Pictures taken by Michelle Smock of ALCA Tuesday, 8-5-25 racing are posted at 8-5-25 Pictures.

Is it Fall ALCA?

It sure feels like it!  I can’t say that I mind though – it’s pretty refreshing if you ask me!  It is our last Tuesday of 2025 racing on Austin Lake. We are looking at temperatures in the high 60S, sunny skies, and northwest winds 10-15 mph.  Michael Kucharski is our Race Chairman on John Hayward’s pontoon, remember to sail by to check in when you get on the water.  After racing we will go to Main Street on Westnedge.    

Lastly, save this date for our year-end celebration: Sunday October 19th.  Venue is TBD and we are looking at starting in the late afternoon.  More details to follow.  

That’s it for now – cya on the water!

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

Michelle Smock was on the Committee Boat on 7/22/25, Summer Series week #3 and took some great photos. Check them out here.

Hi ALCA!

This Tuesday is our second to last Tuesday of racing for 2025 – wow has time flown by!  After the rain showers clear, we are looking at temps in the high 70s, with NW winds around 9mph.  If you follow SailFlow, winds are predicted to be a little higher at 14mph.  Michael Kucharski is the Race Chair, on John Hayward’s pontoon.  Please sail by the committee boat to check in before the first race.  Afterwards we meet at Main St. on Westnedge for results. 

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

Hi ALCA-ers!  

Tuesday marks the 6th week of the Summer Series – time is going fast!  Dave Stiemsma is our RC and the weather is predicted to be iffy with an 80% chance of thunderstorms.  Winds are predicted to be 5-10 mph out of the southeast, and storms may produce stronger gusty winds.  As always, stay tuned to any communications about cancellations which will be through email or Facebook.  We go to Main Street Grill on Westnedge after sailing, or earlier, if we cancel.  

As always, attached are our SSI – if you are a new sailor or know of a new sailor coming out to join us, please review and or share.

UPDATE – 5:30 PM

Due to storms in the area, there will be no racing tonight!  Some of us are meeting at Main St at 6:30 pm.  Let us know if you’d like to join us! 

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

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

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 

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.  

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 

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