Category Archives: News

News items related to fleet activity.

Events, News

ALCA Pontoon Float Party Recap

Great time at Sunday’s Annual Pontoon Float and like usual, it was hard to get off the water!!  Thanks to all who supplied the Jell-O shots, everybody sure enjoyed them!!  Check out some photos posted on Facebook….if you are not a member of our closed group, friend me and I will send you an invite to join in the fun!!

NOTE: After dinner, we had some discussion about extending the summer series and those in attendance voted to do so for two more weeks!  The Lenczycki’s volunteered their pontoon boat for September 4 and 11 with Austin signing up to be the Race Chair on the 4th.  Andy will need help on the 11th because I will be on an adventure in Portugal with our daughter Erin, please let him know if you can assist.
Our IHCA liaison, Lori Mohney, got us excited to consider racing in the 22nd Hobie 16 Worlds in Captive Island, Florida!  The last time they were held in the USA was 35 years ago!!  We have several ALCA members considering to compete or maybe just go and support our fleet members who plan to sail.  Mark your calendars for November 1-16, 2019 and here is the link to the event – https://hobieworlds.com/
Looking for the World’s link, I found this nice article….WOW, 50 Years ago this past July 4th was the first Hobie Regatta!!!!  http://hobieclass.com/50-years-ago-on-july-4th-the-very-first-hobie-races-took-place/

We got a nice letter from Hospice Care of Kalamazoo for our donation in memory of former fleet member Sue Geerligs.
Events, News, Series Racing

Summer Series Week #3 – July 31, 2018

Dave Stiemsma volunteered last Tuesday at Brewster’s to be the Committee Boat this Tuesday so races are on!!

There has been talk of extending racing to September 4th – think about it and let’s have some discussion this Tuesday at Brewster’s.

I posted on the Facebook page the party invite but some of you are not on FB so here is your official invite for the Annual Pontoon Float – please rsvp to either FB or this email by Friday, August 3.
When: Sunday, August 5th meet at the deep spot around 2:00 with your motor boat and bring ties to connect the boats.  Message me if you need a ride to the party on the water.
What to bring:  a snack and your own beverages for the pontoon AND a dish to pass, lawn chairs for the dinner and any adult beverages.
We will try to get off the water by 5:30 to have dinner at the Lenczycki host house – 9833 Woodlawn Drive.  The fleet will provide everything for pork tacos, including some lettuce wraps and the slaw, along with lemonade.  We will have yard games and maybe get the volleyball net out for some more fun!
I have included some previous members, if you want to join us it will be $5 or you can join as social members for $10 and be included on our Year End Party too…hint, hint!  Same goes for significant others and kids under 18 are free.

Looking ahead, I’m traveling most of September and into October so vote for one of these possible dates for the Year End Party –

  • September 22,
  • October 6,
  • October 13, or
  • October 20.

BTW, October 6th is WMU’s Homecoming game against EMU so this would not be my first choice and I can make the other days work with travel schedule and our incredible Social Committee members!!  Any suggestions as to where to have the YE party??

See you on the water Tuesday and don’t forget the sunscreen next Sunday!
News, Series Racing

Summer Series Week #2 – July 24, 2018

Summer Series racing is scheduled to resume (after last weeks break).

Tuesday’s forecast:  Clouds slowly break for some sun after lunch, warmer, and humid.  Some thunderstorms develop, especially east of US 131.  Highs near 80 degrees inland, upper 70s at the Lake Shore.  Winds NW 10-20 mph.  Watch this site and our Facebook site, as we get closer to race time, as the weather may be questionable with respect to thunderstorms.

News, Series Racing

Reminder – No Racing This Week (7/17/18)!

No Sailing tonight – ALCA has lost one of their founding members, Sue Geerligs, who passed away on June 5.  We encourage sailors to attend the memorial service tonight, Tuesday, July 17 at Lakeland Reformed Church (10442 Sprinkle Road) from 7:00-9:00 pm.  Sue and her husband, Jim were very instrumental in our fleet start up and will be missed.  Here is the link – http://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/kalamazoo/obituary.aspx?n=sue-geerligs&pid=189325946

Summer Series will continue on Tuesday, July 24 with Jerry Mohney as the race chair; along with Keith and Dixie working the Committee Boat.  We still need boats and members to sign up to fill out the rest of our season.  Please message Dave Dunlap if you want to volunteer.

Looking ahead, Sunday, August 5th is scheduled for our annual pontoon float.  The Lenczycki’s will be the host house.  Look for the flyer shortly….
News, Series Racing

Summer Series Week #1 – July 10, 2018

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July week, boy were the fireworks in abundance around the lake!!
Tuesday night starts our 2018 Summer Series, let’s hope the wind gods like us better than in Spring!

Tuesday:  Isolated showers or weak thunderstorms south of I-94 through mid-afternoon otherwise partly to mostly sunny, very warm, and trending less humid before dinner.  Highs in the upper 80s inland, middle 80s at the Lake Shore.  Winds NNE-N 10-15 mph.  Tuesday Night: Mostly clear and comfortable with a low in the mid 60s.  Winds N-NE 5 mph.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Committee Boat!  See or message Dave Dunlap for open dates, rumor has it the last two weeks of July and all of August are open.  Tonight the Mohney’s are the Committee Boat along with Keith and Dixie.
See everyone on the water!
Events, News, Series Racing

Summer Series Begins 7/10/18

Happy 4th of July Week!!  Enjoy our week off (July 3rd) watching fireworks, a little sailing, staying cool and maybe having some apple pie!!

Reminder that we also have the week of July 17th off, to allow most of the senior fleet members to attend a memorial service for Sue Geerligs, wife of our first ALCA Commodore, Jim.  Jim is still semi-active in the fleet, offering to help on the committee boat from time to time.  The fleet sends it sincere condolences to Jim at this time.
Summer Series starts on Tuesday, July 10 with Jerry Mohney as the race chair; along with Keith and Dixie.  They will also be the committee boat on Tuesday, July 24 but we need boats and members to sign up to fill out the rest of our season.  Please message Dave Dunlap if you want to volunteer.
Looking ahead, Sunday, August 5th is scheduled for our pontoon float.  Looking for a host house.
News, Series Racing

Spring Series Week #7 – June 19, 2018

Greetings Racers!  Hope everyone is staying cool, did see one boat out on Austin Lake Monday night, trying to practice for week #7 with the winds out there!
Found this little blurb while checking the weather forecast for tomorrow….

Winter hasn’t ended everywhere in North America – just ask one lodge owner in the eastern Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.  Located about 600 miles northeast of Caribou, Maine, areas near the Igloo Lake Lodge in Labrador remain buried under six feet of snow, locals told CBC News. The deep snow cover, which has persisted after a snowstorm struck parts of the province earlier in the month, has been a late-spring surprise for lodge operators who say they’re usually getting the summer activities started by now.  Further down in the report, they still have ice on Igloo Lake….imagine that on a day like today!!

Watch the social media and email tomorrow to see about racing because the forecast calls for Cloudy with occasional showers in the afternoon. High 79F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
 
Lastly, I posted this on FB earlier – ALCA has lost one of their founding members, Sue Geerligs passed away on June 5.  A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 17 at Lakeland Reformed Church from 7:00-9:00 pm.  Hence, racing for that night will be cancelled.  Sue and her husband, Jim were very instrumental in our fleet start up and will be missed.  Here is the link – http://obits.mlive.com/obituaries/kalamazoo/obituary.aspx?n=sue-geerligs&pid=189325946
News, Series Racing

Spring Series Week #6 – June 12, 2018

Stay tuned to the ALCA Facebook site for info about racing tonight.  The weather forecast does not look promising:

Tuesday: Clouds and a few breaks of sun, especially north of Kalamazoo, with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing by early afternoon. The high will be near 80 degrees. Winds SE-SW 10-15 mph.

Tuesday Night: Evening showers and thunderstorms then isolated showers overnight. Warm, and very humid with fog developing. Lows in the upper 60s. Winds SW 10-15 mph.

Win Larsen is our race chair to tonight, and will be making the race/no race call.

News, Series Racing

Spring Series Week #5 – June 5, 2018

Hey gang – can you believe we are over half way through Spring 2018 Series??
Tuesday night looks pretty promising for racing…the forecast tonight for 6:00 pm Tues is Sunny, 68°

with 0% chance of precipitation, 47%humidity and a NW 13 mph wind!!  WOOHOO!!
Win Larsen is the Committee Boat and Race Chair with Janet Haff and Dixie Stiemsma assisting; Keith Mortlock calling boats over.
Save this date – Sunday, August 5 for the Annual Pontoon Float.  We are looking for a host house – fleet will provide everything once we are off the water for this event.
Watch the FB page for immediate weather updates tomorrow night.
I’ve attached the most up to date 2018 membership listing and a membership application.  If you see someone not listed and you know they want to race, please forward this email to them and have them either send it into Faith or drop it off at Brewsters after racing tomorrow night.
Congratulations to Austin Lee for taking 1st Place in the CRAM/CRAW Cat Fight Hobie 16 Fleet this past weekend in New Buffalo!!
Wishes for a speedy recovery go out to social member, Jim Kuk.  He had knee replacement surgery this past week just after the wedding of their son Evan!  Busy times!
See you on the water!