[Sloop Scoop 2004] #8, July 7 -- July 21

[Sloop John B]

Ahoy again--

Between my truck Tonka, my dog Cap'n Jack and the Sloop I've been running 
around quite a bit and haven't had the energy for epistling.  That doesn't 
mean we haven't been sailing, though, so don't be afraid to crash through 
my silence to suggest a time to sail or check and see if we are sailing 
unannounced!

SHAKEDOWN SAGAS
We didn't do the casual race (weren't sure about the weather window), but 
Paul and Laura made it out for a training cruise and, sans Sailor Mike, 
were put to work.  The Sloop's roller furling remained problematic so Laura 
got a fair amount of helm time while I tried to sort it out.  Unfortunately 
I couldn't sort it out under sail and would need to take a trip up the mast.

. . . Or actually *three* trips up the mast, and Igor and Mike will 
complain (they had to grind me up on the winches).  It was my first time 
actually making it to the top (I'm not a fan of heights)!  The first time I 
made it up about 10 feet and came down because I wanted to secure a shackle 
with tape (so it didn't accidentally come undone).  The second time I made 
it up to the spreaders but the strap was very uncomfortably wedged between 
my legs and I lost circulation.  I had told Mike and Igor not to let me 
down if I got scared so it took some convincing that I *really really* 
would go back up if they let me down.  The third time I made it up and 
discovered that it was a recurring old issue that had once been solved, but 
since we replaced a bunch of halyards and I wasn't there when the roller 
furling was rigged (not that I would have remembered) we put it up on the 
halyard that interfered with the spinnaker halyard instead of the one that 
had been rigged to avoid it.  I also hauled down the wind instrument cable 
to try to fix it yet again . . .

CREW MILESTONES
The sail being sorted out at least, Igor, Mike and I sailed to 
celebrate.  Igor at the helm most of the way, we rode a light lake breeze 
towards downtown and back, and Igor even got a chance to SAIL to the can 
(always a good exercise) and did it perfectly.  Bravo Igor!

I escaped to Lake Geneva for the 4th of July and spared my crew Mother 
Natures fireworks that accompanied the 3rd of July fireworks this year 
(been there, done that . . .).  We went instead on the Monday holiday with 
Thomas and his neighbors, this time giving Thomas a chance to steer off the 
can, dock the boat, pull away from the dock, helm in some steady 15 knot 
winds and 2-4 foot waves, dock the boat again, and steer back to the 
can.  He did great, the only hiccup being having to approach the can twice 
(which I've often had to do in heavy winds).  Bravo Thomas!  His neighbor 
Adam exhibited very good sea legs and will hopefully get out to crew with 
us more.  All in all a good crew day.

So now that Igor and Thomas can get the boat on and off the can, and know 
the necessary combinations, and at least Thomas (and maybe Igor, though he 
won't admit it) can row the dinghy, Sailor Mike and I are wondering when 
we'll come down to the harbor and find the Sloop gone . . . .

CRUISING . . . .
We're planning to sail this Wednesday (tomorrow as I send this) and every 
Wednesday to kinda have a schedule.  The advantage to Wednesdays is that 
they sell food at the harbor that night.  We are open to sailing on other 
weeknights, so if you have a standing Wednesday commitment, just send me a 
note and request another night.  We'll also be cruising next Friday 
morning, leaving around 1100 hours.

SPACES ON RACES
We have a long distance race this Saturday, which means we need to leave 
the harbor around 7:00 a.m.  If you think you can get down there that 
early, I have space for a couple other people.  There's a big MORF party 
(that's the group that sponsors the races) at Jackson Park Harbor that 
night, and if anyone from the crew wants to go I'll hang around for 
it.  It's usually a great party.  We do need to make reservations for food, 
though, so let me know ASAP if you want to attend the party.

There's also a Lady Skipper race the following Saturday, July 17th, and I 
have a couple of spaces for that day too.  That call is for 0900 hours and 
we'll leave the dock by 0930.

That's it (and more than enough) for now.  Hope to see more of you on the 
water soon!

Skipper Schuy/Lisa
Land:  773-752-6266, Cell:  773-343-0153
E-mail:  sloopscoop@jewellgems.com
----------------------
SCHEDULE (many things permitting . . .)

___Wednesday 7/7
Evening cruise.  Meet at the harbor at 1830 hours.  There's food to buy at 
the harbor; they have a grill going on Wednesday nights.  We should be back 
by 2130 hours at the latest.

___Saturday 7/10
Long Distance Race.  Meet at the harbor at 0645 hours.  We need to leave as 
close to 0700 hours as possible.  Party in the evening at Jackson Park 
Yacht Club.

___Wednesday 7/14
Evening cruise.  Meet at the harbor at 1830 hours.  There's food to buy at 
the harbor; they have a grill going on Wednesday nights.  We should be back 
by 2130 hours at the latest, unless people can stay out later in which case 
we can watch the Wednesday evening fireworks from the water.

___Friday 7/16
Late morning cruise.  Meet at the harbor at 1100 hours.  Bring something 
for lunch--we can grill if you want.

___Saturday 7/17
Lady Skipper Race.  Meet at the harbor at 0900 hours.  We need to leave the 
dock by 0930 hours.  We should be back by 1700 hours.
----------------------------------------------------------------
ON THE HORIZON
Possible cruise up Michigan or Wisconsin shore in August.
Possible Michigan City race
Fireworks cruise on a Saturday night when we're not racing.

---------------------------------------------------
DIRECTIONS to the HARBOR
--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.

***2004 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 it ends.  It ends about a mile south of the 
Museum of Science and Industry, and there is actually a sign that says 
"Lake Shore Drive Ends."  Be sure to get and stay in the left hand lane 
once you pass the museum.  Turn left, following the signs for US 
41.  You'll be curving around the harbor on your left. Stay in the left 
hand lane which becomes a turning lane which turns into La Rabida 
Children's Hospital (There's actually a light there now). 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. Get in the left hand lane which becomes a turning lane 
which turns into La Rabida Children's Hospital (There's actually a light 
there now). 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!