[Sloop Scoop 2002] #8, August 8 - 21
Sloop John B
sloopscoop@jewellgems.com
Wed, 07 Aug 2002 11:50:43 -0500
Racers and cruisers and sailors (oh my)--
(Warning: this is a long one!)
We had a great race over to Michigan City and back. The night crossing was
beautiful--we saw the space station passing overhead, the Milky Way, lots
of stars and shooting stars (the Perseid meteor shower peak is
approaching), and an amazing red crescent moonrise. We had some problems
with a sail change that cost us about a half-an-hour on the way over, but
we prevailed. The wind died a couple of times coming back--we were so hot
we took turns dumping buckets of lake water on each other. Everyone
screamed when they got doused, so we got a lot of attention from the other
boats. I thought it would have been a great time to have a super soaker
water gun. The best part is, not only did we have fun, but we also placed
third for both legs! Way to go crew! Thanks to Gloria, Thomas, Monique
and Mark. Thanks also to Mark who went up to the top of the mast and got
our wind instruments working, the spreader bolt tightened and the halyards
untangled. We were also visited on the other side by Sam and a friend who
got us to West Marine to replace the part we lost overboard, and brought a
pitcher of a great tropical drink. Stranded crews really appreciate access
to a car and company and beverages in strange ports.
If you want to see pictures from last Tuesday's sail, I set up a couple of
slideshow pages at:
http://www.jewellgems.com/sloopscoop/slideshow4.htm and
http://www.jewellgems.com/sloopscoop/slideshow5.htm
(there are links between the two pages). Now that I have my slideshow and
caption scripts working, I can put up sailing pictures for any trip so
Bring a camera! I'm going to put a slide show together from the pictures I
have for previous years soon.
We're hoping for a reprise of a great weekday sail tomorrow
(Thursday). It's a full boat right now. I am also planning a Friday night
cruise (I have a few spaces) and a Sunday cruise (Time still TBA since I'm
negotiating boat time with Gloria for Sunday). I'm also considering
a Perseid meteor shower cruise for late Sunday or Monday night. We went
last year and saw some meteors but it was overcast. The forecast says
"partly cloudy" but hopefully we'll have better luck this year. I'm aiming
for Sunday night with a cloud makeup date of Monday night. Let me know if
you're available for either day.
Next week is the Air and Water Show. I'm planning to go one day--I'm
setting the cruise up for Saturday with a rain/wind/other-bad-weather date
for Sunday. First priority goes to the folks (Dan and Jonathan and
families) who signed up for the cancelled cruise last year, but I'll sign
up on the waiting list in case they can't go.
If we get the crew (and if I can schedule dog walking and get out of
another commitment), we'll be leaving on August 21st and returning on
August 26th or 27th. I'm guessing we'll make it up to Port Washington and
back, and you're welcome to come visit us in any harbor along the
way. There are commuter trains and busses that go to any of the towns
we're visiting, so you could join us for part of the trip if you want.
Come out on the Sloop John B . . . (we've been listening to the song on board)
Schuy (sky)/Lisa
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SCHEDULE (weather permitting***, as usual . . . )
___Thursday, 8/8
Morning cruise. Meeting time 1000 hours. Bring a sandwich for lunch and
something to share.
___Friday, 8/9
Dinner and sunset cruise. Meet at the harbor by 1900 hours. We'll fire up
the grill so bring something to grill and something to share.
___Sunday 8/11
TBA. Let me know if you're interested and I'll work out the times.
Meteor shower cruise. Meet at the harbor at 2000 hours. We'll be out late
since Perseus doesn't rise until late. (8:00 p.m.). Bring something
dessert-like to share.
___Monday 8/12
Meteor shower cruise cloud makeup date (I may still go even if we do go
Sunday night). Same details as above.
___Thursday 8/15
Tentative weekday day sail. Meeting time around 1000 hours. Bring a
sandwich for lunch and something to share.
___Saturday 8/17
Air and Water Show Cruise. We'll fire up the grill and have lunch on
board. Bring something to grill and something to share. Meet at the
harbor at 1000 hours.
___Sunday 8/18
Air and Water Show Cruise rain/wind/weather make up date. Same details
(and probably same crew) as above.
___Wednesday 8/21
Tentative Crusing departure date
-------------------------
ON THE HORIZON
*If we don't go cruising, there will be a practice race for Tri-State crew
on Sunday August 25th (It's one of the MORF casual series--we'll
concentrate on finessing what we know and learning instrument and possibly
spend some time tuning up the boat.
*Tri-State race Labor day weekend (night crossing August 30th to St. Joseph
Michigan, Sunday from St. Joe's to Michigan City, Indiana, and Monday back
to Chicago (Illinois, of course). I have crew for the night crossing all
set, and I'll be selecting a couple more crew members for the other two
legs (not first come/first served); let me know if you are
interested. Even if you don't crew, you can come visit us in port and join
the festivities over there. It's really a lot of fun.
*end of the season MORF racing
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THE USUAL STUFF: (this will be the same every week)
Let me know if you are interested in any of the times. Sometimes I won't
go out since I don't have crew and later I find out someone showed up to
sail.
Try to give me a few hours if you have to cancel. I really don't want to
leave people behind, so I tend to hang around, so let me know if you aren't
coming. I'll keep the cell phone on (and charged!) when I'm waiting for
crew. If you can't get me on the cell phone, leave a message on my land line.
You are welcome (and encouraged) to bring food and/or things to drink. Two
things to consider: foods that can be eaten by hand are best (it's hard to
use utensils on a boat), glass (bottles or jars) and boats don't mix (glass
can break easily and boats often make sudden uncontrollable moves). We can
always transfer wine into plastic containers. If you are sailing during
the day, WATER is strongly encouraged in addition to anything else you may
want to drink.
You are welcome (and encouraged) to bring friends and family--including
kids (I do ask that you provide one adult for each kid under about 10 years
old.) If you do want to bring guests, just check with me first so I don't
overload the boat.
It's always cooler on the lake. I'd suggest a jacket for most
nights. Light colored rubber soled shoes (preferably with some traction)
are best (for you and the boat)> Non-skidmarking dark soled sailing shoes
and sandals are fine, but most street shoes with dark soles will leave marks.
A swimming suit *and a towel* are good to have, too. We don't always jump
in, but it's nice to have the option. Of course you have the option
without the suit, too--there are precedents for fully clothed and barely
clothed water babies.
***"weather permitting" in general means . . . No active thunderstorms on
radar or announced on weather radio or visible in the sky, winds less than
20 knots (especially if the winds are from the NE), waves less than three
feet, temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. There are
exceptions--skilled sailors may go out for a wild ride, and if there are
kids or first-time sailors, the winds and wave limits will be much
lower. We also may leave in "permitted" weather and find ourselves in
"unpermitted" weather, which we will deal with accordingly.
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DIRECTIONS--Driving, bus, "L" and bus, Metra, bike/in-line skates/walking
-----
Driving directions
The address is 6400 S. Promontory Drive in case you want to put it in
Mapquest or Yahoo! maps. It's at the south end of Lake Shore Drive, by
LaRabida Children's hospital.
From the north:
***2002 NOTE: CONSTRUCTION ON SOUTH LAKE SHORE DRIVE (the lanes will be
limited and you may get detoured at times. I'll try to update this through
the summer as it happens.)***
Get on Lake Shore Drive going south (you're on your own for that part!).
Take Lake Shore Drive until it ends--a sign actually will say LAKE SHORE
DRIVE ENDS about a quarter of a mile before it happens. There will be a
stop light and signs showing you could go straight (Jeffery Blvd) or turn
left (US 41). You'll see the harbor on your left. You want to take the left
turn-- following the harbor around, and then take the first left (there
will be sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital). When that road (Promontory
Drive) forks--take a left fork (again following the harbor around). The
hospital will be on your right and there is a lot of construction so there
is no parking on the right side of the street for most of that block. The
yacht club is on your left. There will be a gate that looks locked but it
isn't; you can still open it. If you park closer to the parking lot
entrance, walk down the parking lot ramp.
From the south:
Get to 6700 South any way you can (Bishop Ford freeway to Stony Island exit
and North to 67th and Stony, Dan Ryan to 69th street exit and east to Stony
Island and then north to 67th Street, call for other options) and head east
to Jeffery Blvd. There is a park/golf course on the left, a gas station on
the right, and a light. Turn left at the light and get into the right lane
immediately. Take the first right (US 41). After the turn, you'll see the
harbor on your left. Follow the harbor and take the first left (there will
be sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital). When that road (Promontory
Drive) forks--take a left fork (again following the harbor around). The
hospital will be on your right and there is a lot of construction so there
is no parking on the right side of the street for most of that block. The
yacht club is on your left. There will be a gate that looks locked but it
isn't; you can still open it. If you park closer to the parking lot
entrance, walk down the parking lot ramp.
--------------------
Bicycle, in-line skates, walking from the north:
Take the lakefront bicycle path south. At the end of LSD you'll have to go
left around the harbor to follow the path (it's around mile marker 17
miles) which will also be following the harbor. At the first cross street,
Promontory Drive, there will be a sign for LaRabida Children's hospital.
Turn left in the cross street and take it uphill (this is Chicago, so this
uphill stuff is relative) and bear around to the left when it forks. Take
the road to the end and come down the parking lot ramp. Bring a cable lock
if you have one; there aren't a lot of narrow posts, but we do have some
porch columns.
--------------
Public transportation:
Bus:
Get downtown (again, you're on your own). Take the #6 bus (Jeffery Express
it runs south down State Street between Lake and Congress, and then runs
down Michigan to Balbo and turns at Balbo to get on Lake Shore Drive)--or
better yet the #14 if it's at weekday rush hour (gotta call the CTA for
this route but it's on State or Michigan for part of it's route) --to 67th
and Jeffery. There is a golf course to the north and two gas stations on
either side of the street to the south. From there you have two options:
walk or another bus.
*Walk east across Jeffery and then north across 67th street and the golf
course to the end of Lake Shore Drive. You'll see the sailboat harbor on
your right (there's a powerboat harbor on the left. You don't want to go
there. Cross the street (I suggest with the light, here!) and you'll end up
on the bike path. Take the path east (turn right when you get across the
street) and then turn left on the first street you come to (on the left).
There is a sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital. Keep to your left as the
road forks and walk until you see the gate to the Yacht Club. It looks
locked, but it's not. Come on down!
*Take the #67 bus east. *Every other* #67 goes to LaRabida, so ask the
driver if he is going there. Take the bus to La Rabida, and you'll see the
harbor on your left. Walk to the gate (which looks locked but isn't) and
come on down!
"L" train & bus
Take the Red Line (Dan Ryan/Howard) to 67th street
or take the 67 (67th street) bus to the end of the line (every other 67th
street bus goes to La Rabida and hence the harbor). You'll see the harbor
on your left. Walk to the gate (which looks locked but isn't) and come on
down! (If you don't want to wait for the La Rabida 67, take any 67 to 67th
and Jeffery and follow the directions for walking from 67th and Jeffery above).
OR . . . (if the green line is more convenient for you)
ON WEEKENDS DURING THE SUMMER ONLY--Take the green line (the branch that
turns *east*, not the one that turns west--it's every other train) to the
end of the line at 63rd and University. Take the 63rd street bus east to
the end of the line--that will be the beach at 63rd. You'll see the harbor
to the south. Walk along the bike path until turns to the left (at the end
of Lake Shore Drive). Take the path east (the harbor will still be on your
left) and then turn left on the first street you come to (on the left).
There is a sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital. Keep to your left as the
road forks and walk until you see the gate to the Yacht Club. It looks
locked, but it's not. Come on down!
Metra
Take the "Metra Electric District South Shore Branch" (NOT the "South Shore
Line", which is a different animal) train from either the Randolph, Van
Buren, or 12th Street stop on Michigan Avenue stations. You
have two choices. You can get off at the "Bryn Mawr" stop (at 71st and
Jeffery, named after Bryn Mawr school--which was my grammar school (and
which has since been renamed) -- just down the block) or the "South Shore"
stop (71st and South Shore Drive, across from the South Shore Country
Club). The Bryn Mawr stop is slightly closer, the South Shore stop is a
nicer walk along the lake.
--From Bryn Mawr stop, walk north (the tracks run east/west at that point,
so if you face the direction the train was headed in and turn 90 degrees to
your left, that will be north) along the right hand side of the street
through the next light (67th street) and along the park/golf course until
you reach south end of Lake Shore Drive. You'll see the sailboat harbor on
your right (there's a powerboat harbor on the left. You don't want to go
there). Cross the street (I suggest with the light, here!) and you'll end
up on the bike path. Take the path east (turn right when you get across the
street) and then turn left on the first street you come to (on the left).
There is a sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital. Keep to your left as the
road forks and walk until you see the gate to the Yacht Club. It looks
locked, but it's not. Come on down!
--From South Shore stop, cross the street to the north to reach the
entrance of the country club. Follow the sidewalk/bike path north and west
along the country club golf course and the lake and the park and parking
lot until you reach the first street on your right. There will be a sign
for La Rabida hospital. Turn right and head uphill (this is Chicago, so
this uphill stuff is relative) and bear around to the left when it forks.
Walk until you see the gate to the Yacht Club (on the left hand side of the
street). It looks locked, but it's not. Come on down!
-------
VITAL INFORMATION:
Lisa/Schuy Jewell
Land line: 773-752-6266
Cell phone : 773-343-0153
E-mail: sloopscoop@jewellgems.com
Boat Name: Sloop John B
Boat location: Jackson Park Yacht outer harbor. We're on one of the
mooring cans, and we'll either shuttle people out in the dinghy or pull to
the dock by the parking lot to pick folks up.