From sloopscoop@jewellgems.com Thu Oct 1 23:18:07 2009 From: sloopscoop@jewellgems.com (Sloop John B) Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:18:07 -0500 Subject: [Sloop Scoop 2009] #3 10/3 -- 10/17 Message-ID: <20091001220508.51F8E4CE5A@braxton.siteprotect.com> Ahoy cruisers and crew-- Now that the weather is matching the calendar we're in wind-down mode. I made it out on the Sloop nine times in September (12 sails total, including Isle Marie). Most of those days were a mystical misty/foggy dream at some point, and we had almost exclusively eastern winds of some flavor--it was quite an odd month that way. So far I've been out once in October--a short solo sail today cut short by the sight of rain on the horizon headed my way. After years of weather-watching I timed it perfectly to have the boat put away before the first drop of rain hit. (I would have even made it back to shore in the dinghy, but I braved the sprinkles to row over to talk to Gordon). I doubt I'll be lucky enough to pull off nine sails this month, but my ambitious goal is five. The Isle Marie was stripped of her sails today, so the Sloop's days are numbered if she is to have company down the river. I'm planning to sail both weekend days, weather permitting, and as of today (Thursday), Saturday looks iffy. Much can change--this is weather and this is Chicago. I'd still like to get in one sunrise sail this year, and a last full moon sail (that would be Sunday night). If the weather is decent I'll do a double header on Sunday (sunrise/midday or midday/sunset (or sunrise/sunset swiftly fly the days . . .)) to catch as many people as possible, especially those that haven't made it out yet this year. Your incentive for getting here is that next year they'll have pay boxes installed for parking on the street so come now while parking is still free! MAST DROPPING AND RIVER TRIP Tentatively I'd like to wait to drop the mast to fit in a last attempt at a Wednesday night sail on October 7th, which would mean on Thursday the 8th or Friday the 9th. If anyone is free during the day on either of those days, let me know (Kim? Zach?). We may be doing the river trip on a Saturday to accommodate Two Acres' crew, so if you'd like to do the river trip on October 10th, let me know. If weather or other issues interfere, the next date would be possibly Tuesday October 13th or Wednesday October 14th, or worst-case scenario October 17th. It's the end of the season as we know it--hope to see some of you soon. Skipper Schuy/Lisa cell: 773-343-0153 General information: http://www.jewellgems.com/sloopscoop/index.htm (what to do and bring, directions to the harbor (long-winded but interesting and accurate), etc.) ----------------------------------------------------------- SCHEDULE (many things permitting . . .) ___Saturday 10/3 Afternoon sail. Be at the harbor at 1300 hours. We should be back by 1630 hours. ___Sunday 10/4 Tentative sunrise sail. Meet at the harbor at 0500 hours. We should be back by 0830 hours. Midday sail. Be at the harbor at 1100 hours. We should be back by 1500 hours. Tentative sunset/full moon sail. Meet at the harbor at 1730 hours. We should be back by 2030 hours since it's a school night. ___Wednesday 10/7 Evening sail. Be at the harbor at 1830 hours. We need to leave the dock by 1845 so we have light to raise sails. We should be back by 2100 hours. ___Thursday 10/8 or Friday 10/9 (let me know availability for either) Mast-unstepping. Time TBA, but most likely in the morning (meet around 1000 hours). If I only have afternoon help, it may be the afternoon. ___Saturday 10/10 (backup dates 10/13 or 10/14 or 10/17 . . . let me know if you are free for any of these) Meet at the harbor at 0800 hours. Hopefully we'll be out of the water no later than 1430 hours (if . . . no barges, no mean power boats, quick in-and-out lockage and Croissant ready to pull all the boats out quickly). ON THE HORIZON Sailboat lullaby--Winterizing, unpacking, and covering the boat for her long winter's nap. From sloopscoop@jewellgems.com Fri Oct 9 19:30:59 2009 From: sloopscoop@jewellgems.com (Sloop John B) Date: Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:30:59 -0500 Subject: [Sloop Scoop 2009] #4 10/10 -- 10/17 Message-ID: <906224.92505.qm@smtp103.sbc.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Ahoy again-- The mast came down on Wednesday. Cap'n Jack spent the afternoon on the grass supervising and sleeping (he's pretty lame, now, and has wheels to help him walk but he doesn't really like them). It was his last trip to the harbor and to see that boat: he won't make it though another off-season. He's been with me every season since 1997, when he found Nana and I at the harbor and coaxed us to take him home. Having him at the harbor is one of many steps I'm taking to help let him go, somehow, I'm sure naively, thinking it will be easier with each ritual. The mast came down sooner than I'd like, and it was a beautiful sailing night on Wednesday that I couldn't take advantage of just to underscore the point. But then again, they are calling for snow soon, and the boat was in the water since May 2nd, so I think this year's got the record for in-the-water length. **HELP NEEDED FOR RIVER TRIP TOMORROW (SATURDAY) and COVERING NEXT WEEKEND** We were scheduled to go up the river today (Friday) but the weather warded us off. We're going tomorrow early--trying the leave Jackson Park by 6:15 at the latest to catch the sunrise and hopefully be the first boats out of the water at the boatyard. If you're free and hardy enough to brave the hour and the cold, let me know. I'm kind of excited about the early morning trip. The light is so beautiful at that time of day, and there shouldn't be much river traffic other than the fishing boats. We should be on shore by noon at the latest, 10:30 if every detail of the trip goes as smoothly as possible. We'll winterize the boats the first decent weekday next week, and then I'll need a few folks to help me get the boat unloaded and covered next weekend, or, worst case scenario, the following weekend. My back has been giving me a lot of trouble in the last couple of weeks, so I really need the help. If you are willing to help, please let me know and I'll contact people back directly to figure out a schedule rather than send out another Sloop Scoop. I missed a lot of you on the water this summer, so hopefully next summer we won't have a health- or mechanical-related midsummer hiatus. The Sloop and I thank those of you who made it, and brought friends and family, for a good season. Enjoy fall, and don't be a stranger during the off-season! Skipper Schuy/Lisa cell: 773-343-0153 General information: http://www.jewellgems.com/sloopscoop/index.htm (what to do and bring, directions to the harbor (long-winded but interesting and accurate), etc.) ----------------------------------------------------------- ON THE HORIZON Sailboat lullaby--Winterizing, unpacking, and covering the boat for her long winter's nap.