[Sloop Scoop 2004] #7, June 16 -- June 27

[Sloop John B]

Cruisers and crew--

We made it out for our first sail on Friday, June 4th in the early 
evening.  The winds were from the northeast and we sailed out past the crib 
and back, reaching over six knots.  Other than not being able to find the 
downhaul and having to rig the vang as a downhaul (and hence deal with the 
boom bouncing around a bit) it was a great tune-up sail.  (Whatever that 
means . . . )

On Sunday the 6th we successfully served as committee boat for the first 
Lady Skipper race.  It was a perfect day for being committee boat, 
relatively calm water and south winds so we weren't rocking and rolling at 
anchor all day.  Our novice committee boat crew mastered the flag, horn, 
and timing sequences brilliantly.  We should have make the first mark the 
SW mark, but the sailors didn't seem to mind not having to beat all the way 
to the windward mark (whatever that means).  Thanks to Monique and Cat and 
Nile and Jessica and Sailor Mike for helping out.  Once we figured out that 
we needed to press a switch that was neither labelled or described in the 
instructions, we inaugurated the new 12 volt blender (a gift from Igor) 
with smoothies made with drunken strawberries.  We also re-inaugurated the 
grill, and Monique accidentally gifted the tenacious low-flying seagulls 
with three bratwursts (immediately after saying "I haven't lost any of the 
bratwursts," of course).

This past Thursday we took Thomas out to learn how to maneuver on and off 
the mooring can at the helm.  His first attempt was perfect, but on the 
second attempt I pushed the throttle forward and it broke.  We shut off the 
engine until Mike informed us he had already released us from the can and 
we were drifting.  I managed to work the broken throttle cable by hand and 
get up back on the can.  (I think it was the original cable--I can't fault 
it for only lasting 31 years.)  At least it was a good teaching opportunity 
for Mike and Thomas to see how to manipulate the engine by hand, which 
lever did what, etc.

On Sunday, Sailor Mike and I went out to replace the throttle cable, and 
were greeted with a way-too-high of an idling engine.  I now know how to 
set the idle and she's nice and quiet again.  It was pretty startling--the 
Sloop must of thought she was a race car with all thirty horses powering 
and the boat shaking.  Of course you can't fix anything without something 
else breaking, this time the manual bilge pump.  . . .

But we DO plan on sailing again.  We'll try this Friday afternoon and this 
Sunday afternoon and maybe Wednesday night next week.  I'd like to ease 
into the race season with the MORF casual race on June 27th, crew 
permitting.  Racing is just cruising a little faster with a place to go, so 
try it!

Hope to see 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 . . .)

___Friday 6/18
Mid afternoon cruise.  Meet at the harbor at 1500 hours.

___Sunday 6/8
Afternoon cruise.  Meet at the harbor at 1300 hours.  Bring something to 
grill and or something to blend : )

___Wednesday 6/23
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.

___Friday 6/25
Late morning cruise.  Meet at the harbor at 1100 hours.  Bring something 
for lunch--we can grill if you want.

Sunday 6/27
Possible casual race.  Meet at the harbor at 0915 hours.  We need to leave 
by 0945 hours, and we should be back by 1700 hours.  Anyone wanting to try 
a race is welcome--potential race crew or cruisers who are willing to take 
orders.
----------------------------------------------------------------
ON THE HORIZON
Long distance race on July 10th and Lady Skipper race July 17th
Fireworks cruises on weekday (it was Wednesday but it may be Thursday this 
year) or Saturday nights.

---------------------------------------------------
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!