In the wind: April 27, 2022

Jericho Sailing Centre’s Schools Open This Weekend

Mac Sailing, Windsure and Jericho Beach Kayak will be open starting this weekend offering lessons and rentals.
Windsure offers stand-up paddling, skimboarding and windsurfing lessons and rentals.
Mac Sailing offers sailing and canoeing lessons and rentals.
Jericho Beach Kayak offers kayak and surfski lessons and rentals. They also host Friday evening Jericho social paddles starting May 6th and Tuesday evening Women on Water (WOW) paddle sessions starting May 10th.
Bookings are open now.

The Galley is Open

Food and drink on Vancouver’s best patio deck is available weather permitting.
New this season is a refreshed craft beer offering.
Click through to look at the current menu.

Pay Parking in Effect

Pay Parking is in effect in Jericho Beach Park from April 1 through September 30.Season parking passes are available through EasyPark for $105.
To apply for a parking pass:

Go to https://easypark.t2hosted.ca/Account/Portal

  • Scroll down to Permits and click Get Permits, Log in or Create Account
  • Login to your guest account or create one.
  • Select Lot 69 Jericho Beach
JSCA ILCA sailors Jacek Suski, Cameron Pierce and David Gibson, are visible approaching the windward mark in the ILCA 6 (Laser Radial) fleet during the Flights of Spring Regatta. The Saturday was breezy with a steady westerly, while winds on Sunday were light and shifty, mostly from the East.
Photo: Kyle Martin. Click here for Kyle’s Flights of Spring Gallery.

Regular Sunday and Tuesday Nite Racing Start This Sunday.

Regular Sunday racing gets underway this Sunday. First signal will be delayed until 1300 hrs due to the BMO Marathon. Please remember to register at jracing.org. Regular on water programs push off in April and reach hull speed by the start of May:

 The end of May sees the Jericho Paddling Club host local OC-6 crews for the Jericho Iron Race while June will be an especially busy month with three sailing regattas including the Jericho Classic, Jericho Catamaran Classic and the ILCA Canadian Masters Championships June 24-26 (more on that below). Keep your eye on the events section of our web site at jsca.bc.ca/events for additions to the schedule and up to date information on all our on water programs.

BMO Marathon Road Closures In Effect Sunday May 1.

Access to the Centre will be limited to Belmont Ave.

Please note that NW Marine Drive will be closed Sunday May 1 from 0930 hrs to 1200 hrs to accommodate the BMO Marathon. Access to the Centre will be from Belmont on a limited basis. Allow yourself some extra time to get down to the Centre or try and avoid the closure period. Sunday Racing’s first signal will be pushed back to 1300 hrs.

Paint and Stucco Project Continuing

Stucco on the East wall is currently being repaired as part of our greater exterior painting project.
Our office service window has temporarily relocated to the north under the deck where the wind data screen usually sits.

Access to the building through the foyer doors may be limited from time to time as work progresses. The fire door on the south of the building near the parking lot gate will act as the building access point when the large blue foyer doors are inaccessible.

Keeping Our Compound and Our Environment Clean

Is your boat tarp in good condition? Fraying tarps contribute much of the plastic pollution in our compound and is now in violation of our newly revised storage policy.

Part of our newly revised storage policy is dedicated to making sure we are doing what we can to keep our compound and the environment as free from pollution as possible. One major source is the disintegration of tarps which end up sending small shreds of plastic around the compound and likely blown into the ocean by the breeze. Please note the new Environmental Stewardship clause of our revised storage policy:

Environmental Stewardship
a.) All craft and covering materials must be kept in good condition. Any craft, covers or other materials causing pollution due to fraying, disintegrating, flaking etc. must be removed/repaired/replaced at first sign of deterioration.
b.) Members are required to ensure that any cleaners/water soluble solutions used in the compound are non-toxic, 100% biodegradable and not harmful for marine life, water quality and local wildlife.
c.) Any chemicals used for boat repairs including but not limited to: fiberglassing resins and hardeners, Sikaflex, fiberglass, toluene, acetone, paints, varnish etc. are to be removed from J.S.C.A property and disposed of in the appropriate manner off-site.
d.) Any repairs done on craft at J.S.C.A must be done in a way that captures all waste materials during the process.

A disposal bin in the compound will is here to help dispose of old tarps and other items that have reached the end of their useful lives.

Photo: Roger Pimenta

Club Sign-up Season

One of the best ways to enjoy recreational ocean access on Vancouver’s largest playground is to join a community based clubs based out of 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/
UBC Sailing Club – https://ubcsailing.org/
Viking Sailing Club – http://www.vikingsailingclub.bc.ca/join-our-club/
Jericho Paddling Club – http://www.jerichooutrigger.com/membership.html
Discovery Sailing Club – http://discoverysailing.org/
Companionway Sailing Club – http://www.companionwaysailing.ca/
Salish Sea Coastal Rowing Club – http://www.salishsearowing.ca/page-18087
Sea Dragon Sea Scouts – https://www.facebook.com/seadragonseascouts/

For more information on all JSCA Affiliated Clubs surf over to https://jsca.bc.ca/clubs/

2022 ILCA (Laser) Canadian Masters Championships at Jericho June 24-26

The local ILCA fleet along with the JSCA is proud to host the 2022 ILCA (International Laser Class Association) Canadian Masters Championships here at the Jericho Sailing Centre.
This event is available to all ILCA sailors 30 years of age and older as of June 24. As this is a masters event there are the following age categories:
30-44 Apprentice
45-54 Master
55-64 Grand Master
65-74 Great Grand Master
75+ Legend

Scoring considerations are made for older sailors to even out the competition. This is a three day event with on water judging, a BBQ included for all sailors and volunteers on the Saturday evening, prizes for the top sailors and draw prizes for all participants and volunteers.

Our regatta co-chairs Bob Ennenberg, Tony Martin and Tim Murphy have been busily working behind the scenes to create a fun regatta for all involved. We will however, need the Jericho community to help make this event a success. If you are interested in helping out feel free to reach out by email to ILCAN_masters@jsca.bc.ca. To find out more click here.

Don’t Feed the Rabbits

Vancouver Park Board Notice

Feral rabbits populate the grassy areas around Jericho Beach. Drawn by their fluffy tails, twitching noses, and relative tameness, people often try to handle and feed them. But these interactions poise serious health threats to both the animals and public, and have negative knock on effects to the environment.
Invasive species Jericho Beach’s feral rabbit population is an invasive species colony, originating from domestic pets that have either been purposefully released into the wild, or escaped. 
Invasive species can out-compete native species for food and space, damage ecosystems, disrupt food sources, and introduce parasites and disease. They are the second greatest threat to biodiversity following habitat loss.

Don’t release
Bunnies are sadly often abandoned in parkland. Not only does this contribute to the negative impacts of feral rabbits in the park but it leaves domestic animals frightened, malnourished and vulnerable to a huge range of harmful consequences including traffic accidents, predators, and disease. 

Don’t touch
Touching or trying to pick up wild animals is distressing for them, and can put people at risk of being bitten or scratched. More seriously, rabbits carry pests and parasites such as ticks, which can transmit deadly diseases to humans and dogs such as Lyme Disease.

Don’t feed
Wildlife feeding is prohibited across all Vancouver parks and beaches, and can incur a fine of up to $500. Not only is feeding feral rabbits unhealthy for them, when they gather around feeding areas, they become more vulnerable to predators and spreading disease. Food left out for rabbits attracts mice and rats which can lead to infestations and further opportunities for spreading diseases like Hantavirus. 

Give wildlife space
The best thing you can do for any wild animal is give it space, and observe from afar. If you have a dog, keep it under control, on leash, and away from wildlife.

As education and signage rolls out to remind the public how to peacefully co-exist, the we’ll continue to work closely with wildlife experts, the BC SPCA and the Invasive Species Council of BC, on long-term research and monitoring of rabbit populations and their impact on Vancouver park ecosystems.
Coexisting and protecting Vancouver’s wildlife relies on all of us doing our part to ensure both animals and people can enjoy our greenspaces without negatively interacting with one another.

Report
Any incidents of wildlife feeding should be reported immediately by phoning 3-1-1.
Find more information on Vancouver’s wildlife and tips on peaceful coexistence

Flare Disposal Opportunity May 14th

Many of you who carry flares on your vessel know that disposing of stale dated flares can be a frustrating chore. Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS) has partnered with CIL to help address this issue. CPS will be collecting old flares free of charge at Steveston Marine and Hardware (at both Richmond and Kits locations) Saturday May 14th. CPS will then organize and box them up properly for disposal by CIL.

Cold Water Recreation

Appropriate Attire – Dress for Cold Water Immersion
The water temperature is now well below the level where it is safe to recreate without proper cold water attire: wetsuit, drysuit, etc. People who get into serious trouble at this time of year have often made the mistake of dressing for the air temperature not the water temperature, which might be OK until something goes wrong and they suddenly find themselves unexpectedly immersed in cold water. 

Always Stay with Your Craft
When a sailing dinghy, windsurfer or kayak capsizes they are usually within a couple of swim strokes of their crew. Some craft, particularly SUP’s and surf skis, require a safety leash (in good condition and properly attached) as they can easily get away in a capsize situation. Never leave your craft in an emergency situation as it is far easier to spot from a distance than a person in the water. 

Use the Buddy System
Always sail, paddle, 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. 

Off Season Launch Log
Please use the Jericho Sailing Centre facilities at this time of year at your own discretion. All users understand that they are ultimately responsible for their own safety. In addition to letting a friend or family member know of your safety float plan you can check in at the JSCA office to register in our off Season Launch Log. The JSCA assumes no risk or liability for your safety on the water. 

Be Aware of Sunset
Make sure your safety float plan includes plenty of time to get off of the water before sunset. If something goes wrong for you: equipment failure; changing conditions; fatigue, etc., you are very difficult to find in the dark.

Here is a link to one of our favourite cold water education sites:http://beyondcoldwaterbootcamp.com/

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:

Masks are optional in the building and the compound. Please bring your own mask. Disposable masks available at the JSCA Office.

  • Continue to be kind to each other and give each other generous personal space.
  • Roof top deck open to members.
  • Indoor capacity limits removed. All rooms in the Jericho Sailing Centre building are back to their original capacities.
  • Member service window barrier and office configuration retained.

We anticipate further changes, tweaking and tuning, as COVID ebbs and flows. Thank you for being considerate of others.

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.
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.
For more water safety info., tread water over to: English Bay Safety Seminar.

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.