Hiya!  

Wow, did someone turn on the light switch for summer or what?  We go from rainy drizzly chilly last Tuesday to beautiful sunny skies and warm temperatures for Memorial Day!  Hope you had a chance to enjoy today’s weather!  Tuesday is much of the same – YAY! – but with very light and possibly calm winds – BOO!  RC is the Rubino-Dunlap-Daane team once more.  Stay tuned to your email and Facebook for any cancellation if the wind doesn’t fill in.  We may still go to Main St if we don’t sail.  

Kathy – ALCA Secretary

Update – Racing is cancelled for tonight due to the wind (or lack thereof).

Hi ALCA!

Nice to see a few boats out braving the cold last week!  Thanks to Dave, Gail and Ananda for the race committee work!  They will be out there again tomorrow, unless mother nature has other plans. We are looking at slightly warmer temperatures, with a high of 65 degrees, under cloudy skies and a 30% chance of rain showers. Winds are forecasted to be SSW at 15-25 mph, which would be expected to lower the “feels like” temperature.  Again, dress appropriately, know your comfort zone when heading out on the water, as it may be gusty. Remember to check in with the committee boat before the first race. We will go to Main St. again after sailing. 

Attached are the Membership and Race Chairman forms.

– Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

UPDATE -4:20 PM May 12. 2026

Our RC Dave Stiemsma has cancelled the races tonight due to the weather.  Possible T-storms will bring strong gusty winds and rain, especially towards the end of the evening.  And who wants to de-rig in a storm?  

– cya next week!

Kathy 

Sunday, April 19, 2026 at Louie’s Lake Bar & Grill 8946 S Sprinkle Rd, Portage, MI 49002

Hello Fleet!

With it being mid-April and these warmer temperatures – it’s that time again to meet and get our ducks in a row for our 2026 Sailing Season!  We have a room reserved at Louie’s Lake Bar & Grill, 8946 Sprinkle Rd. Portage. We will start at 3:00pm with social time and fleet provided snacks, then move on to our meeting and dinner. There is construction on Sprinkle, however, the road is open to local businesses – so ignore the road closed signs and make your way through the cones carefully!

This is a great time to reconnect with our sailing peeps, help shape what the sailing schedule will look like for 2026 (voting by 2025 members) and pay your membership dues. Attached is a form which can be printed, but I will have additional at the meeting, as well as sign ups for the race committees for each Tuesday. Be sure to bring cash or check for your dues. 

Hope everyone had a great weekend, especially today – either playing or getting all those outdoor chores done!

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

The fleet officers met on 3/12/26 and have set the 2026 Spring Meeting date for Sunday, April 19, 2026.

Happy Almost-Spring!

Wanted to get out a quick “Save-The-Date” for our spring meeting:  Sunday April 19th 3:00 pm at Louie’s Lake Bar on Sprinkle Road. We will have the back room to ourselves and can order off the menu – the fleet will supply some light appetizers to get us started. There is planned construction on Sprinkle Road and we will provide some helpful details as we get closer to the date – so watch your inbox.  

At this meeting we will discuss the upcoming sailing season, race format and fleets, and sailing members and social members will be voting on the sailing calendar as well. Membership forms will be available (at the meeting and I will attach it on the next communication) so be sure to bring either cash or check (if you are like many of us and write checks, lol).  Additionally, the officers have discussed having ALCA swag for a limited time for purchase – and need ideas of what you might be looking to get.  

There’s a lot more to get out before the meeting in the next communication – we will be in touch!  

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

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.

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 

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 

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