[Sloop Scoop 2003] #1, June 6 - 15
Sloop John B
sloopscoop@jewellgems.com
Fri, 06 Jun 2003 13:10:03 -0500
Ahoy Cruisers and Crew!
It's officially summer--the boat's in the water! We're a little late,
because the skipper has been busy (the multiMEdia show was wonderful, but
it set me back in the rest of life!). The weather hasn't been very
agreeable anyway, (we were on the way to the harbor when that thunderstorm
hit last Friday) so I don't think we've missed much.
This is the seventh season that I've had the Sloop John B, and she's
celebrating her 30th birthday this year. (It's been a big year for me -- I
turned 40, the boat's 30, and my truck, Tonka, will be 10!) Gloria has
moved on from the Sloop to her new boat, a 30-something foot (it depends
how you measure it) steel cutter. She's going to change the name so I
won't tell you the name of the boat now. Debbie is still a partner, for
her second season, and Sailor Mike has been a godsend sweat-equity partner
during the off-season and now.
Thanks to Monique and Dietmar and Thomas and Gordon and especially Mike for
helping with spring commissioning. The boat looks great. For the first
time in years her wood has been cleaned, sanded and oiled. It was a labor
of love that wouldn't have happened without them. We also have some new
hatch slide rails (whatever those are), made by my partner Debbie's new
husband Bobby.
Since we want to keep racing, and do more teaching this year, we needed to
make some capital expenditures for the boat. We have new lines (color
coded!) and new hardware. Today I pick up the Sloop's first new sail in
almost a decade. The sail is a big expense, and as Mike and I were joking
around one day we thought about a pledge drive. I ran the idea by a few of
the Sloop's supporters and the response has been great. The sail costs
about $2500 (which is why most of you on this list are very happy that you
have a FRIEND with a boat as opposed to your own boat!), and we have
pledges for about half of the sail so far!
We are not an official non-profit, just a humble few folks who love sailing
and teaching people to sail, so we can't offer any tax breaks, but if
anyone wants to help out with any amount (pledges have run from $25 to
$300, but we take pennies and quarters too!), the premiums include:
--our extreme gratitude
--an invitation to the sloop's 30th birthday bash
--your signature and wishes on the sail bag (to be signed at the party)
--a Sloop John B. T-shirt for pledges $50 and above
--an opportunity (weather permitting) to sail with the new sail (it will be
used very gently this year, so this is a special honor!)
Donations to the 30th-birthday/sail fund are wholly voluntary and NEVER a
prerequisite for sailing with us. Sailing on the Sloop will always be
free. As most of you know, I never ask for money, and am usually reluctant
to take it even when offered (I DO take food). In the past, several of you
have asked if you could help with anything, so this announcement is for
those of you who are willing and able to help now.
As for sailing . . . There is a race tomorrow (Saturday, 6/7). I don't
have crew yet, but if anyone shows up and wants to do the race, I'll
go. The weather sounds good. If I can't race I will at least get out for
a cruise, so if you want to sail, let me know. The next scheduled sail is
for Wednesday evening. I am teaching and taking classes this summer, so
weekday cruises will be limited to Monday/Wednesday afternoons or Friday,
and weekday evening cruises will most likely be Wednesday or Thursday.
Sorry for the late notice. I'll try to do better for the rest of the
summer! If you are heading down this way, Lake Shore Drive construction is
a pain--the directions via the detour are below.
Skipper Schuy/Lisa
------
SCHEDULE (weather permitting***, as usual . . . )
___Friday 6/6
Work day. I also get to pick up our new sail!
___Saturday 6/7
Lady Skipper Race #1. Meet at the harbor at 0900 hours, and expect to be
back around 0530 p.m. (That sounds like work!) If I don't have crew for a
race, we'll just cruise.
___Wednesday 6/11
Evening sail. Meet at the harbor at 1830 hours. We'll be back in by 2130
hours.
___Sunday 6/15
Afternoon sail. Meet at the harbor at 1400 hours (that should hopefully be
late enough to avoid the Bike the Drive closures). We'll be back by 1700
hours.
-------------------------
ON THE HORIZON
Lady Skipper race 6/29
Sloop John B 30th birthday celebration and rechristening TBA
---------------
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.
--------------
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:
***2003 NOTE: CONSTRUCTION ON SOUTH LAKE SHORE DRIVE (the lanes will be
limited and will get detoured. 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 you are forced off at the Musuem of Science and
Industry. LSD is detoured onto Cornell Drive (also called the inner drive)
which meanders through Jackson Park. Stay in the leftmost southbound lane
through a couple of stoplights. When you reach 63rd street, there will be
a stoplight and a left turn lane--get in that land and turn left. You will
continue through the park and get a chance to admire the gilded statue of
Columbus which marked the entrance to the Columbian Exposition in
1892. Bear right at the statue and continue past the phantom harbor on the
left (it's for those OTHER kind of boats) until the road bends
left. There's a light at what will once again be the end of Lake Shore
Drive someday. Continue straight past that intersection. 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:
Until the construction is done, it's really hard to get there on either
bike or skates safely. You can take the detour with the cars from Lake
Shore Drive and use the streets, but that's about it. At the end of the
driving directions add: 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
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.