Tuesday looks promising as far as wind goes, with wind predictions ranging from 10 – 20 mph to 10 – 15 mph and temperatures in the mid 70s, with a slight chance of rain in the late afternoon. Race Chair for the evening is Jerry Mohney and we meet as Brewster’s afterwards. Our Principal Race Officer, Julie has sent over a link for sign-up (Pontoon boats and race Chairs needed!) as a Google Docs file. Any questions, please reach out to Julie or Dan about working with this file. Otherwise, there will be a hard copy of the sign up sheet available at Brewsters after racing.
Category Archives: Series Racing
News about Series (Spring or Summer) racing.
Spring Series Week #4 – May 28, 2019
Here we are at week 4 for the 2019 Spring Series, and I have a great feeling that we will sail today! Winds are predicted to be 8 mph out of the west (SailFlow) at 6 pm, with partly cloudy skies, and temps in the low to mid 60s. Water isn’t too bad off the Austin L shore, but it’s still wetsuit weather in my book! Race Chair for the night is Andy Lenczycki, and the Committee boat is his and Julie’s, with Julie, Keith and Dixie helping to run the races. Remember, we meet at Brewster’s afterwards, and if you haven’t joined yet, tonight would be the time! If you’re not currently listed in the 2019 Series Results, you are not a current member. I will have forms so bring your checkbooks or cash.
Spring Series Week #2 – May 14, 2019
Mother Nature looks like she’s going to cooperate and give us a pleasant night for sailing tonight. Forecast is for mostly sunny skies and WNW winds around 8 mph. If the forecast is correct, we will be sailing. Remember to dress warm since the water is still really chilly! We meet at Brewster’s afterwards. Even if you’re not ready to sail yet, come by Brewster’s and say hello and catch up with everyone!
Spring Series Week 1 – May 7, 2019
Tonight is our first night of scheduled racing – first race start sequence is 6:30 pm. Rain is supposed to stop, and we’re looking at cloudy skies with temps in the low 50’s with ENE winds of 5-10 mph. Windchills will be possibly in the 40s and our latest water reading was 57 degrees at a dock.
Soooooo…..stay tuned to see if these forecasts are correct and a decision will be made after 5 pm as to whether we race or not. Sunshine might help – just sayin’. Remember to plan to wear your cold water gear – wetsuits and booties. Stay tuned to the ALCA Fleet 519 Facebook site or your e-mail Inbox for any news of cancellations.
Committee boat is the Dunlap/Rubino pontoon with Dave Dunlap race chair for the night, and myself as assistant, along with Keith and possibly Dixie. Our Principal Race Officer, Julie Lenczycki, will be watching the conditions carefully, and any questions should be directed to her as PRO. We meet at Brewster’s regardless if we race or not, and it’ll be a great opportunity to come out and join (if you haven’t already). Julie has race stickers for current fleet members if anyone needs one.
Additionally, as the weeks go on, I will be trimming the e-mail recipient list to current and 2018 members only; unless I hear from you that you would like to remain on our list, your name will be removed.
Spring Meeting Update
If you missed the fleet meeting on Saturday April 27th – here’s what you missed:
- Spring Series: May 7th – June 25th One portsmouth fleet (one start) unless there is sufficient B-Fleet attendance the first three weeks that are sailed
- Summer Series: July 9th – July 10th Two portsmouth fleets (one start)
- Gather at Brewster’s after racing or sooner if racing is cancelled
- Committee boat sign ups will be on Google Docs as well as hard copy each Tuesday night after racing. A link will be provided in the near future. We are set for the first 6 weeks for pontoon boats and for people at least the first 2 weeks (May 7th and May 14th). Thank you in advance to Keith Mortlock and Dixie Stiemsma for their help on committee boat! If there is a week without a pontoon to use for committee boat, racing will be cancelled.
- Saturday May 4th is the rescheduled date for the Tuning seminar. 10 am at the Austin Lake Public Access.
- A Hobie Worlds (Captiva Island, FLA) update was given by Lori Mohney – looks like an awesome event is taking shape, however the Youth Division may not happen due to lack of registrants.
- We discussed the possibility of designing rashguards (UV shirts) commemorating our 35th year of Fleet 519. Stay tuned.
- CRAM update: Michigan City (3 day regatta, June 21st, 22nd, 23rd) is also a Hobie Pts Regatta (Fleet 126)
- Hobie Fleet 126 also plans to host a series of 1 day sailing events: July 20th, August 17th, Sept 1st. at the same venue as MIchigan CIty regatta, stay tuned for further details. the following days after each have been saved as rain/weather dates.
With all this fun stuff going on and socializing, we did not get a change to hold our auction! We have lots of great prizes, so stay tuned for the officers plans – either a 35th Anniversary party or maybe a weekly drawing after racing.
Lastly, after the meeting was adjourned, we had a volunteer to fill the vacant Vice Commodore spot. In order to make this official (by-laws), we have to gather for a short meeting to agree as a fleet (or vote this person in, in the event there are others who are interested). This will occur Tuesday May 7th at Brewsters, either after racing or instead of racing if we are cancelled.
The Dunlap/Rubino pontoon will be our RC boat for the first two weeks, launching from Jeff Daane’s. Stay tuned to e-mails and Facebook in the event of an uncooperative Mother Nature.
New pictures from 8-28-18 Tuesday Night Racing Posted
Pictures that Julie Lenczycki took when on the committee boat the night of August 28, 2018 are now posted on the Photos > 8-28-18 Tuesday Night Racing menu.
Summer Series Week #10 – Sep 11, 2018 – Last Week!
Our last week of racing for the Summer Series is upon us. Where did the year go? Today’s forecast calls for highs in the middle 70s inland and at the Lake Shore. Winds variable to SSW 5-10 mph. For tonight, winds SE 5 mph.
Depending on the actual wind conditions, watch for the possibility of an A-C course with an UPWIND finish line, or possibly an A-B-C (no gates – round all marks on your port side) course.
Summer Series Week #5 – Aug 7, 2018
David Dunlap is the Race Chair for this Tuesday night with Dixie and Keith and maybe Steve Brown, but could use one additional person to assist. The forecast is light winds so watch our FB page and email…it was pretty glassy flat tonight when I got home from work :(. Let’s hope the wind is in our favor….see you on the water!
As noted in the ALCA Pontoon Float Recap post, it was advanced, discussed and voted by present fleet members that we would extend the Summer series to the full amount of 10 weeks, as previously sailed in years past. This means we will be sailing past the end of August, to include September 4th and 11th.
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!
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.