Pontoon Float party Sunday!  We had sun, fun, drinks, snacks, floating, and if that weren’t enough, mother nature brought us a powerful rainstorm with significant wind and some lightening.  It started as we were headed in, and increased to heavy horizontal rain as we were getting to shelter.  After the rain passed, we made our way over to Lori and Jerry’s for dinner and door prizes. 

There are significant leftovers – brats, some salads and lots of cookies – so we’ve been invited back over after sailing Tuesday night (8/6/19).  There are soft drinks, but otherwise, it’s BYO adult beverages.  Tuesday’s forecast is for temps in the 80s, partly sunny, with a 20% chance of rain, west winds around 7mph.  Race chair is Dave Dunlap on Julie and Andy’s pontoon. 

Next, there has been some discussion about two topics, so for clarification, I’m quoting from the by-laws, 1) Minimum weight:  Hobie class rules state that minimum weight for skipper and crew is 285 lbs.  Therefore to be scored as a 2 person boat, you need to meet this weight requirement, or carry weight.  

(A)           Rules – All races and regattas shall be conducted in accordance with the IYRU, US Sailing and the Hobie Class Association Rules as published by the International Hobie Class Association.  Questions concerning minimum weight and whether a person or persons meet the requirements as prescribed in the Hobie Class Rules will be settled by the use of a Fleet scale calibrated by a known weight.

2)  The start finish line – can you go through it as you sail the course (not starting or finishing) and does it depend on what course is being sailed (upwind vs downwind finish)?  No and no.  Amendment (III) Amendments

(I)              ALCA, by the majority vote of total votes cast, can amend IYRU, US Sailing, and the Hobie Class Association Rules as published by the International Hobie Class Association

(II)            The Barging Buoy is an extension of the Committee Boat

(III)         The Start/Finish line is an obstruction at all times and cannot be crossed unless starting or finishing.

(IV)         Shorten course will be determined by the Committee Boat personnel.  Boats will sail designated course until passing between Committee Boat and Finishing Mark, or between gates as designated.

Hope this clears up any confusion – there’s lots more racing rules that need to be followed on our Tuesday nights, please show up after racing and ask questions.  Rule book summaries have been provided to some of the new sailors in the past few years, good idea if we all review them from time to time!

Events, News

Pontoon Float Party – Sunday, Aug 4, 2019

We are meeting on the lake around 2pm for fun, drinks, and snacks, then moving over to Lori and Jerry Mohney’s at 2812 East Shore Dr., where the fleet will provide brats and nonalcoholic beverages.  If you do not have a pontoon or are not a lake resident, and would like to get in on the afternoon fun, please let me know, and we’ll get you on a boat for the floating part of the party.  BYO adult beverages for the floating and the dinner, a snack for the float and either a light salad or light dessert for dinner.  All RSVPs will be eligible for the raffle at the dinner (we still have those prizes from the spring meeting.  You can either RSVP to this  email, or to your invite on Facebook (thank you to those who have already responded!).  

Events, News, Series Racing

Summer series week #3 – July 23, 2019

Tuesday looks great with sunny skies and temps in the 70’s and winds out of the northwest at 10-15 mph at start time.  Dave Stiemsma is the RC, and it’s his pontoon boat for committee boat.  Our PRO will be absent for the night, so any questions should be directed to Dave at (269)760-2698.  We will be meeting at Brewster’s after sailing tomorrow night, and there will be stories to tell about the Fleet 126 Michigan City one day regatta some of us attended this past weekend.  Turtle Soup Anyone?   

Dates to remember:

  • July 27 – July 28:  Pere Marquette Regatta  CRAM/HCANA Hobie Event
  • Aug 4: ALCA Float Party
  • Aug 17:  Fleet 126 Race 3, Michigan City
  • Sept 1:   Fleet 126 Race 4, Michigan City.
  • Resister for Muskegon July 27th and 28th! Last day for pre-registration is Tuesdayt (July 23rd)  at midnight!  We have at rough guess 13 Hobie 16s that should be in attendance!
  • Manistee on August 10th and 11th
  • Port Sanilac August 24th and 25th  
  • CSYC September 7th and 8th
  • Caseville II on September 28th and 29th in place of Tawas this year

Events, News, Series Racing

Spring Meeting Update

If you missed the fleet meeting on Saturday April 27th – here’s what you missed:

  • Spring Series:  May 7th – June 25th  One portsmouth fleet (one start) unless there is sufficient B-Fleet attendance the first three weeks that are sailed
  • Summer Series:  July 9th – July 10th Two portsmouth fleets (one start)
  • Gather at Brewster’s after racing or sooner if racing is cancelled
  • Committee boat sign ups will be on Google Docs as well as hard copy each Tuesday night after racing.  A link will be provided in the near future.  We are set for the first 6 weeks for pontoon boats and for people at least the first 2 weeks (May 7th and May 14th).  Thank you in advance to Keith Mortlock and Dixie Stiemsma for their help on committee boat!  If there is a week without a pontoon to use for committee boat, racing will be cancelled.  
  • Saturday May 4th is the rescheduled date for the Tuning seminar.  10 am at the Austin Lake Public Access. 
  • A Hobie Worlds (Captiva Island, FLA) update was given by Lori Mohney – looks like an awesome event is taking shape, however the Youth Division may not happen due to lack of registrants. 
  • We discussed the possibility of designing rashguards (UV shirts) commemorating our 35th year of Fleet 519.  Stay tuned.  
  • CRAM update:  Michigan City (3 day regatta, June 21st, 22nd, 23rd) is also a Hobie Pts Regatta (Fleet 126)
  • Hobie Fleet 126 also plans to host a series of 1 day sailing events:  July 20th, August 17th, Sept 1st.  at the same venue as MIchigan CIty regatta, stay tuned for further details.  the following days after each have been saved as rain/weather dates.  

With all this fun stuff going on and socializing, we did not get a change to hold our auction!  We have lots of great prizes, so stay tuned for the officers plans – either a 35th Anniversary party or maybe a weekly drawing after racing.  

Lastly, after the meeting was adjourned, we had a volunteer to fill the vacant Vice Commodore spot.   In order to make this official (by-laws), we have to gather for a short meeting to agree as a fleet (or vote this person in, in the event there are others who are interested).  This will occur Tuesday May 7th at Brewsters, either after racing or instead of racing if we are cancelled.  
The Dunlap/Rubino pontoon will be our RC boat for the first two weeks, launching from Jeff Daane’s.  Stay tuned to e-mails and Facebook in the event of an uncooperative Mother Nature.  

Events, News

4-27-19 Boat Tuning Seminar Postponed

The Hobie boat tuning and rigging seminar scheduled to begin at 10 AM at the Austin Lake Public Boat Access on Saturday, April 27th has been postponed to the following Saturday, May 4, 2019 at the same time and location. The postponement is due to the forecasted inclement (cold and rainy) weather.

NOTE: The ALCA Spring meeting is still on the schedule for Saturday, April 27th at 5 PM at Brewster’s Pub on Portage Road.

Events, News

Spring 2019 Kickoff Meeting & Boat tuning

The season-opening get together and Spring Fleet meeting with be held on Saturday, April 27th, at Brewster’s Fine Food and Spirits on Portage Road. Important dates and the exact format for racing this year will be decided by the fleet at this meeting – don’t miss it!

Schedule of events:

  • 5:00 pm arrive, socialize, order beverages and turn in membership forms (appetizers will be served)
  • 5:30-6:30 meeting
  • dinner and auction (like last year – each person turning in memberships will be given ALCA Bucks to bid on various fun prizes)
  • After the gathering at Brewster’s, we’ve been invited back to Julie & Andy Lenczycki’s house for a bonfire (weather permitting). BYOB and BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair). Their address is 9833 Woodlawn Dr, Portage (on Austin Lake).

Should be a fun time!  A Facebook invite has also been sent.

Boat Tuning Saturday, April 27, 2019

There will also be a tune-up event the morning of that Saturday, April 27th.  We have several seasoned sailors willing to share their expertise at the landing (or at your place, if your boat is on the lake).  Event will begin at 10 AM at the Austin Lake Public Boat Access. A make-up date of May 4th (Otherwise known as Star Wars’ Day) is available if the weather turns ugly.  Stay tuned!  Please contact Dan Troup or Kathy Rubino if interested.

Watch this website or the ALCA Facebook page for the specifics, time and location for the Boat Tuning Seminar on 4/27/19.