In the wind: September 22, 2021

UBC REC Day of the Longboat This Weekend @ Jericho Sailing Centre

The largest Voyageur canoe race in the world is back at the Jericho Sailing Centre this weekend after the 2020 event was cancelled due to the pandemic. The event normally includes 3500 paddlers and takes place over 2 weekends. This year it has been scaled back to 2,000 paddlers and will be on this coming weekend only. All participants required proof of vaccination to be registered. Teams of 8 to 10 race in heats of up to 8 voyageur canoes off Jericho Beach around a 2km course. Saturday will be a practice day for about 200 crews, each getting 1 hour, between 0800H-1600H. Sunday 0800H-1700H is the big event and we ask users to take extra caution before leaving or approaching the beach so as not to end up as part of the race. The Jericho Rescue Team will be out in full force to facilitate safe launches and landings. There will be lots of action and a DJ making UBC REC’s Day of the Longboat a very spectator friendly event.

Galley Patio & Grill Closed for the Season

Penguin Cup Racing Series – Sundays, October 3, 10, 17 & 24, @ 1230H

Penguin Cup Racing Series takes a break this weekend as the Jericho Sailing Centre hosts the world’s largest Voyageur canoe race: Day of the Longboat. Penguin Cup resumes for 4 more Sundays starting October 3.

A start in a previous week’s Penguin Cup had to be delayed to facilitate a ship movement near the course. The racers asked Race Officer Dominique Labrosse to run a downwind race around the barge mooring off Kitsilano Beach and back. Here is Dominique’s photo of an exceptionally rare downwind race start.

Click here to register for this free event

Dare to Dream! Dare to Achieve! Dare to Succeed! 

Join Vancouver-based 5-time Olympian Nikola Girke to celebrate her accomplishments during her world-class competitive career in both windsurfing and sailing.

1 Olympian

2 Decades

3 Disciplines

4 Quadrennial cycles

5 Olympic games

MANY lessons-learned!

Join Nikola in conversation as she reminisces about the lessons she’s learned from a life of commitment, courage and choice to compete as a world-class athlete.

Fireside Chat moderated by friend and fellow Coach, Catherine North.

Send Us Your Jericho Photos

Thanks to JSCA Staff member Johnny Looi for sending us these ripping photos of MacSailing Instructor Colin Taylor on dawn patrol last Wednesday morning before class at UBC.

Near Calamity in the Port of Vancouver Traffic Control Zone

On Labour Day Monday a group of 30 novice SUPers departed Jericho Beach and attempted to paddle across the Burrard Inlet to Ambleside. (An important distinction here: while they departed Jericho Beach, the group did not originate from the Jericho Sailing Centre). The 10-12 knot westerly breeze and strong flowing tide pushed the inflatable SUP fleet into the Port’s Traffic Control Zone where naturally powered craft and jet skis are forbidden for their own safety. The group dissipated in the strong current and turbulent sea surface with some landing on the Stanley Park shore, some landing on the North Shore, and 17 shooting the gap through the First Narrows under the Lion’s Gate Bridge. A commotion ensued and the group was rescued by a Port vessel, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Vancouver Police Marine Squad. Fortunately no one was injured. Here is the VPD’s report of the event: VPD Report

English Bay Safety Seminar Online

The English Bay Safety Seminar was developed for users of the Jericho Sailing Centre to help keep them safe at play while on the waters of English Bay and beyond. The seminar covers basic water safety fundamentals along with user specific information drawn from the logs of the Jericho Rescue Team who have intervened in thousands of “sea disasters” over the past 46 years.

click: English Bay Safety Seminar

Jericho Sailing Centre Current Covid-19 Safety Protocols

The Jericho Sailing Centre Association is committed to fighting the spread of Covid-19.

Here are the current Jericho Sailing Centre Covid-19 Safety Protocols:

  • Mask use mandatory in the building, optional in the compound.

Please bring your own mask. Disposable masks available for purchase in the JSCA Office.

  • Sailor’s Lounge and roof top deck open to members.
  • Indoor washrooms capacity limits removed.
  • Other than the Burrard room, all rooms in the Jericho Sailing Centre building are back to their original capacities.
  • One-way travel in the building.
  • Member service window barrier and office configuration will be retained. Indoor mask use by staff retained. Outdoor mask use by staff optional.
  • Indoor shower and change room usage under consideration. Will remain closed for the time being.
  • Continue to be kind to each other and give each other generous personal space.
  • Vaccine Passports are not required at this time, however we support public health recommendations for everyone to get vaccinated.

We anticipate further changes, tweaking and tuning, as we move through the summer. Thank you for being considerate of others.

Jericho Sailing Centre Association Notice of Annual General Meeting
Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 1900H

The Jericho Sailing Centre Association’s 48th Annual General Meeting will be held Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 1900H online (login and voting details to be announced). The 2020/2021 J.S.C.A. Board and Committees will report on their accomplishments this past year and the challenges for the future. Please plan to attend and participate in the future direction of your ocean access community centre.

Call for Nominations

Voting will take place to elect eight members for a two-year term to our 15 member Board of Directors. The J.S.C.A. Board meets regularly to set policy and determine Jericho’s direction. Interested members who have time and expertise to offer are invited to submit a letter indicating their experience and areas of interest to the J.S.C.A. Nominations Committee c/o the Jericho office no later than 1700H, Tuesday, October 12.  The nomination letter must include your name, address and telephone number.  For additional information contact Mike Cotter, J.S.C.A. General Manager 224-4177 or email mike@jsca.bc.ca.

Wind Shuts Off Abruptly

photo: Dominique Labrosse

The wind frequently shuts down abruptly within an hour of sunset. If you are on a wind powered craft this means you have just run out of gas. The general rule of thumb for sailors is: never sail further away from home port than you would care to paddle within that hour; and, always carry a paddle.
Today’s Sunset 1905H

Outdoor HOT Showers

Located on the exterior west wall

On the Water-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.

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 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.