Kitsilano Coast Guard Station Re-opening this Weekend Not What You Might Be Expecting

Kitsilano Coast Guard Station Re-opening this Weekend Not What You Might Be Expecting

Apr 29, 2016

Vancouver’s Kitsilano Coast Guard Station, the busiest Coast Guard Station in Canada

before it was closed in 2013, will re-open this Sunday, May 1st, 2016, but not as people in Vancouver are expecting it to.

May 1st will only be the initial phase as the inflatable inshore rescue boat “CCG#506”, which has operated the past 3 summers from Deadman Island in Coal Harbour with a CCG Coxswain and 2 students on each shift, will be re-stationed to Kits. It will be re-named “Kitsilano 1”, as it’s predecessor rubber boat at the station was, and be crewed by regular Canadian Coast Guard crew members. Following phases are expected to include the additions of an environmental pollution response vessel and an all weather cutter similar to the Osprey, which was stationed at Kits for many years. When these phases will be completed or details on the final station inventory is a fuzzy mystery which the Canadian Coast Guard in Ottawa is not sharing with Canadians.

If an incident similar to the April 8 & 9, 2015 Marathassa fuel spill were to occur in English Bay May 1, 2016 the KItsilano Coast Guard Station would be no more capable of mounting an emergency environmental response than it could in 2015 when it was closed. Up until it closed in 2013 the station could have provided an emergency environmental response to Marathassa that would have prevented bunker C fuel from polluting and closing Metro Vancouver beaches and the local fishery for more than a month. Our local ocean is precious whale habitat and requires better Canadian Coast Guard protection.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not back paddling on his election promise to re-open the station. He gave Department of Fisheries and Oceans Minister Hunter Tootoo a specific mandate to re-open Kitsilano station and his government backed up that commitment by providing a $23 million budget to re-open it and operate it for the next 5 years. (the station was closed to save a claimed $700K a year). Adequate funding to procure: an environmental pollution response vessel and the right equipment to button up a ship like the Marathassa within an hour with capable crew; and, a Coast Guard rated all weather SAR vessel capable of reaching and operating in places like the BC Ferries route on a dark and stormy night in the middle of a Pacific coastal winter when the CCG hovercraft from Sea Island capabilities are severely limited.

The problem appears to be that, while the mandate has changed, the Coast Guard Commissioner in Ottawa is the same person who recommended the closure of Kits in the first place, and then, in the wake of the bumbling CCG response to the Marathassa spill, flat out lied, telling Vancouverites that the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station had no environmental response capability and wouldn’t have made one iota of difference had it remained open. Remember this picture of the environmental pollution response vessel stationed at Kits which surfaced in the wake of that statement? An inconvenient truth. Take what the Commissioner tells you with a hearty grain of sea salt.
Six months after Canadians decisively changed the course of our country, the Canadian Coast Guard in Ottawa has been far too slow to change tacks-not a good quality for an organization tasked to respond to human and environmental emergencies on the ocean. Re-opening the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station on May 1 equipped with little more than the Deadman Island IRB summer student station is simply bureaucratic heel dragging by someone at the helm who really isn’t that interested in seeing it open.
Landlubber Spring arrived early in Vancouver this year, but the ocean is still hypothermia wintery cold. More and more people are heading out on the water, increasing ship and other vessel traffic continues to swell environmental and navigational risks, and, starting May 1, the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station is still not where it needs to be to meet the needs of Vancouver’s marine environment. Canada is a big country. Sometimes it takes a little longer for the changing season to arrive in Ottawa. Hopefully the change arrives in time.

Jericho Sailing Centre Etiquette

Common sense and consideration of fellow members help make the Jericho Sailing Centre a true community centre with a friendly salt water community atmosphere. Here are a few etiquette reminders to keep things sailing along smoothly: Do not leave your craft unattended on the shoreline for extended periods – share the shore. RAMPS, and the areas adjacent to launching ramps, are for craft launch/retrieval only. Do not rig, repair or otherwise loiter in this area.Do not leave or rig your craft in the rinsing areas adjacent to hosing stations.The Jericho Sailing Centre is a SMOKE/VAPE FREE facility. There is No Smoking/Vaping permitted in any Vancouver Park or beach area.Give pathway users the right of way and bear in mind they may be distracted and not aware that you are crossing the pathway with your craft or launch rope.Launch dollies are for launching/retrieval only (not for storage) and must be returned to the fence immediately after use.If you launch from your own dolly or trailer return it to your storage spot after launching.Do not use the winches unless you are familiar with their safe operation. Winch instruction is available from staff or Jericho Rescue Team members. Only members or registered guests may use winches & dollies.Only leashed, well behaved, non-barking/whining dogs are allowed in the compound. No dogs are allowed in the building or on the deck. Do not tie dogs to the base of stairwells or in other traffic areas. Do not leave your dog on shore while you are on the water. The City prohibits dogs on beaches. In consideration of other Jericho users please consider leaving your dog at home while visiting the Jericho Sailing Centre.Please coil hoses immediately after use and conserve water.Do not block aisle ways.Rinse racks are for rinsing not drying.Swimming is prohibited in front of the Jericho Sailing Centre.
Colder Conditions Require Appropriate Attire and Preparation

Winter conditions can be challenging. Some people look forward to winter ocean recreation as a way to keep enjoying the salt water sports that they love. Over the years, Jericho Rescue has rescued people in the initial stages of hypothermia at all times of year. In winter, this is a risk people should be mitigating with proper preparation. Tim Murphy sails on a blustery, chilly day in mid January. Note the smaller ILCA 6 rig, drysuit and toque. Tim also made sure to stay close to shore in case something went awry. Upgrade your attirePlay safe and dress for survival. Now that the air and water temperatures have become noticeably cooler, the wetsuit or thermally protective attire that may have been optional in the summer months are now mandatory. It depends on your activity. If you are sailing or windsurfing then a cold water wetsuit is in order. A full length 4/3mm or thicker wetsuit with a proper hood or hat would be a minimum (a 5/4mm or thicker suit would be even warmer). Wetsuit manufacturers also offer accessory thermal layers to add warmth as conditions get colder. This is a great way to extend the usefulness of your regular suit. Some folks prefer drysuits – this time of year it would be important to make sure you are wearing proper insulating layers beneath your drysuit. In either case, check to make sure your suit is in good condition with no holes and that the seals are functioning properly. Heat loss from your head and/or neck should be addressed with a hood, hat and/or a neck tube. Neoprene booties, gloves or mittens are also a good idea. If paddling or rowing, its a good idea to add insulating and/or wind-blocking layers to a dry bag in the bottom of your boat. This way you can layer up and down as you cycle through work and recovery intervals during your workout or if you end up getting wetter than expected. It’s important that these layers work well when wet and do not absorb water – wool and synthetics are recommended. Be smart about your activity patternsSailing, paddling or rowing in the cold means being smart about your route and preparation. Mitigate your chances of being caught out in the cold by doing more laps closer to home instead of forging further from shore. If windy, make your way upwind first to protect against getting caught downwind should something go wrong. Be conservative with your gear choices, skill and endurance levels. The cold combined with extra attire always makes activity a little more difficult and the consequences of gear or skill failure are more dangerous. Choose a smaller sail, or a more seaworthy kayak than you might choose in similar conditions during the summer. Resist the urge for “one more reach” and make sure you’re on shore before you get tired or before the cold reduces your ability to operate your craft competently. These UBC Sailing Club kayakers are well equipped for winter paddling. Note the safety gear on deck, drysuits, neoprene hoods, a calm day and a buddy to paddle with. If you do fall into ice cold water unprepared, your body will cool off more quickly than it can generate heat. The 1-10-1 rule states that after a minute of fast breathing and panic, you’ll only have about 10 minutes or so of coordinated gross motor strength and function and one hour of consciousness. Plan your route so that you can quickly return to shore should you get colder than expected during your activity. However, if you cannot manage to re-board your craft after a capsize, always stay with your craft – it is far easier to spot than a person in the water. Have a plan to call for help if you need it.The law requires a sound signalling device, but a whistle or horn is no good if no one is on the water to hear it. If you do venture further from shore be prepared with a way to call for help. A cell phone in a waterproof case or a VHF marine radio (as long as you are licensed to operate it) are good items to bring with you. Safety in numbersUse the Buddy System. Always sail, paddle, or row with someone else, especially in cold water conditions. Let a reliable friend or relative know when and where you are going and when you expect to return. Diligently contact them upon your safe return. For more information on cold water survival surf on over to Cold Water Bootcamp.
SAFETY is YOUR responsibility

On the ocean there are elements of risk that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. Regardless of how you decide to use the ocean always show courtesy to others. Please adhere to the code listed below and share with others the responsibility for a safe ocean experience. It is every member’s responsibility to know and observe the rules of the road when on or near the water. Here are some key rules which every Jericho member must know and practice.0.5 IT IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY TO AVOID A COLLISION 1. Always wear your P.F.D. on the water.2. Sail powered craft have the right of way over power craft, paddle and rowing powered craft.3. All non-commercial vessels shall keep well clear of commercial vessels.4. It is illegal and extremely dangerous to pass between a tug and it’s tow.5. A port tack sailing vessel shall keep clear of a starboard tack vessel.6. A windward vessel shall keep clear of a leeward vessel.7. A vessel clear astern shall keep clear of a vessel ahead.8. Any vessel overtaking another shall keep clear.9. A vessel tacking or gybing shall keep clear of a vessel on a tack.10. The area south of the orange can buoys is for training or transiting only.11. Swimming or wading on the beach in front of the Centre is prohibited and is particularly dangerous for small children.12. It is unsafe to loiter or let children play near the bottom of launching ramps.13. Stay well clear of the end of the Jericho Pier as fishers cast lines as far as possible.14. Be cautious of pathway traffic when launching/retrieving.15. Do not leave your craft on the shoreline for extended periods of time. Common sense goes a long way toward maintaining a safe environment. Membership in the Jericho Sailing Centre Association is contingent on members knowing and observing the Safe Ocean Sailing rules.

Kitsilano Coast Guard Station Re-opening this Weekend Not What You Might Be Expecting