[Sloop Scoop 2010] Sloop/Schuy goodbye this weekend (May 14-15, 2011)

[Sloop John B]

Ahoy mates of the Sloop John B--Cruisers and Crew and Sloopscoop Lurkers All

It's spring and middle-aged sailors mind turn to . . . spring 
commissioning and lots of hours of work in the boatyard--usually.

This year after 15 seasons, the skipper's world has changed and 
broadened greatly as joined the Foreign Service, temporarily left Lake 
Michigan's shores for the Potomac River (where she survived death by 
Powerpoint) and will shortly leave a little more permanently (two years) 
for the shores of the Gulf of Guinea--specifically Accra, Ghana. 
Apparently there is not much ocean sailing there, but I hear there is a 
yacht club called the Yatch club--really.  I'll have to check it out. 
Accra is tropical, with year-round temps in the 70s through 90s and 12 
hour days, and I'm afraid without my usual change of seasons I will be 
channeling the movie Groundhog Day.  We'll see.

Despite the year-long sailing season, the Sloop, ever a fresh-water 
vessel and proud that she still has a working Atomic 4 engine (and wants 
to keep it that way), has decided she will not be sailing to Africa. 
(However Tonka, my soon-to-be-18 year old Ford Ranger, has jumped at the 
chance to go on a safari).  Technically the Sloop is for sale but I 
don't have the time to find a broker or get all of her gear together for 
a buyer, so unless something surprising happens, she will sit for a 
couple of seasons until I come back for home leave in the summer of 
2013. Hopefully I will be able to put her into the water and try to sell 
her then (and the market will hopefully be better), because I will be 
headed back to DC for more training and then off to yet another embassy 
or consulate in yet another country every few years until I mandatorily 
retire at 65.

Meanwhile, I have squozen a couple of days out of my training schedule 
to swirl through Chicago before I leave the hemisphere. I am planning on 
hanging out either at my empty apartment or 7-10 restaurant/bowling 
alley on 55th street Saturday (May 14th) around 6:30 pm on. I also want 
to go to Julius Meinl on Southport and Addison around 11am for a couple 
of hours on Sunday.  If you want to wish me bon voyage and Godspeed, 
please drop by either or both of those place at either or both of those 
times.

Please let me know if you will try to join me so I'll have an idea of 
numbers and can let you know where I'll be for sure on Saturday or if 
the time changes either Saturday or Sunday. (I'm here to take care of 
business, so that takes precedence).

Thank you all for 15 wonderful seasons, and for humoring me by reading 
this newsletter for the past 13 years. I wish you smooth seas and 
stunning sunsets and marvelous moonrises and Godspeen in all of your 
future adventures.

Love from me and the Sloop John B

Skipper Schuy/Lisa