Category Archives: News

News items related to fleet activity.

2024 Year End Awards Banquet Info & RSVP

Our year-end dinner/celebration is Sunday September 22 at 5:00pm at La Cantina in Paw Paw.  If you were at our last get together at Jac’s, you may have seen the limited menu that Julie L and I selected.  This menu is included below. We ask that you RSVP with either a yes or no – by replying to this email, along with your dinner selections and if you want to add a side salad.  We have the back of the restaurant to ourselves, and later, we will have our trophies/gifts/meeting in the room downstairs.  Fleet-provided appetizers will be provided soon after 5pm, so be sure to arrive on time!

Again, simply reply to this email by no later than Monday September 16th with your RSVP.  

Weather permitting, our commodore Wally Elsner has offered to host a bonfire not far away.  If you want to attend,  BYOB and your own chair.  

Let me know if you have any questions – 

Kathy  – ALCA Secretary 

ALCA Year End Banquet Meal RSVP
ALCA Year End Banquet Meal RSVP

ALCA Year End Banquet & Awards

  • When: Sunday, September 22, 2024
  • Where: La Cantina in Paw Paw
  • When: 5 – 8 PM

The year end party is Sunday September 22.  We are set for dining at La Cantina in Paw Paw, and the appetizers will be served shortly after 5.  We will have limited menu options – and we ask that you select your dinner with your RSVP.  Fleet will provide the appetizers (pizza and antipasto plate).  Nonmembers are welcome to join us, however, we are asking for a $5 donation to the fleet to help cover the cost of the appetizers.  

Summer Series Week #8 – August 27, 2024

UPDATE: Racing Cancelled for the night see you at Jac’s!

Hi Fleet, 

Tuesday marks our last day of racing for the 2024 Summer Series.  Dave Stiemsma is our Race Chair with Gail on Race Committee.  Also, very special guests are planning to be out with the race committee – Jim and Kathy Kuk, who are former Fleet 519 sailors and former Austin L residents.   Tomorrow is predicted to be the hottest day of the year – with temps in the mid 90s, hot and humid.  The “feels like temperature” is predicted to be in the 100s, and we are under a heat advisory, so everyone, take care and be sure to stay hydrated!   The wind forecast is for SW winds, 10-15 mph decreasing to 5-10 mph.  We go to Jac’s after racing for results.  There is a slight chance of thunderstorms, but they’re supposed to not be an issue until after 9pm.  Let’s hope they stay away so we can sail!  


Ahoy hoy

I was asked by race committee to remind you all to B vigilant of the course number and make sure you have your course sticker handy.  If you need one come see me I’ll be at the landing at 5pm.

Fair winds Wall-E Elsner – Commodore


We mentioned that the year end party is Sunday September 22.  We are set for dining at La Cantina in Paw Paw, and the appetizers will be served shortly after 5.  We will have limited menu options – and we ask that you select your dinner with your RSVP.  I may be able to get some printed tomorrow so anyone who wants to RSVP early with their menu selections can do so.  Fleet will provide the appetizers (pizza and antipasto plate).  Nonmembers are welcome to join us, however, we are asking for a $5 donation to the fleet to help cover the cost of the appetizers.  

Cya Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

Summer Series Week #7 – August 20, 2024

Apologies for this coming out to you so late!

Today’s RC is Dave Stiemsma and the weather is in the high 60s, with a NE wind of 8 mph and decreasing.  You will hear a different horn for signals tonight, our equipment manager, Dave D is testing out an electronic air horn.  The canisters for the existing air horn do not last long and are getting expensive.  Below is a photo of the setup and I’ll try to send the video.  If it seems to work, the set up will be streamlined for next year with the possibility of having it run by the starting sequence on the tablet.

We are going to Jac’s after racing tonight.  Remember the year end party is Sunday September 22 – we are getting close to securing a venue and details. Kathy Rubino – Fleet 519 Secretary

Summer Series Week #6 – August 13, 2024

UPDATE: We are CANCELLED for the night due to <3 winds on the course. Any interested sailors can meet us, at 6:30 PM, on the patio at Main Street Pub on S. Westnedge (just North of Jac’s, on the opposite side of the road).

Tuesday marks our 6th week of the summer racing series – and the forecast looks a lot more pleasant, temperature and sunshine – wise than last week……but sadly light variable winds of maybe 5mph – ugh!  Feast or famine!  Wally is our RC on John Koryto’s pontoon, and we go to Jac’s afterwards for results.  If we are cancelled, stay tuned, as I know there is music from 6-9pm at Jac’s and we may find another venue.  

Great news – we have a pontoon and RC for our last two weeks – thank you Dave Stiemsma!  

This week the Wave 100 is being held off the Lake Michigan coast – they start off Tuesday from South Haven, sailing to St Joe, then to New Buffalo Wednesday and finally on to Michigan City on Thursday.  You can learn more about the event on the Formula Wave Class Facebook page.

Save the date: Saturday, September 7th (rain date Sunday, September 8th) for the Commodore’s cup, Fleet 126 racing off Washington Beach in Michigan City.  Stay tuned for more details!  

Kathy – ALCA Secretary 

Summer Series Week #5 – August 6, 2024

Hey ALCA!

Before I get into tomorrow’s specifics, I wanted to mention a few things about our volunteer RC, helpers and pontoon boat owners:  THANK YOU VERY MUCH for putting in the time and offering your pontoons to run the races this year!  Your efforts and dedication are very much appreciated!  However, as we head into the last month of sailing, we have no one signed up for summer series Weeks 7 and 8 (August 20th and 27th).  If we don’t have an RC with a pontoon boat, we will cancel the last 2 weeks of racing, which means we will only have 2 weeks of sailing remaining.   Below is the link in Google Docs – all you have to do is click on it and fill in your name.  Let me know if you have any questions.  Of course, it’s always easiest if a member on the lake who owns a pontoon signs up for this. Committee Boat Signup.

Tuesday we have a brand new RC:  Commodore Walter Elsner is RC and John Koryto is pontoon boat captain.  The weather doesn’t look so good, but as we know, things do change.  Right now, it’s looking like a decent chance of rain/thunder, with highs of 68 degrees F, and NE winds of 10-15 mph.  SailFlow is predicting 18 mph winds gusting to 30 mph with rain.  If this rings true, and races are held, please consider your comfort level with these winds, as we have no chase boat.  Any cancellations will be posted on FaceBook and via email.  We go to Jac’s after sailing for results, and if we are cancelled, I believe we may still go to Jac’s as it doesn’t seem they have any music scheduled for tomorrow night.  

Again, any questions about the RC link, please contact me.

Kathy – ALCA Secretary

Summer Series Week #4 – July 30, 2024

Hi folks!  

Hard to believe – tomorrow is Week 4 and marks the midpoint of our summer racing series!  Time flies when we’re having fun, doesn’t it!  Tomorrow’s conditions are predicted to be hot and humid, with 11 mph winds out of the west, decreasing to 5 mph by 9pm (according to SailFlow).  Steve Chapman is our RC once again, and as always – sail past the committee boat to let them know you’re there.  After sailing we go to Jac’s.

Cya!

– Kathy Rubino, Fleet Secretary

Summer Series Week #3, July 23, 2024

Hi Everyone!

Tuesday is the 3rd week of the summer racing series – and we are looking at partly cloudy skies with temps in the mid 80s and SW winds around 8 mph.  There is a 30% chance of isolated thunderstorms.  Steve Chapman is our Race Chair – remember to check in at committee boat when you get out onto the water!  After sailing we will go to Jac’s.  If we are cancelled, we will go somewhere TBD, we will let you know via email or on Facebook.  

Kirk Bartling, a new skipper, is looking for an experienced skipper to race with him;  if interested, contact Kirk at kirkbartling@yahoo.com if you’d like to help him out.

Also, many of you receiving this email have not sailed or joined the fleet this year.  If you would like to still receive emails let me know by replying to this email.  Otherwise this is your last email, particularly if you’re not a fleet member.  

That’s all for now!

Kathy Rubino – ALCA Secretary 

Summer Series Week #2 – July 16, 2024

Hi Fleet!

Batten down the hatches!!!!!! Once again we are looking at severe weather coming our way – scheduled for overnight into the first part of Tuesday.  Race time we are looking at winds out of the west at 11-15 mph.  Michael Kucharski is our race chair on John Hayward’s pontoon with Sydney rounding out the race committee.  After sailing we go to Jac’s.  In the event of a cancellation, stay tuned for where we are gathering.  

Year end party is tentatively scheduled for Sunday September 22nd.  We will cement the date once the venue is in place.  Also, our website is back up and running – thank you Andy!

– Kathy Rubino

ALCA Secretary 

Year End Party Date Set

Good morning!

Julie and I were talking last night about getting a year end date set, and looking at our schedules, along with CRAM’s regatta dates, we decided to pick Sunday September 22, a Sunday to make it easier for Michael K. to attend.  Also, it’s easier to book a restaurant for a late Sunday afternoon. 

Also, since last night was so painfully loud at Jac’s with the music, I’m thinking we should try a new place if we have another cancellation.  Maybe Main St Pub or Monelli’s. 

Stay dry and don’t float away!

– Kathy Rubino

ALCA Fleet 519 Secretary