[Sloop Scoop 2003] #5 July 17 - August 3
Sloop John B
sloopscoop@jewellgems.com
Thu, 17 Jul 2003 09:02:55 -0500
Ahoy again--
We've finally been blessed with the steadier and calmer winds and lower
seas of summer. After cancelling both attempts at sailing Wednesday and
Thursday of last week, we've had three of the kinds of sails that remind me
why I spend all of the time and labor and money it takes to have a boat.
We had a glorious night on Saturday--the boat literally sailed herself most
of the way. We tied off the tiller and after Thomas practiced a sail
change we all had an uncharacteristically (at least for us) relaxing
evening. On Sunday I took several colleagues from Columbia on the boat,
and we found in them good helmsperson and crew material as well as great
cruisers. We even made it back just in time for Sailor Mike and I to barely
catch the Adler bus to Ravinia (we actually had to chase it). Yesterday we
had a nice late afternoon sail, finally getting Paul on the boat after
several cancelled attempts. It was also the first time Gloria and I sailed
together this year, and the Sloop was happy to have her back. It was a
perfect afternoon, with the boat sailing herself a good part of the
way. We pray for more of the same. We're booked for Friday night but we
have room for a couple more folks on Sunday.
We're unofficially running "Sloop School" this summer. School is in
session whenever someone who wants to learn to sail is on the boat. If you
want to learn how to sail, just let Sailor Mike or I know when you get on
board. We'll gladly put you to work!
We've got a couple races coming up. We're going to try the double-handed
race on July 26th. Please wish us a much less eventful race than the last
one we double handed! We're also headed to Michigan City the first weekend
in August, and we welcome visits in Michigan City on Saturday--the South
Shore Line goes there and isn't too far from the harbor. We also have more
cruising scheduled. Remember--we take requests for sailing dates, so let
me know if you want us to try to sail on a certain day.
See you on the water!
Pleas allow extra travel time--the construction at the end of Lake Shore
Drive slows things considerably, and read the directions carefully--we've
had several people take unscheduled tours of South Shore lately. I
recommend tours of South Shore--it's where I grew up and it has some
beautiful architecture--but you'd enjoy it more if it's where you actually
intended to go!
Skipper Schuy/Lisa
------
SCHEDULE (weather permitting***, as usual . . . )
___Friday 7/18
Evening cruise--FULL. Meet at the harbor at 1900 hours.
___Sunday 7/20
Early afternoon cruise. Meet at the harbor at 1300 hours.
___Wednesday 7/23
Evening sail. Meet at the harbor at 1900 hours. We'll be back in by 2200
hours.
___Saturday 7/26
Double handed race.
___Sunday 7/27
Mid afternoon cruise. Meet at the harbor at 1500 hours.
__Friday 8/1 -- Sunday 8/3
Michigan City race. We *may* have a space or two. Meet at the harbor at
1530 hours on Friday.
-------------------------
ON THE HORIZON
*Lady Skipper Race #3 -- August 9th
*Sloop John B Birthday bash--really--August 10th
*cruise/harbor hopping/gunkholing for a few days in August (probably up the
Wisconsin coast).
*Tri-state Race, Labor Day weekend
---------------
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)> Non-skidmarking dark soled sailing shoes
and sandals are fine, but most street shoes with dark soles will leave marks.
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. Of course you have the option
without the suit, too--there are precedents for fully clothed and barely
clothed water babies.
***"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.
***2003 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 you are forced off at the Musuem of Science and
Industry. LSD is detoured onto Cornell Drive (also called the inner drive)
which meanders through Jackson Park. Stay in the leftmost southbound lane
through a couple of stoplights. When you reach 63rd street, there will be
a stoplight and a left turn lane--get in that land and turn left. You will
continue through the park and get a chance to admire the gilded statue of
Columbus which marked the entrance to the Columbian Exposition in
1892. Bear right at the statue and continue past the phantom harbor on the
left (it's for those OTHER kind of boats) until the road bends
left. There's a light at what will once again be the end of Lake Shore
Drive someday. Continue straight past that intersection. You'll see the
harbor on your left. Continue until the first left you can take--it has
been changed so that it is about 1/4 mile down from the sign for La Rabida
Children's Hospital. Take this left (essentially it doubles you back west)
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. Continue until the first left you can take--it has
been changed so that it is about 1/4 mile down from the sign for La Rabida
Children's Hospital. Take this left (essentially it doubles you back west)
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. 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:
Until the construction is done, it's really hard to get there on either
bike or skates safely. You can take the detour bike path detour, but I
don't know where it ends up--you can take it until you're on the lake again
and then head back north and turn at the sign for La Rabida. You could
also take the detour with the cars from Lake Shore Drive and use the
streets, or walk through the construction zone which starts at 63rd Street
beach, but that's about it. If you follow the cars, read their directions,
and at the end of the driving directions add: 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). 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.