In The Wind: July 29, 2020
BC DAY WEEKEND Take a Sea Cruise Staycation @ Jericho Sailing Centre
Celebrate the BC Day long weekend by taking a staycation sea cruise on Vancouver’s largest playground. Cruises departing from the Jericho Sailing Centre all weekend long, regardless of the weather.
NO SWIMMING in front of the Jericho Sailing Centre
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For the past 46 years this has been Vancouver’s only public beach designated for the launch of small, naturally powered craft: sailing dinghies, rowboats, windsurfers, canoes, kayaks, etc., and swimming is strictly prohibited.
Vancouver has some of the best swimming beaches of any city in the world, however, the stretch of Jericho Beach in front of the Jericho Sailing Centre is NOT one of them.
The danger for swimmers in this area is the extreme amount of small boat traffic including many craft skippered by beginners and novices. It’s all good fun until someone gets a Hobie in the head. Excellent, lifeguarded swim beaches are located to the west at Locarno Beach (with waters warmed by the sands of Spanish Bank) or to the east at the Jericho Beach swim area.
If you see someone swimming in this area please let them know (the area is well signed) or inform the JSCA office or a Jericho Rescue Team member.
Keep a Sharp Lookout for Swimmers Off Spanish Bank & Other Swim Areas
Operating a vessel close to shore around swimmers is both unsafe and illegal.
Transport Canada’s Office of Boating Safety and Vancouver Open Water Swimming Association would like to remind all boaters to operate their vessels safely, in accordance with the law and the principles of safe boating practices. Irresponsible boating activity could endanger the boater, passengers, and other water way users. In warmer weather boaters should to always be on the lookout for swimmers.
The Collision Regulations set out rules for the safe navigation:
- Proceed at a safe speed and take proper and effective action to avoid collision; stop within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.
- Maintain proper lookout – be aware of what is going on around you while on the water boating.
Watch out for other vessels and other waterway users including swimmers, and be ready to stop, slow down and yield.
UFO’s – Fishers on the Pier
In order to avoid unpleasant interactions with fishers we recommend that users of the Jericho Sailing Centre not pass between the Jericho Pier and “J” Buoy – the white striped orange can buoy positioned just out of (wind assisted) crab trap throwing range off the NE corner of the pier.
Although fishing is not permitted off of the east side of the pier, it does frequently happen and recently one of our members boats was hit by a crab trap.
Be Safe, Be Off the Water Before Sunset
In the past week, Jericho Rescue was called upon to do 3 rescues, well away from the Centre, after the sunset. Please bear in mind that your safety and that of your crew is your responsibility and the wind reliably, and abruptly, shuts off in the hour before sunset.
NOTICE: Ocean Gates Are Locked at 2100H
The Jericho Sailing Centre ocean gates are locked each day at 2100H. If you don’t have a gate key please make sure you are back in the compound by then. Sailors should be aware that the wind frequently shuts off abruptly in the hour before sunset.
Jericho Sailing Centre Covid-19 Safety Protocols – Week 12
The Jericho Sailing Centre is sailing into Week 12 of operation under the Jericho Sailing Centre Stage 3 Covid-19 Safety Protocols. These protocols have been put in place to minimize the risk of spreading Covid-19 among the users, staff and volunteers of the Jericho Sailing Centre and must be strictly adhered to-no relaxation or Covid fatigue permitted.
The main gate will be the only access point for members and their guests during Stage 3. Non-member Galley patrons must enter via Gate 1. (closest to the Jericho Pier). School patrons must go to the designated School Zone on the beach side of our facility:
GATE 1 MacSailing & The Galley.
GATE 4 Windsure.
GATE 5 Jericho Beach Kayak Centre
Everyone entering the Jericho Sailing Centre facility must: wear a facemask at all times, stay physically distanced at all times, wash their hands frequently, register upon entry*, and of course, be kind to each other. Have your JSCA member card** with you and registration will be a quick card swipe. Please remember to pack your facemask with your equipment. Guests accompanying members will be required to provide their name and phone number*. All ocean gates will remain closed until needed for boat launching or retrieval.
To support the Jericho Sailing Centre Covid-19 Safety Protocols we have located temporary washroom, changeroom, shower and handwash stations throughout the compound. Showers and changerooms within the building will not be available. Interior washrooms will have an occupancy of 1 and people with accessibility challenges will be given priority.
All traffic within the Jericho Sailing Centre hallways and staircases, will be One Way only to support physical distancing. Please look for directional signage through-out the building and compound. JSCA office service is accessible via 2 service windows on the east exterior wall under a temporary awning.
The success of our Jericho Sailing Centre Covid-19 Safety Protocol depends on the cooperation of our entire Jericho community. Although members have been exceptionally good about adapting to and following the new protocols over the past eleven weeks, there have been a few who have have put “self” over “community” by not wearing their face mask properly at all times within the Centre. Please do not be selfish. Together we are doing everything we can to minimize the risk of spreading the Covid-19 virus. If we can all keep our respiratory droplets to ourselves we will succeed. We expect to be tweaking and tuning the Jericho Sailing Centre Covid-19 Safety Protocols through-out the summer as things evolve. We value our member feedback and input to help the Jericho Sailing Centre Association minimize the risk to all.
JULY 22 UPDATE: (the Disney Amendment)
A clarification of our facemask policy with respect to eating and/or drinking within the Jericho Sailing Centre facility:
“You may remove your face covering while actively eating or drinking, but you must be stationary and maintain appropriate physical distancing while doing so.”
*Registration information is taken for the potential purpose of Contact Tracing only. All information will be securely stored and destroyed after 30 days.
** Please ensure you have signed the 2020 liability waiver to activate your membership card. We are installing a member card access system at the front gate in the coming weeks. Your card will only work if fees have been paid and the liability waiver has been signed. Waivers can be signed at the following link: JSCA Waiver
Jericho Sailing Centre: BC Day Weekend Gate Keeper Ambassadors Needed
We are looking for more JSCA member volunteers to assist us with gate control under our Jericho Sailing Centre Covid-19 Safety Protocols. Our goal is to ensure that the ocean gates are used only for launching and retrieval of craft. On sunny, busy days in particular, gates have to be left open at times to facilitate numerous members and craft coming and going. In these intervals beach walkers tend to leak into the Jericho Sailing Centre compound, unmasked and unregistered. We are looking for diplomatic volunteers to help keep them from entering anywhere other than the specific gate they are looking for; Galley, schools, etc. Gate Keeper Ambassadors will also open and close gates for their fellow, boat toting members. Members who volunteer for this program will receive a stylish new Jericho Sailing Centre hat and a 2020 gate key. Please let me know by reply email if you have any questions or would like to sign-up for a shift. Shifts are generally 2 hours and it’s a great way to meet fellow members and share information on the Jericho Sailing Centre with the public.
Thank you to all of the JSCA members who are volunteering in our Gatekeeper Ambassador program. You folks are the unsung heros of this coronavirus enriched season at the Jericho Sailing Centre! We gratefully accept drop-in volunteers during busy periods; please consider volunteering for an hour or so before or after your ocean therapy session.
** Covid Guidelines Alert** SUNDAY AND TUESDAY RACERS MUST NOW PRE-REGISTER ONLINE
Jericho’s regular Sunday Racing program has been increasing in popularity and numbers have been swelling to 1990s levels. While this is great news for our racers, we do have to be mindful of Dr. Henry’s Public Health Order limiting events to a total of 50 people. Effective July 30th online registration will be required on a event-by-event basis for both regular Sunday and Tuesday Nite racing programs. We apologize to those racers who have already registered for the entire season as they will be required to re-register every week like everyone else. Numbers will be capped at 44 participants based on class rule crew requirements for each type of registered boat. Once the limit of 44 participants is reached, any further racers will be turned away both on the water and from the registration process. Big thanks goes to Richard Spencer for being able to alter the code on https://www.jracing.org/ in such short order, protecting our ability to continue to offer regular racing programs. As the code change has happened quickly, we ask for people’s patience as we work out any potential issues.
Weekly Racing Programs
Weekly Racing Programs, with slightly modified Covid-19 rules, will continue through August.
Tuesday Nite Racing – Tuesdays @ 1815H
Jericho Wavechaser – Thursdays @ 1900H
Sunday Racing – Sundays @ 1230H
Jericho Sailing Centre Affiliated Clubs Sign-up Season
One of the best ways to enjoy recreational ocean access on Vancouver’s largest playground is to join a community based club at the Jericho Sailing Centre. These low cost, not for profit, volunteer driven organizations provide a wide variety of boat access and training programs for dinghy sailing, paddling, windsurfing, SUP and rowing programs as well as social opportunities. Clubs looking for new crew include:
ClubLocarno – http://www.clublocarno.com/
Companionway Sailing Club – http://www.companionwaysailing.ca/
Disabled Sailing Association – http://disabledsailingbc.org
Discovery Sailing Club – http://www.discoverysailing.org
Jericho Paddling Club- http://www.jerichooutrigger.com/
Salish Sea Coastal Rowing Club – http://www.salishsearowing.ca/
UBC Sailing Club – https://ubcsailing.org/
Viking Sailing Club – https://www.vikingsailingclub.bc.ca/
For more info. on all JSCA Affiliated Clubs surf over to https://jsca.bc.ca/clubs/
Jericho Sailing Centre Summer Schools in Session
Summer school is back in session at the Jericho Sailing Centre. Jericho’s school partners are operating under Covid-19 Safety Protocols to ensure everyone’s ocean experience is as safe and enjoyable as ever. School patrons must book lesson and rental services in advance and will enter the Jericho Sailing Centre, by appointment, at the designated school zone gate.
With fewer leisure opportunities available around Vancouver this summer, Jericho School programs are filling fast. Don’t delay, register today for lessons, rentals, seasons passes and summer camps.
Windsure Adventure Sports for windsurfing, SUP and skimboarding
MacSailing for dinghy sailing & canoeing
Jericho Beach Kayak Centre for kayaking and surf ski
Jericho Wavechaser: Thursdays @ 1900H Registration Opens Tonight 1900H
Registration for Race #8 will open at 7:00 PM on July 29th. There are several spots as not all pass holders registered. If registration is full, put your name down on the waitlist and drop by on Thursday, as there may be last minute spots opening up. www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=218080
Facemask Photo of the Week Contest
Facemasks are the required summer fashion within the Jericho Sailing Centre this summer, so we are going to have a little fun with it by posting the Facemask Photo of the Week contest.
Weekly winners will receive the newly designed Jericho Sailing Centre ball cap, the perfect accessory for your distinctive facemask.
Send your photo entry via “in the wind” reply email.
This week’s winner is Julian Vahl who is sporting the mask his Mother back in Germany made for him while volunteering on the Albatross Tuesday Nite Racing committee.
WOW! Women on Water Tuesday Evenings @ Jericho
Jericho Beach Kayak Centre co-owner, Erian Baxter started the popular Women on Water program at the Deep Cove Kayak Centre 18 years ago for women of all paddling abilities to come together for a relaxed, semi guided, summer evening paddle. This summer the program comes to the Jericho Sailing Centre on Tuesday evenings from 1830H-2030H.
Jericho Beach Kayak Centre’s experienced volunteers lead the paddle and keep the group together.There are also special themed nights throughout the summer, such as Date Night, Mother Daughter Night and the ever-popular Dress Up Night, where everyone is encouraged to wear their finest dresses…as long as you don’t mind if they get a bit damp of course!
Most paddlers have some experience but newcomers are very welcome.
For more info. & to register, paddle over to WOW!
NEW @ Jericho – Surf Ski Lessons and Rentals
Want to “turbo charge” your paddling experience? Jericho Beach Kayak Centre is now offering surf ski lessons and rentals.Surfskiing is an exciting, fitness-oriented paddle sport where the boats are lightweight, high-tech, give great glide and yet are very stable. They are paddled like a kayak, but are much lighter so go further and faster. Find out more at JBKC Surf Ski
Galley Patio & Grill – Take Out Service Available @ Gate 1
The Galley thanks JSCA members for their support this summer, and for their compliance with our Covid-19 protocols. Please remember to check in with their Host Table, located at Gate 1, prior to heading up to the patio. The Galley is required by WorksafeBC to keep their own customer contact information records.
Please note that seating has had to be reduced, due to 2-metre distancing between tables. With this in mind, they’ve instituted a “4 people maximum” per table, as well as “1 hour maximum visit” per table.
Mon-Fri: 11:30am-9pm
Sat-Sun: 11am-9pm
Hours are weather-permitting. See you soon!!!
Jericho Sailing Centre – Craft & Equipment Storage Available
There are still some craft and equipment storage spaces available to members at the Jericho Sailing Centre for this summer:
Kayaks $158
Double Kayaks $191
SUPs & Windsurfers $158
Laser Racks $191
Tall Lockers $119
Small Lockers $63
Wake Up Wednesdays with Windsure’s Sunrise SUP Session
Start your Wednesday mornings with Windsure’s sunrise stand-up paddling sessions from 0630H-0730H. Participants can register online and meet their guide at the North side of the Jericho Sailing Centre compound, outside the Windsure beach hut. Attendance for this class is $30.00 including taxes.
Additionally, find all the information you need, including Windsure’s COVID-19 safety guidelines, to book lessons and drop in for rentals on the Windsure website, www.windsure.com. There is a new option this season to reserve and pay for stand-up paddling and windsurfing rentals online.
Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, with the exception of statutory holidays, the second hour of every rental is free!
Facemasks
The last pandemic taught us that containing respiratory droplets in a facemask is a simple strategy to stop the spread of a deadly, highly contagious virus.
If we all keep our droplets to ourselves, wash our hands, keep physically distanced and frequently disinfect high touch areas; Covid-19 doesn’t stand a chance of spreading at the Jericho Sailing Centre. That’s our goal.
During the last 9 weeks of operation we have noticed that many Jericho users have come prepared with their own face masks. We encourage ALL Jericho users to bring their own facemask. The disposable masks we have been providing are PLASTIC and we should all be focusing on using less plastic. Please: be kind to each other; be kind to our environment.
DISPOSABLE FACEMASKS ARE AVAILABLE FOR $2 AT THE FRONT GATE. PLEASE SAVE MONEY, SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT BY BRINGING YOUR OWN.
The Maiden Factor Fundraiser
Click HERE – Link to Fundraiser
Maiden’s current mission is to inspire and empower women and girls to reach their true potential through education and to bring awareness to pervasive and ongoing gender inequality-both in education and in sailing. The Maiden Factor does this by supporting charities that work with vulnerable girls many of whom are living in poverty. As you probably also know Maiden provides female sailors (like myself) with once in a lifetime opportunities to sail on Maiden as Milebuilders. Maiden also inspires anyone (young, old, male, female) and encourages people to follow their dreams!
Jericho Sailing Centre Etiquette
Common sense and consideration of fellow members and other users 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:
- No Alcohol is permitted within the Jericho Sailing Centre other than that served by the Jericho Galley Patio & Grill At no time is alcohol permitted outside of a licensed area.
- 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 or 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 dollys are for launching/retrieval only (not for storage) and must be returned to the fence immediately after use.
- 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 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 onshore 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.
- Respect your Centre!
Safety on the Ocean 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 practise.
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 its 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
Always do a careful pre-launch safety check of your craft equipment and crew
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.