[Sloop Scoop 2005] #1, July 13-23

[Sloop John B]

Ahoy Sailors and would-be sailors--

It's finally summer.  I bet you thought summer had already started, but it=
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was an illusion.  Summer is defined by the Sloop John B's sailing season,=20
and since the Sloop just made it into the harbor on Friday, I'm here to=20
inform you that it is now OFFICIALLY SUMMER!

It's been a rough year on many fronts.  You may recall we had a tough and=20
early end-of-the-season last September, leaving me with a bit of=20
post-traumatic stress and a lot of off-season expense and work.  In my life=
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that was just the beginning, as I also had a litany of similar struggles=20
with Cap'n Jack, income-producing work, Tonka (my truck), my home, the=20
health of one of the most important people in my life, and my own=20
health.  Fortunately that all seems long ago as most things have stabilized=
=20
(other than Tonka and work).

The biggest thing on my plate these last weeks has been the Sloop.  She=20
almost didn't make it in the water several times.  As you know a boat is a=
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big expense and a lot of work (if you're curious, Thomas and I put together=
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a spreadsheet of expenses this year, and Sailor Mike put together a list of=
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pre-season tasks last year.  Taken together, it's a pretty daunting=20
task.  It's amazing that I ever do it!  I'll try to put them up on the=20
Sloop Scoop site).  In the past I've had more income, a boat partner or=20
partners, and more willing labor. I had little of all-of-the-above this=20
year since I haven't had a partner for two seasons now (if you know of any=
=20
interested parties let me know!), I lost a contract job I was counting on=20
in November, and haven't been able to make up the income, and after nine=20
seasons my pool of willing post- and pre-season crew has slowed to a=20
trickle.  And as Murphy would have it, this was a labor-intensive and=20
expensive year.

This season, all of our days and nights on the water are possible only due=
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to some extraordinary gifts from some extraordinary family and friends; the=
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staff at Croissant Marina (the Sloop's winter home); and some long and=20
often discouraging hours of labor led by Marlinspike (Thomas) and I with=20
the help of the Vangpire (Laura), Igor, Monique the wood wench, Eric, and,=
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as always, Gordon.  If you see them, thank them.  Profusely.

The first way to pay off that debt is to enjoy a great season!  The Sloop=20
is almost completely new under the waterline--some things planned and=20
others not-so-planned but ultimately gratuitous (I'll tell you about the=20
propeller sometime).  We also have a shiny new carburetor (more skills for=
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my mechanic resum=E9) and new spreaders (now that we've made them fit)!  I=
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feel pretty good about the boat right now; I feel like I really know the=20
Sloop's current state intimately, and her current state is in many ways=20
better than it was when she came into my life ten seasons ago.  My crew=20
knows her better now, too.

So, let's step the mast (Wednesday morning) and sail (every possible=20
occasion after that)!  This year the first mate duties are spread among=20
several people, and there may be times I can't sail if I don't have enough=
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crew.  The best way to keep that from happening is to come often enough and=
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learn to help crew.  It's the best free sailing school in town--just feed=20
the skipper--and we always a wonderful and different blend of interesting=20
people for you to meet.

We start with a shakedown cruise on Saturday afternoon, and then hope to=20
sail Wednesday evening, Friday morning, and Saturday afternoon of next=20
week. The schedule is below.  The general information (what to do and=20
bring) and directions to the harbor can be found on the Sloop Scoop site at
http://www.jewellgems.com/sloopscoop/index.htm
Sailor Mike had been trying to move them off the end of the e-mail for two=
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years and I finally got around to doing it.  (The next project is a nice=20
downloadable Adobe Acrobat .pdf with the info . . .  )  While you're on the=
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site, whet your appetite for fun and adventure by checking out the pictures=
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from 2002--when I still had time to put slide shows together!

Drop me a line to let me know that you're still alive, too, and join us on=
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the water early and often.

Skipper Schuy/Lisa

Land:  773-752-6266, Cell:  773-343-0153
E-mail:  sloopscoop@jewellgems.com

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SCHEDULE (many things permitting . . .)

___Wednesday 7/13
Mast stepping!!!!  Meet at the harbor at 0930 hours.

___Thursday 7/14
Rain/not-quite-ready date for Mast stepping, or fitting and tuning=20
time.  Meet at the harbor at 1700 hours.

___Saturday 7/16
Shakedown sail.  Meet at the harbor at 1300 hours.

___Wednesday 7/20
Evening sail.  Meet at the harbor at 1830 hours.

___Friday 7/22
Midday sail.  Meet at the harbor at 1030 hours.

___Saturday 7/23
Afternoon sail.  Meet at the harbor at 1300 hours. =20