From sloopscoop@jewellgems.com Sun Jul 1 04:28:19 2007 From: sloopscoop@jewellgems.com (Sloop John B) Date: Sat, 30 Jun 2007 21:28:19 -0600 Subject: [Sloop Scoop 2007] #3, July 1 - 15 Message-ID: <6.1.0.6.2.20070630202810.026cdc08@pop.jewellgems.com> Greetings on a perfect summer day . . . . . . and I had to work so all I could do was look at all the happy boats. Actually I was on the boat this morning tuning things up, but it's not the same. RIGGING, SAILS AND DETAILS The sails are now on the boat. I had only planned to throw them in the boat on Monday morning, but Gordon has a way of making me actually do things instead of just think about doing them, and the next thing I knew 1) both sails were up and furled/folded, and 2) I had a sunburn (since I hadn't planned on being out long enough to need sunscreen). The headsail was furled backwards since the alignment of the roller furling drum caused the line to chafe when it's furled the right way (further joys of the new headstay), but the Sloop complained that it looked like her skipper didn't know any better so I turned it around the right way. This morning Gordon insisted we get the furling adjusted right, and he managed to get the turnbuckle turned and the drum aligned correctly. Now the sail furls better than it has in years! We called Wednesday off because of a storm, and then it passed and dissipated so we could have gone, and I had no takers for Monday or Friday. I went down to the boat those days and did some work on the boat--tuning the rigging, adjusting the gear shifter, tightening things down, coiling lines, organizing toolboxes and sorting through paperwork. It was nice just being on the boat. The only problem is you have to bale out the dinghy whenever it's been in the water more than an hour. Next project. I also correctly wired the steaming light (the light you have to have on when you are under motor at night). I thought I had done it correctly before we stepped the mast but I had accidentally wired it to the cabin lights, which meant it was always on when the battery was on, which 1) looks stupid during the day--especially when you are under sail and 2) drains the battery. It turned out that I had cut the bathroom light, which is the most important cabin light there is, thinking it was the steaming light, so I rewired that right away. But yesterday night I found the correct wire and connected it, so we no longer need to have to have someone sit on the deck and shine a flashlight forward when we are motoring at night. It was actually a great job for kids because it was an important that they could do it. I'll never forget how seriously our little pirates Franklin took his job last summer. I may have to resurrect it sometimes just because . . . ARE WE THERE YET? It looks like tomorrow (Sunday) will be *finally* be the shakedown cruise. The winds look reasonable, the waves a little more than I'd like but altogether sailable. I do plan on going out on the 3rd of July for the fireworks and should have a couple of spots, especially for people who may have some sailing experience, so let me know if you're interested and I'll let you know if there's room. I scheduled a sail for the next Saturday, early afternoon, but that's flexible, and next Sunday, later in the afternoon, which is also flexible. I'll plan on a standing Wednesday evening sail, since there's food at the harbor. If I sail on Tuesday this week, I won't sail on Wednesday; but if we get stormed out on Tuesday, I'll try on Wednesday during the day. CONSIDER YOURSELF . . . ONE OF US! No special invitations needed! If you see a date you want to come, just let me know. I'm lousy at calling or individually inviting people, so the Sloop Scoop is your open invitation each time. Don't be shy! I will also schedule sails around people, so if you have family or friends or a special day and you want to sail, let me know and I'll see if it fits in my schedule and try to drum up some crew. On caveat: be sure to check with me--best via cell phone--before you head to the harbor if the weather looks iffy. We usually call it at the harbor, but if you travel far and don't want to risk cancellation, be sure to call. Now--let's get out there and sail! Skipper Schuy/Lisa Land: 773-752-6266, Cell: 773-343-0153 http://www.jewellgems.com/sloopscoop/index.htm (what to do and bring, directions to the harbor, old pictures . . .) ---------------------- SCHEDULE (many things permitting . . .) ___Sunday 7/01 Midday sail. Meet at the harbor at 1100 hours. Bring something to grill and something to share. We should be back by 1600 hours at the latest, most likely sooner. ___Tuesday 7/3 Fireworks cruise. Meet at the harbor at 1700 hours. Bring something to grill and something to share. **Check with me for availability** ___Wednesday 7/4 Morning cruise if we don't get out Tuesday night--meet at the harbor at 1000 hours. Also a chance for an early morning cruise & swim if we camp out on the boat Tuesday night) ___Saturday 7/07 Midday sail. Meet at the harbor at 1100 hours. Bring something for lunch for you and something to share. We should be back by 1600 hours at the latest, most likely sooner. ___Sunday 7/08 Late afternoon sail. Meet at the harbor at 1500 hours. We should be back by 1900 hours at the latest, most likely sooner. ___Wednesday 7/11 Evening cruise. Meet at the harbor at 1830 hours. There is food to buy at the harbor, so you may want to come earlier to get something to eat. We should be back no later than 2130 hours. ___Saturday 7/14 Sunset and Fireworks cruise. Meet at the harbor at 1930 hours. Since the fireworks don't start until 2230 hours we won't be back until close to midnight, so plan for a late night. ---------------------------------------------------------------- ON THE HORIZON Wednesday and Saturday fireworks cruises A race or two if anyone wants to crew Longer cruise/crossing in August From sloopscoop@jewellgems.com Wed Jul 11 22:42:08 2007 From: sloopscoop@jewellgems.com (Sloop John B) Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:42:08 -0600 Subject: [Sloop Scoop 2007] #4, July 11 - 25 Message-ID: <6.1.0.6.2.20070711140218.026cfdb0@pop.jewellgems.com> Lake- and Landlubbers-- After several days of dehydration I am really glad the temperature is in the 70s. It's amazing how hard it it to rehydrate when on top of a 100+ degree F temperature you are continually baked and sweating. But I'm better now, and I have lots of energy for writing. WE'RE ALL SHOOK UP Finally after several weather and crew cancellations we went sailing! We weren't sure that the shakedown sail would happen on July 1st, but NOAA cancelled the small craft advisory at noon. It was still a pretty windy and wavy shakedown sail, and I wouldn't normally have gone out for a shakedown in 11- 16 knots of northeast wind and 2-4 foot seas, but Gordon agreed to come, Thomas also knew the boat, and our new crew pirate Jenny Rotten (aka Marie) was unfazed by weather. Our cruisers Labeeba, Vishal and Derrick didn't mind the ride as long as one of them stayed out of the cabin below. The Sloop was fine and enjoyed her tummy rub immensely. She only needed a tad of tuning, and the only event was a bowline coming undone on the jib which was solved with a quick tack. YES, SAILBOATS DO NEED GAS . . . AND 5 FEET OF WATER The 3rd of July was characteristically eventful, somewhere in the midrange of usual Independence Day adventures. We did manage to do some sailing, out of necessity since we were low on gas and the gas dock closed on us. There were 10-20 knots of wind out of the WSW for us, but other people saw a lot more wind than we did. On a running reach it was a nice ride to McCormick Place where we stopped short to avoid the crowds. Dana and Chas now know how to set an anchor (perfect job on their first try--Dana informed a mischievous crew member that wrapping the line around her waist really was not a good idea and she would ignore that suggestion). Although we were glad Mary finally got the grill lit, we all realized that lighter-fluid is not the best marinade for vegetable skewers. Everyone now knows what to do when you get stuck on a sand or mudbar, since they got to practice twice--once going out and once coming in. We learned that it's good to bring a sweatshirt for an evening sail, and even better when a crew person brings enough sweatshirts for those who don't have one (thanks Chas). We learned that sailors are a helpful bunch, and will tow you in if you run out of gas at the channel entrance. And we saw two fireworks shows--one by the city of Chicago and one by mother nature: the thunderstorm coming in as we scrambled to get on the mooring (we only had one chance and Mary and Chas made it happen) then back to shore in time. We did make it in on time, but no one seemed to be in a hurry to get off the boat because the proactive bunch was busily straightening up and packing things away. I'll tell you, that crew and the rain made for the cleanest post-3rd of July fireworks boat ever! Thanks to Arleigh, Chas, Dana, Eleni, Chas, Jenny Rotten, and Mary for being such unfazable folks! If you're on Facebook and join the Sloop Scoop group you can see pictures now. SHAHARAZAD We now have an autopilot. Gordon and I installed it on Sunday and he finished wiring it to power and the instruments on Monday. We haven't calibrated it yet, but I'm excited. It will be nice to have an extra crew member that stays focused (myself included here), doesn't need to be fed by hand, frees me to actually show someone how to do something. But then of course I may miss those teaching moments like "Get that blue and white line at the base of the mast . . . no the base of the mast . . . no, the blue line with the white spots not the white line with the blue spots . . . okay now wrap it around the winch . . . no the other winch . . . no the other way . . . " So our stand-in helmswoman has been named Shaharazad. The brand name of the autopilot is Simrad, and Gordon's autopilot was already named Sinbad, so that name was taken. Of course Thomas pointed out that at least Sinbad was a sailor, but our little Sloop is full of adventurous tales and is very accustomed to a loquacious skipper, so there you go. FREEING THE FUTURE In response to one of those surrealistic straw-that-broke-the-camel's-back moments that it turned out only half-happened, I quit my job on Monday. I had resigned the full-time position in April, but I was still doing part-time work for an indefinite period of time. In one totally unplanned day I was out of the office and went from the perspective of an intense three weeks of workshops in July and something or other next year to . . . well . . . the future is my oyster. I do have some regrets of how things played out; I wish I had been able to make it happen in a "better" way. I don't have regrets about the outcome of a necessary break though, so I can't let the perfect be the enemy of the . . . adequate . . . in this case. So I plan on sailing, cleaning house, doing laundry, going to the farmer's market, fixing food and eating right, exercising, keeping up with friends, going to movies, and, well, catching up on breathing and living after a long stressful run that finally hit the saturation point. I'm looking at expanding some self-employed teaching/artistic options (individually or together), as well as looking at other part-time work options and returning, yet again, to school. In the meantime, I'll be doing some volunteer shifts at the Planetarium and at the Center for Book and Paper Arts, and, at least for a couple of weeks, I'm resting. I'll keep you posted. . . . AND FINALLY, SAILING! Tonight, this weekend, next week, next weekend, the following week. Check the schedule--I did change this Saturday from a sunset/fireworks cruise to a day sail. Come on out. We miss you. 'Nuf said. Lake Michigan and the Sloop await . . . Skipper Schuy/Lisa Land: 773-752-6266, Cell: 773-343-0153 NOW UPDATED! http://www.jewellgems.com/sloopscoop/index.htm (what to do and bring, directions to the harbor, old pictures, and soon a current captain's log and new pictures) ---------------------- SCHEDULE (the usual weather/crew caveats apply . . .) ___Wednesday 7/11 Evening cruise. Meet at the harbor at 1830 hours. There is food to buy at the harbor, so you may want to come earlier (any time after 1700 hours) to get something to eat. We should be back no later than 2130 hours. ___Saturday 7/14 Midday cruise. Meet at the harbor at 1030 hours. Bring something for lunch and something to sail. We'll probably get in around 1500 hours, maybe sooner. ___Monday 7/16 Mid-afternoon OR Sunset cruise I'm taking out a friend and his family, but I do need crew. If you are free mid-afternoon Monday or Monday evening, let me know. ___Wednesday 7/18 Evening cruise. Meet at the harbor at 1830 hours. Bring food for dinner or buy it at the harbor (any time after 1700 hours). We should be back no later than 2130 hours. ___Friday 7/20 Morning cruise for anyone who is free or wants to call in well. Meet at the harbor at 0930 hours. We'll be in not later than 1300 hours for a late-ish lunch. ___Sunday 7/22 Late afternoon cruise. Meet at the harbor at 1530 hours. Bring something for lunch and something to sail. We'll probably get in around 1900 hours, probably sooner, so bring a snack to tide you over until dinner time ___Tuesday 7/24 Morning cruise for anyone who is free or wants to call in well. Meet at the harbor at 0930 hours (negotiable). We'll be in not later than 1300 hours for a late-ish lunch. ___Wednesday 7/25 Evening cruise. Meet at the harbor at 1830 hours. Food is available at the harbor starting at 1700 hours, or bring your own. We should be back no later than 2130 hours. ---------------------------------------------------------------- ON THE HORIZON Wednesday and Saturday fireworks cruises A race or two if anyone wants to crew Longer cruise/crossing in August _______________________________________________ Sloop-Scoop mailing list Sloop-Scoop@lists.jewellgems.com http://lists.jewellgems.com/mailman/listinfo/sloop-scoop