In the wind: August 3, 2022

Never too old to Windsurf…

A vintage mint condition 1970’s Windsurfer One-design surfs the waters in front of the Jericho Sailing Centre on BC Day 2022. In Jericho’s early days dozens of Windsurfers like this would have been out on such a fine Vancouver summer day, their mantra, to quote an early windsurfing pioneer: “wind and water, nature’s most powerful elements, to combine them in perfect harmony is the ultimate free ride“.

NOTICE

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Water Service Interruption Thursday August 4
The Jericho Sailing Centre’s water service will be temporarily shut off Thursday, August 4 from 0600H-1100H to allow us to repair a cracked water main south of the building. Porta-potties with hand sanitizers are onsite just east of the building. Our solar powered rainwater collection tank near the main entrance recycling compound is available for equipment rinsing. We apologize for any inconvenience.
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PRIDE PADDLE: AUGUST 4, 1915-2115H

Celebrate Pride on the Water!Join Jericho Beach Kayak and other LGBTQ2SAI+ identifying folks for a relaxed sunset paddle on Thursday, August 4 from 7:15-9:15pm. No kayaking experience is necessary and sliding scale pricing is available. This is a great way to try kayaking or meet other paddlers and connect and celebrate with the community!

For more details and to sign-up visit: https://jerichobeachkayak.com/community/pride/

This Saturday @ Jericho

Photo: Sea Otter

Rumrunner Regatta August 20 & 21

Photo: Jim Davie

There once was a time when rum runners avoided Jericho Beach like the plague.

During prohibition in the United States, the flying boat crews of the Jericho Beach Air Station often assisted Canada Customs in their quest to inhibit the illicit flow of demon alcohol to our teetotaler dominated, thirsty southern neighbours.

On August 20 & 21 the tide turns and the rum runners will be heading north with immunity as the Jericho Sailing Centre hosts the F18 Rum Runner Regatta on the waters of English Bay off of Jericho Beach.
There will be a distance race on Saturday starting at 1230H and the F18 fleet will roll into our regular Sunday Racing program at 1230H on Sunday.

For F18 Rum Runner Regatta Notice of Race smuggle your mouse over to: speakeasy

Regular Sunday Racing as usual on Rumrunner weekend!

Smugmug’s Sea Otter Photo Gallery

Photo: Jim Davie

Local photographer, Jim Davie, has been developing his sea legs on board our Jericho Rescue boats catching action on waves in the waters off the Jericho Sailing Centre. Check out his gallery of awesome photos taken over the past few weeks: https://jimdavie.smugmug.com/C-Otter/

Photo: Jim Davie
Photo: Jim Davie

Regular Sunday and Tuesday Nite Racing

All members and registered guests are welcome to join Jericho Sailing Centre’s weekly sail race programs. Please remember to register at jracing.org

Photo: Jim Davie

Join a Jericho Sailing Centre Club

Photo: Jim Davie

One of the best ways to enjoy recreational ocean access on Vancouver’s largest playground is to join a community based club 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/ClubLocarno rowing lessons are open to the public. Windsurfing, sailing, kayaking and rowing lessons are open to their members.
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/

Jericho Wavechaser Paddle Race Series Thursdays @ 1900H

Photo: Dale Rollings

Paddle racing every Thursday evening to the end of August open to all level of paddlers in outrigger, SUP, surfski, prone, and kayak. Courses vary depending on conditions. Each race night has a short and a long course. Check-in starts at 6 pm, race starts at 7 pm. Race fees are $5 for Jericho Sailing Centre members and $10 for non-members.

English Bay Safety Seminar August 8 @ 19:00

Photo: Dominique Labrosse

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. 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 45+ years. Why make your own mistakes when you can learn from the mistakes of others? Don’t challenge Darwin’s theory, make sure your water safety knowledge is the fittest it can be. Your survival may well depend upon it. Find the missing links and fill in the gaps in your water safety knowledge by attending a FREE English Bay Safety Seminar. RSVP by email to book your spot info@jsca.bc.ca
Slideshow Available on our Website

There be Dragons here!: Find out where not to go in Vancouver Harbour
Traffic Control Zone 1 – highlighted on the chart above in yellow is a “no go” zone for Jericho style craft of any type.

A Message From Transport Canada Office of Boating Safety

Operating a Human Powered Craft

BIPOC Paddle: Every 2nd Wednesday of the month

Jericho Beach Kayak is proud to provide a safe and accessible space for BIPOC folks to come paddling. Join us and other BIPOC-identifying folks for a relaxed 2h paddle from Jericho Beach. There is no previous kayaking experience required. Our guides will make sure everybody is comfortable in their kayaks and on the water. We are looking forward to having a fun time as a community. Sliding scale pricing is available. More details and to register: https://jerichobeachkayak.com/community/bipoc-paddle/

SOS: Future of Jericho Pier Unclear!

Photo: Marija Romic

Renewing the Jericho Pier is not identified as a priority project in the proposed 2023-2026 capital plan.” 

from the June 27, 2022 Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation meeting report on the 2023-2026 Capital Plan.

We are still waiting to hear back from the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation about plans for reopening the Jericho Pier which was severely damaged in the January 7, 2022 storm. We’ll keep readers updated in future newsletters.

In the meantime, please send your comments to the Park Board. PB.Comments@Vancouver.ca

Launch Dolly Etiquette

Yellow launch dollies are for Jericho Sailing Centre community use-please be considerate of others by not leaving them on the beach. They must be returned to the inside of the fence immediately after launching. They are for launching and retrieval only-please do not leave your boat on them. Private dollies should not block access between the ramps and the beach or the beach pathway.

A Reminder to All Users

The Jericho Sailing Centre is a Non-motor Powered Recreational Facility – No Recreational Motors Permitted, including electrics. Strictly enforced.

THE GALLEY HAPPY HOUR!

New from The Galley

THE GALLEY HAPPY HOUR! Available from weekdays 3:30-5
Spicy curly fries $8
Bruschetta 2 pieces-Vine ripened tomato, topped with parmesan-Olive tapenade, topped with feta crema $10
Prawns diablo 3 pan seared tiger prawns, with grilled bread$10
Craft beer flight 4 glasses, each 5oz

NO SWIMMING in front of the Jericho Sailing Centre

The beach area immediately north of the Jericho Sailing Centre is Vancouver’s only public beach designated for the launch of small, naturally powered craft: sailing dinghies, SUPs, rowboats, windsurfers, canoes, kayaks, etc., and swimming is strictly prohibited.

Vancouver has some great swimming beaches, 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. Many years ago a woman standing waist deep in this area had her leg broken by an out of control boat. 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.

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. 
WE ARE CONTACTING OWNERS OF SHREDDED TARPS TO REQUEST IMMEDIATE REMOVAL FROM THE JERICHO SAILING CENTRE COMPOUND
Photo: Jessica Norn

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 Policy
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.

Jericho Sailing Centre Current Covid-19 Safety Protocols

Covid Hasn’t Left Us – If you are feeling sick please stay home!

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

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.

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 PermitsLog in or Create Account
  • Login to your guest account or create one.
  • Select Lot 69 Jericho Beach