Tag Archives: Austin Lake

News, Series Racing

Spring Series Week #5 – June 20, 2023

Ahoy,

Happy Juneteenth everyone. Apologize in advance as I’m typing from phone, enjoying my holiday away from my computer. 

Hope I’m not jinxing anything but I’m excited for Tuesday… we’re looking at upper 80s mostly sunny and ESE winds sustained 10-13 mph gusting 17-19 mph so bring those trap harnesses and crew its going to be a fun night!!! ENSURE you have a righting line!

Make sure to register and pay dues. Forms in previous emails and I’ll have some with me at the landing. 

Race committee will be Jeff Dane thanks in advance Jeff!

Jacs (in portage) after as per usual.

Fair winds!

We’ll see ya at the start!

Walter (Wall-E) Elsner

ALCA Fleet 519 Secretary 

News, Series Racing

Spring Series Week #4 – June 13, 2023

Hello all, 

Woof been a rough start this year hopefully that means you’re all ready to start racing, right!? 

RIGHT!?

Anywho, last week’s situation was unprecedented and we decided to play it safe, after discussions with various entities whom are involved with weed treatment it sounds like they will try to avoid Tuedays and that we probably would’ve been okay to sail and not grown any extra appendages. Cameron and Olivia went out and had a blast and they seem to have survived. 

So putting all that concern behind us we are ready to give week 4 a shot. Weather looks to be in the mid to upper 60s with mostly cloudy with a small chance of showers. (we won’t melt). Wind looks to be out of the WNW pretty widespread for velocity with forecasts ranging from 4-24 mph depending where you look… so who knows, hopefully it lands somewhere in the middle. The Lake is warm but with the air being a tad cooler make sure you dress appropriately.

So here’s hoping for 8-14 mpg and sunny skys! 

We have Jeff Daane as Race Chair tomorrow, Thanks in advance Jeff.

Be sure to get your membership forms and payment turned in. I’ll have the forms at the landing.  

We’ll rendezvous at Jacs after sailing as usual. stay tuned for updates. 

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Fair Winds

Walter (Wall-E) Elsner

ALCA Fleet 519 Secretary 

News, Series Racing

Spring Series Week #3 – June 6, 2023

UPDATE: As of 4;00 PM we are officially CANCELLED for racing tonight, due to the lake being treated today with various chemicals to help control the weed population. This is to comply with the requirements of the Michigan DNR that permitted this project. 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.

Ahoy hoy,

Tomorrow is week 3 of the Spring Series already! 

The weather looks to be partly cloudy with temps in the high 70s. The water is pleasant. I had to capsize last week to test it out for myself . The wind forecast looks decent this week, with forecasts showing sustained winds of 8 MPH with gusts of 12 MPH out of the NNE. 

Please be sure to fill out your membership form 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.

Race Chair for this week is Commodore Kathy (maybe) Committee boat is Jeff Daane, Thanks in advance!

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. 

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Fair Winds

Walter (Wall-E) Elsner

ALCA Fleet 519 Secretary 

News, Series Racing

Spring Series Week #2 – May 30, 2023

Ahoy sailors,

Today is week 2 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 partly cloudy with temps in the high 80s. I’m sure the water is pleasant with all the hot weather we’ve had. The wind forecast looks decent this week, with forecasts showing sustained winds of 7 MPH with gusts of 11 MPH out of the SSE. 

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. 

Fair Winds

Walter (Wall-E) Elsner

ALCA Fleet 519 Secretary 

News, Series Racing

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

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Fair Winds

Walter (Wall-E) Elsner

ALCA Fleet 519 Secretary

News, Series Racing

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. 

Events, News

ALCA Year End Banquet Reminder

WHAT: I am writing to communicate year end party/awards details as well as talk about officer nominations for the 2023 sailing season, season point trophy presentation as well as other awards. 

2023 officer selection see attached bylaws for officer descriptions. ALCA-Bylaws-2016_1-April-1.doc (live.com)

REMEMBER Organizations like ours can only exist with the dedication and sacrifice of our various volunteers and officers. Step in if you can or ask one of the existing officers if you want some first-hand knowledge about what it entails.  

WHEN:  Saturday November 5th at 5 PM. Appetizers from 5-6. Dinner order at 6. Awards around 7. Fire and desert afterwards at Kathy and Daves’s house (Long Lake). 

WHERE:  Travelers Pub 5225 Portage Rd, Portage, MI 49002  https://g.page/travelerscafeandpub?share     Then, Kathy and Dave’s House.  

Please RSVP on Facebook or via email. 

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

News, Series Racing, Summer Series

New Aerial Video Added

New fleet member Cameron Dick’s friend, Jake Allen was out on our pontoon boat the week of August 23, 2022 and shot video using a drone. Thanks to Jake for coming out and doing this for the fleet! You can see the video at August 23, 2022 Aerial.

News, Series Racing, Summer Series

Summer Series Week #8 (Last Week)- August 30, 2022

Ahoy hoy,

Sadly this is our final week of racing for the Summer Series! 

Weather looks good however, mid 70s 10-13 mph sustained gusting 17-20 mph WNW direction. 

Committee boat and race Chair is Jeff Danne. Thanks Jeff! 

Year end party: 

Scheduled for November 5th at Travelers Pub. More details to come. 

PLEASE REGISTER FOR:

* DISCOUNTED RATES EXTENDED THROUGH END OF MONTH!!! *

2022Hobie 16 North American Championships are coming up! September 11-16 This will be a high profile HOBIE event right in our own backyard! normally you would need to travel 10+ hours for an event of this caliper!  Hobie 16 North American Championship 2022 – International Hobie Class Association

We currently have 43 boats registered !!!

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

News, Series Racing, Summer Series

Summer Series Week #7 – August 23, 2022

Ahoy, 

I can’t believe we’re almost to the end of our season… 

Weather for Tuesday: temps High 70s. Partly cloudy. winds NW pretty steady around 7 mph hopefully it’ll pick up some. 

Jeff Daane is race committee for our last 2 weeks. Thanks in advance Jeff! 

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).

Former ALCA fleet member Jim & Kathy Kuk will be in town on Tuesday and plan on being out on the committee boat. If racing is cancelled, we will still meet at Jac’s Pizza, but those wanting to catch up with the Kuk’s will leave around 9 PM to go to Dave Dunlap & Kathy Rubino’s house on Long Lake for a fire and visit with the Kuk’s.

7640 S Westnedge Ave, Portage, MI 49002 

https://goo.gl/maps/Fe9YfKVtfKPeeiKJA

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