[Sloop Scoop 2002] Sloop Scoop 2002 #5, July 19-July 28

[Sloop John B]

Hello sailors and would be sailors --

First, the technical stuff (please read it anyway!)

This is the first time I'm sending the 'scoop out through the new mailing 
list.  I'm doing it this way because 1) I can send the message once instead 
of to multiple blocks of ten people, and 2) because as part of my hosting 
package for my web site (I finally got a host so that my portfolio didn't 
have "students" in the URL), I get one mailing list and I hate to pay for 
something and not use it!  Rest assured, though, it's the same Sloop Scoop 
coming to your mailbox.  You only need all that weird web stuff if you want 
to take yourself off of the list.

PLEASE do NOT send messages to the "sloop-scoop at lists.jewellgems.com" 
address.  I'm the only one who can send to the list and you'll get some 
little message saying your message was rejected.  No one wants to be 
rejected, so, if you want to reach me, send e-mail to 
sloopscoop@jewellgems.com (or any other address you may have for me).   If 
you hit "Reply" to this message, that's okay--that's set up to come 
directly to me.  I limited posting to the list and directed the replies 
this way to protect you all from everyone's replies and inquiries.

I am thinking of setting up a web page with the generic info and directions 
so I don't have to append that stuff to every message.  (I could also add 
pictures and stories and . . .  .) Which would you prefer--getting just the 
rambling and the schedule and my contact info each week and having the 
other info available on the web (advantages: access even when you weren't 
at a computer with your e-mail, and shorter messages), or keeping 
everything on the e-mail (advantage--only one place to go and one thing to 
print out).  I guess I could do both, but that would kill the "shorter 
messages" advantage.

Now, whew, on to sailing  . . .

We did a long distance race last week and came in third (okay, there were 
only three boats in our section . . . but we finished a 20+ mile race so it 
was still an accomplishment)!  Thanks again to Christianne and Thomas and 
also to Maureen.  It was a perfect day on the water.  We're trying another 
race this Sunday.  It's part of MORF's (Midwest Open Racing Fleet's) 
"Casual" series, geared to people who want to try out racing but don't want 
all of the intimidating cutthroat racers on the course with them.  Most of 
those cutthroat racers will be doing the Mac (and a smaller long distance 
race called the Hook), so they won't be around to bother us.  I still need 
crew, and since it is a "casual" race it's fine if you haven't done any 
racing--you're welcome as long as you're willing to lend a hand or move 
from one side of the boat to another on command.

We're having a very full dinner cruise tonight.  There will be more of 
those too.

The schedule for the week is below.  We need crew for the midweek day 
sails.  My partner Debbie is travelling and my partner Gloria is taking 
classes and just found out she'll be moving soon so my usual midweek 
co-sailors aren't available.  So if you're not a teacher or 
self-underemployed, find an excuse to take the day off and come out with us!

. . . and the other benefits of hanging out on the Sloop John B.

Thanks for the book suggestions.  I'll have you know that I didn't just get 
titles, but several people gave me actual book *reviews*.  You guys are 
great.  I'm headed to the library soon.  I also got several offers for 
Chihuly and I'm going today.  I have either met or gotten to know so many 
people through this boat, and many of you have met each other through this 
boat.  It's wonderful to mix up all the people I've met through my many 
disparate interests, work, and adventures and see the camaraderie continue 
on shore.  (Okay, okay, I'm waxing Pisces right now. I'll stop before I go 
overboard.)

Schuy (sky)/Lisa

------
SCHEDULE (weather permitting***, as usual . . . )

___Friday 7/19
Dinner cruise (already full).  Meet at the harbor at 1900.  Bring something 
to grill, and if you can, something to share.

___Sunday 7/21
Casual race.  Meet at the harbor at 0930 hours.  We'll need lunch on the 
water, so get in touch with me to coordinate that.

___Tuesday, 7/23
Late morning OR Evening cruise depending on interest.  Let me know--I'll do 
the one where I have the most crew.  Meeting time with either be 1030 hours 
or 1830 hours.

___Saturday 7/27
Morning sail.  Meet at the harbor around 1000 hours.

__Sunday 7/28
Lady skipper race.  Be at the harbor between 0900 and 0930 hours.

-------------------------
ON THE HORIZON
*weekend crossing (possible race) to Michigan city (first weekend in August??)

*week to ten day cruise along the Wisconsin shore (we'll probably swap 
people on and off the boat at different harbors since few can commit to 
that length of time) sometime mid-August???.

*Tri-State race Labor day weekend (night crossing August 30th to St. Joseph 
Michigan, Sunday from St. Joe's to Michigan City, Indiana, and Monday back 
to Chicago (Illinois, of course).  I'll be selecting crew for this, (not 
first come/first served); let me know if you are interested.  Even if you 
don't crew, you can come visit us in port and join the festivities over there.

---------------
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).

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.

***"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.
 From the north:
***2002 NOTE: CONSTRUCTION ON SOUTH LAKE SHORE DRIVE (the lanes will be 
limited and you may get detoured at times. 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--a sign actually will say LAKE SHORE 
DRIVE ENDS about a quarter of a mile before it happens. There will be a 
stop light and signs showing you could go straight (Jeffery Blvd) or turn 
left (US 41). You'll see the harbor on your left. You want to take the left 
turn-- following the harbor around, and then take the first left (there 
will be sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital). When that road (Promontory 
Drive) forks--take a left fork (again following the harbor around). The 
hospital will be on your right and there is a lot of construction so there 
is no parking on the right side of the street for most of that block. 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. Follow the harbor and take the first left (there will 
be sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital). When that road (Promontory 
Drive) forks--take a left fork (again following the harbor around). The 
hospital will be on your right and there is a lot of construction so there 
is no parking on the right side of the street for most of that block. 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:
Take the lakefront bicycle path south. At the end of LSD you'll have to go 
left around the harbor to follow the path (it's around mile marker 17 
miles) which will also be following the harbor. At the first cross street, 
Promontory Drive, there will be a sign for LaRabida Children's hospital. 
Turn left in the cross street and take it uphill (this is Chicago, so this 
uphill stuff is relative) and bear around to the left when it forks. Take 
the road to the end and come down the parking lot ramp. Bring a cable lock 
if you have one; there aren't a lot of narrow posts, but we do have some 
porch columns.
--------------
Public transportation:

Bus:
Get downtown (again, you're on your own). Take the #6 bus (Jeffery 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)--or 
better yet the #14 if it's at weekday rush hour (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!

"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.