[Sloop Scoop 2003] #2, June 17 - 29

[Sloop John B]

Greetings to all those who wish for summer--

Buckingham Fountain, post-Memorial day and white shoes notwithstanding, I 
guess we have to acknowledge that the calendar still hasn't said it's 
summer--but it soon will be!!!!  The water is 50 degrees, and we're still 
getting early season stiff breezes, but the Sloop FINALLY made it out on 
her first sail this past Sunday.  We were seeing 15 to 20 knots of wind, 
and since this was a shakedown cruise with only Sailor Mike, Dietmar and I, 
we set out with a double reef (the new red reefing line) and later shook 
that down to a single reef (the new yellow reefing line) and had a glorious 
if sometimes chilly sail way out east beyond the crib (that's that water 
intake station that looks like a boat that never moves out in the middle of 
the lake).  The boat performed wonderfully, newly rigged and tuned, and 
looks great thanks to her first seasonal scrubbing by my partner Debbie and 
her husband Bob.

I received several responses to the Sloop's 30th Birthday/New Sail 
drive.  Thank You!  Thank you!  Thank you!  We are now at $1400 towards the 
$2500 goal.  For those of you who missed the first Sloop Scoop, here's the 
pitch:  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!)

The tentative date for the 30th birthday bash is July 6th in the 
afternoon.  Hopefully the 4th of July revelries will be over and people can 
join us.  If I can't catch enough of the sail donors and friends, I *may* 
move the date to July 13th.  Let me know if the date works for you.

On to sailing . . .

It looks like my schedule will allow for quite a bit of sailing--I have 
only eight students (and they're all great) and most of my work for my 
sound class is reading, and I can read on the boat!  Actually, my first 
sound assignment is to go to a movie in the theatre and write about the use 
of sound in the film and the sound system in the theatre.  I haven't seen 
any movies since The Two Towers and the Chamber of Secrets, so I have a lot 
of choices.  Any recommendations?

We have a few cruises scheduled for the couple of weeks, weekday and 
weekend.  I haven't had much response yet this year (that happens when I 
don't get the Sloop Scoop out regularly!), so please don't think there's no 
room if you contact me the day before we're scheduled to sail.  This Friday 
we'll try to sail around 2:00 pm (1400 hours) for those of you who want to 
take a half-day . . . Next Friday I'd like to do a lunch cruise and 
inaugurate the grill for the season (if we don't manage to do it on 
Saturday).  Remember:  I take requests.  If you want to go sailing and it's 
not a M/W morning or a T/R afternoon, just ask.  If I have an excuse to 
take the boat out, I will!

Would be racers:  There are a couple things coming up for you.
--This Sunday (June 22nd) MORF will be holding a 'How to Win a Sailboat 
Race' class with key focus on JAM racing at the Burnham Yacht Club at 3pm. 
It will be a great session to educate skippers and crew on what it takes to 
have a successful racing campaign. The session will last 90 minutes.  I am 
going to try to make it, but I don't have to be there for you to go.  Tell 
them you are crew on the Sloop John B.
--Next Sunday is the Lady Skipper Race #2.  Right now I have four on the 
crew but we could take a couple more.  Let me know if you are interested.
--The following Saturday, July 5th, is the first race of the long distance 
series.

That's about it for now.  Hope to see folks on the water soon!

Skipper Schuy/Lisa

------
SCHEDULE (weather permitting***, as usual . . . )

___Friday 6/20
Mid afternoon sail.  Meet at the harbor at 1400 hours.

___Saturday 6/21
Morning sail.  Meet at the harbor at 1000 hours.  Bring a sandwich for lunch.

___Sunday 6/22
Morning sail.  Meet at the harbor at 0930 hours.  I need to be back by 1300 
hours so this will be shorter but still sweet.

___Wednesday 6/25
Evening sail.  Meet at the harbor at 1830 hours.  We'll be back in by 2200 
hours.

___Friday 6/27
Late morning, lunch cruise.  Meet at the harbor at 1000 hours.

___Sunday 6/29
Lady Skipper Race #2.  Meet at the harbor at 0900 hours.

-------------------------
ON THE HORIZON

*Long Distance Series Race (Chicago based, not port-to-port), July 5th and 
MORF post-race party at Jackson Park Yacht Club

*Sloop John B's 30th Birthday Bash -- July 6th

---------------
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-marking dark soled sailing shoes and 
sandals are fine, but most street shoes with dark soles will leave 
marks.  We have life jacket that satisfy the coast guard 
requirements--those lovely orange ones.  If you have a life jacket you 
prefer to wear, bring it.  We usually only wear them for starts and 
finishes of races and rough weather.

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, or walk through the construction zone 
which starts at 63rd Street beach, but that's about it.  If you follow the 
cars, read their directions, and 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
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.