Tag Archives: Catamaran Racing

News, Series Racing

Summer Series Week #4 – August 5, 2025

Good morning!

Yes, it’s another Tuesday and another light wind day!  Forecast for race time is mostly sunny, 80 degrees and ENE winds of 6 mph.  Dave and Gail Stiemsma are our Race Committee – hopefully Mother Nature will come through with some wind and we’ll race!   Please check in with them when you come out to the water, and with these light winds, give yourselves plenty of time to reach the start area by 6:30 pm.  After sailing we are going to Main Street on Westnedge.  

Please stay tuned to your emails or Facebook for any cancellations.  

Later, 

Kathy Rubino

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 

Events, News, Regattas

Michigan City, IN Event 7/26/25

Hi Team,

Here are the details for the race in Michigan City this weekend. I’ve got 5 boats confirmed and with your help, we can get that up to ten! Come have fun with us!

Date: 
Saturday, July 26, 2025

Location: 
Washington Park Beach
100 E. Michigan, 
Michigan City, IN 46360

Times: 
Saturday
9:00AM CT – Competitors Meeting
11:00AM CT – 1st Race
4:00PM CT – End of Racing
4:30PM CT – Awards and Meeting

Sunday (weather date)
All details TBD based on weather, Start of day 9am

Fleet 126 hosts their 2025 regatta season at Washington Park in Michigan City, Indiana! Car & Trailer Parking is FREE prior to 8:00 AM CT, after which it is $40 per car w/ boat trailer. Be early and don’t get charged! Boats can be dropped and set up in the parking lot. Beach wheels should be used to get to the ramp that leads over the walkway to the beach. Race fee is $10, cash, Venmo or PayPal. Please let me know that you intend to join (include sail number, name of skipper and crew), so I can get a headcount and prep RC. Thanks!

Contact for more information: Michael Kucharski, Vice Commodore, 219-229-3071, Email

Side note: We want to grow the local Hobie sport. Even if you don’t intend to race, please let us know that you exist! Beach cats in our area have a strong history, with so many stories. We want to hear them. Get in contact and show your support. Let’s bring back the fleets to our beautiful beach! 

Thank you,
Michael Kucharski
Vibe Manager
Hard Rock Casino
219-229-3071
michaelislostinegypt@gmail.com

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
News, Series Racing

Spring Series Week #8 – June 24, 2025

Happy Summer!

Yes, it’s now summer and absolutely sweltering out there!  For sailing this Tuesday we are looking at yet another hot day, with a heat advisory and temperatures in the low 90’s and a 30% chance of thunderstorms.  Winds will be 7mph west winds decreasing a bit, shifting to the northwest (according to SailFlow) and then back to the west.  Good times!  Nick Harmer is RC on the Lenczycki pontoon boat. 

Also – take note that Austin Lake is once again being treated for weeds Monday and Tuesday of this week – see diagram.  There has been a “no swimming” instruction for these treatments, and in the past, we had learned that this was more of a precautionary measure to not disturb the treatments.  See diagram for areas that are to be treated.  It is up to each sailor’s discretion of whether they choose to sail or not.  See map below.

ALCA Weed Treatment Map 2025
ALCA Weed Treatment Map 2025

Last week was challenging, as the winds decreased and we had to abandon the second race because of lightning and thunder in the area.  The Race Committee raised the N or abandon race flag to abandon the race and send boats off the water, however there was some confusion with raising this flag alone, which instructs sailors to return to the starting area.  The intent to send everyone off the water did not match with what is on the flag stickers and what was flown from committee boat.  There will be a quick discussion of this and about what direction the fleet wants to go for clarification.  The officers are suggesting to comply with the rules ( and flag stickers) and purchase the “A” flag, to be flown with either the N or the AP (postponement) flag.  You can view the Standard Sailing Instructions here SSI. If you have anything to add, please  come to Main St on Westnedge after sailing.  ⛵️

As always, see our SSI.

Kathy – ALCA Secretary

UPDATE

Due to persistent storms in the area, light wind and weed treatment and harvesting, our RC has canceled racing for tonight.  That’s a wrap on the Spring Series!  We do not race next Tuesday – Summer Series starts Tuesday July 8th.  Some of us are still planning to go to Main Street at 6:30.

– Kathy 

News, Series Racing

Spring Series Week #7 – June 17, 2025

Hello!

Wowie is it great out there today!  Tuesday promises to be warmer and even more of the same, with a high of 88 degrees, and southwest winds 5-10 mph.  However, there is a 30% of storms, some being of the “pop-up” variety, so keep your eyes to the sky, or better yet, your radar and lightning weather apps on your phones!  Nick Harmer is the Race Chair on the Lenczycki pontoon boat.  Additionally, the officers would like to emphasize to the new sailors, and remind the fleet as a whole, of our SSI (Standard Sailing Instructions).  You will find these on our webpage.  Remember, a boat could be DSQ-ed by the RC for not sailing the correct course (which includes going around the marks or through the gates incorrectly) or going through the start finish line except when starting or finishing.  

Also the Race Chairman sign-up where you will see that there is one slot of two weeks open (8/5 and 8/12).  We will meet at Main St. Grill, 7509 S. Westnedge in Portage.  Watch your emails and Facebook for any cancellations and going to Main St. early.  

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

News, Series Racing

Spring Series Week #6 – June 10, 2025

Hi everyone!

Wow – last week was crazy!  Kudos to all of you who ventured out in those conditions!  Thanks to Wally for helping out when Faith flipped and also to the Race Committee to see that everyone who had gone over were back on two hulls at the end of the evening. 

Conditions for this Tuesday seem a bit more tame, with 13 mph westerly winds to start, decreasing to below 10 mph before the night is over.  Gusts “only” to 20mph.   Our Race Chair is John Koryto this week again – nice job last week!  

Afterwards we will meet at Main St, Grill on Westnedge.  

– Kathy Rubino ALCA Secretary 

Events, News, Series Racing, Spring Series

Spring Series Week #5 – June 3, 2025

Well Folks…….

Here it is:  a hot sunny day with lots of wind!  Forecast for Tuesday is sunny, with a high of 86 degrees and SSW winds at 10-20 mph gusting to 30.  Make sure you are comfortable with these conditions and that you have a righting line if you go out on the water.  Race Chairman is John Koryto on his gorgeous Viaggio pontoon boat and as always, make sure you check in at the committee boat so they can note your sail # and if you have a crew or are flying solo 😳.  

We meet at Main St Pub on Westnedge after sailing, and if you aren’t sailing, please rsvp to this email if you will be joining us.  I will see you at the bar if I don’t have  to show up for jury duty Wednesday morning.  

Kathy  – ALCA Secretary