[Sloop Scoop 2003] #10 September 21 - 30
Sloop John B
sloopscoop@jewellgems.com
Sat, 20 Sep 2003 17:42:46 -0500
It's the end of the season as we know it . . .
Fall has come and gone and come again. We continue to have nice sails, and
the Sloop continues to meet new cruisers who may become new crew. We had a
nice Sunday sail a couple of weeks ago, finally getting Laura and friends
out on their third attempt. It often happens that you may have a couple of
sails cancelled on you until you finally get a chance to go sailing. It
really is weather-permitting, even if it feels like the Sloop checking to
see if you *really really* want to go sailing. But as Thomas and Paul and
now Laura know, you will eventually make it out on the boat.
Last Tuesday my partner Debbie made it out with us and brought her
soon-to-be-four year old daughter Florence. Age means nothing on the
Sloop, so Flori did have to take her turn on the helm. I have a great
picture of that. We were out a little past Deb's husband's comfort zone,
though--I think we were maybe an hour later than we'd planned and we hadn't
been answering our cell phones while we were out sailing (note--this is
often the case when we're relaxing on the boat) and he sent the Police
Marine Unit and park district out looking for us. When the guy on the
harbor master's tender asked if I knew someone named Deborah I said "Yes,
but she's not on the boat." Deb had to remind me that Deb and Debbie are
both nicknames for Deborah . . . . She's just not Deborah to me! I have
two other Debra/Debora's in my life and I was thinking of them!
Last Sunday's double header was great example of fall sailing. The first
sailing greeted Joan and crew with breeze and chop and even rain, but the
crew loved it. We headed straight east into the lake, past the crib. The
second sailing, a half-hour after we had headed in, greeted Thomas and crew
with flatter seas and totally different winds and we headed north past Navy
Pier. I have some pictures of the very dramatic skies that greeted us all
day, intermittently cloudy and clear. I'm editing a slide show now. Most
of you were spoiled by regular slide shows last summer, but the skipper's
been a little busier this year.
This past Tuesday, summer returned, and we had a Champagne and foie gras
sail--Igor had brought the foie gras from France and at least he and Mike
and Shelly could partake. (For those of you who don't know, the skipper is
a vegetarian). Igor did bring brie for me, and, of course, bread. My
mother had found plastic etched champagne flutes for us --I have pictures
of that too (and of my starboard and port-painted toenails) . . . . The
Sloop proved she could be as classy as any fancy new boat, and Sailor Mike
said he could get used to this. (This was the next step in the already
upped-ante of GOOD beer in cans this season (Guinness, Double Chocolate
Stout, Tetleys, Bellhaven, Boddington's) and now we need to find the
plastic beer steins--or maybe stainless steel . . . )
For those of you who check e-mail this weekend, we are going out tomorrow
afternoon around 1300 hours, and there is room for those who can make last
minute plans.
This Tuesday is our last weekday day sail. I'd like to get in one last
evening sail if the weather cooperates--possibly Friday or Saturday
evening. I've also traditionally ended the season with a sunrise cruise,
usually on Isle Marie with Gordon, and I'd like to do that next Sunday on
the Sloop if Gordon doesn't want to go. I start teaching (and taking
classes) again this week, so I need to shift focus to the things that help
me actually pay for sailing all summer.
Hope to see some of you out for the Sloop's last hurrahs of her 30th
season. Remember to bring long sleeves, long pants and jackets!
Skipper Schuy/Lisa
------
SCHEDULE (weather permitting***, as usual . . . )
___Sunday 9/21
Afternoon sail. Meet at the harbor at 1300 hours. If you haven't eaten
already, bring something for lunch.
___Tuesday 9/23
Tentative afternoon sail. Meet at the harbor at 1300 hours.
___Saturday 9/27
Morning sail. Meet at the harbor at 1100 hours. Bring a sandwich for lunch.
or
Evening sail, meet at the harbor at 1800 hours. Bring something to grill.
___Sunday 9/28
Tentative sunrise sail. Meet at the harbor at 0500 hours.
Tentative mast dropping. I'll send out a sloop scoop at the end of the week.
___Monday 9/29
Tentative mast dropping. ditto.
___Tuesday 9/30
Tentative river trip. Limited to one or two other people (because of
transportation from the boatyard). Meet at the harbor at 0830 hours. Final
details on this later.
-------------------------
ON THE HORIZON
*fall decommissioning work and sailboat lullaby
*post season get-togethers of some flavor
---------------
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.
***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. Continue until the first left you can take--at the
sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital. Take this left and at the fork bear
left and continue on the road straight past La Rabida (eventually on your
right) and look for parking. 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. Continue until the first left you can take--at the
sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital. Take this left and at the fork bear
left and continue on the road straight past La Rabida (eventually on your
right) and look for parking. 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:
The construction affecting the bike path is done! Take the bike path
south. You'll know you're close when you pass the Museum of Science and
Industry and then the large beach house for 63rd street beach. The harbor
is just south and east of the beach house. Continue south, turn left with
the path as it continues around the south end of the harbor and when you
reach the first street, with the sign for La Rabida Children's hospital,
turn left onto the street. The road goes uphill (this is relative, it's
Chicago) and at the fork bear left around the harbor. Take the road to the
end and come down the parking lot ramp. Bring a cable lock if you have one;
there is a bike rack to the left, beyond the small white ice house, between
the mast rack and the dinghy rack.
--------------
Public transportation:
Bus:
Get downtown (again, you're on your own), and you have a few options:
Take the #6 bus (Jackson Park 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) to 67th and South Shore Drive. Cross
the street to the lake and walk along the sidewalk/bike path north 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!
Better yet, if it's a weekday, take the #14 (Jeffery Express) (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!
Again if it's a weekday, take the #28 Stony Island Express (again check the
CTA for where to wait downtown) to 67th street and take the #67 bus east
(see rest of directions in previous paragraph).
"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.