In the wind: September 6, 2023
Endless Summer
Many users of the Jericho Sailing Centre go into marine hibernation following the Labour Day weekend; but wait, don’t put that boat away for the season just yet. September is seventy-seven percent summer and is often one of the best months for naturally powered ocean activity in Vancouver. The transition of seasons from summer into fall often brings a bountiful harvest of wind over the bounding main. Water and air frequently maintain their summer composure, temperature wise, and although twilight progressively dwindles down to the shortest last straw of summer days, there can still be time to slip in a quick session on the briny between the end of laboring for daily wages and the end of useful daylight.
The Jericho Sailing Centre will be busy, supporting 7 more on water event days this September including the largest of our 80+ events each year: the 3,500 participant UBC Rec “Day of the Longboat” over the last 2 weekends. Also on our event calendar is the Tasar BC’s Regatta (September 9 & 10), and the aptly named End of Summer Regatta on the last full weekend of summer September 16 & 17.
When the summer of 2023 officially takes its final bow on September 23rd don’t be surprised if it’s followed by a curtain call with an encore of summer-like weather in the early autumn providing even more great ocean recreation conditions well into October.
Deconstruct Jericho Pier: Park Board Recommendation
The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation will consider a staff report recommending deconstruction of the Jericho Pier at their meeting on September 11 at 1900H. The Jericho Pier has been a much loved public amenity since the Park Board rebuilt the former Jericho Beach Air Station pier in 1977. It has provided millions of visitors from all over the City and all over the world with the best view of Vancouver in Vancouver, however, a broken up log boom and beach logs propelled by a King Tide storm surge in January 2022 smashed it to smithereens. The Jericho Pier was already well beyond it’s expected service life and a proposed replacement concept designed in 2017 to contend with sea level rise and log mishaps would cost between 21-25 million dollars; well beyond the City’s budget or ability to fund raise.
The Jericho Pier has been very useful supporting the Jericho Rescue and Adaptive Sailing Association programs which have both been challenged to operate without it for the past two summers. More importantly, the Pier’s rock breakwater and wood wall barrier provide protection for the Jericho Sailing Centre shoreline and launch area without which our ramps and beach area would erode significantly. The deconstruction proposal calls for preserving and reinforcing these protective features. Should future funding become available for a new pier, this proposed deconstruction would have to occur.
You can read the full report at this link: Jericho Beach Park Pier – Next Steps
Tasar BC’s Regatta
This Weekend at Jericho
Two days of Tasar racing to decide the BC Champs. Registration in person from 1100H-1200H Saturday September 9. Racing from 1300H Saturday and 1200H on Sunday. For more information see the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions linked below.
Tasar BC 2023 NOR
Tasar BC 2023 SI
End of Summer Events at the Jericho Sailing Centre:
Tasar BC’s Regatta September 9 & 10
End of Summer Regatta September 16 & 17
Fall Events at Jericho
UBC REC Day of the Longboat September 23, 24, 30 and October 1
Penguin Cup Racing Series October 8, 15 and 22 @ 1230H
JSCA Volunteer Appreciation & Racing Awards Dinner Oct. 22 @ 1730H
Jericho Sailing Centre Association Notice of Annual General Meeting
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 1900H
The Jericho Sailing Centre Association’s 50th Annual General Meeting will be held Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 1900H. The 2022/2023 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 10. The nomination letter must include your name, address and telephone number. For additional information contact Mike Cotter, J.S.C.A. General Manager 604-224-4177 or email mike@jsca.bc.ca.
Special Resolutions
The Special Resolutions 1 through 17 to amend the JSCA Constitution and Bylaws were developed over the past year by the JSCA Bylaws Committee and recommended by the JSCA Board of Directors for approval by the membership at the Annual General Meeting.
Jericho Sailing Centre School Partners
Jericho Sailing Centre’s school partners introduce thousands of people to ocean recreation each year. Surf over to their websites for information:
Jericho Beach Kayak Centre
Kayaking and Surf Ski lesson, rental and pass programs.
JBK
Windsure Adventure Watersports
Windsurfing, Wing Surfing, Wing Foiling, SUP and skimboarding lesson, rental and pass programs.
Windsure
MacSailing
Dinghy Sailing and Canoe lesson, rental and pass programs
MacSailing
Galley Patio and Grill
Hours of operation (weather permitting):
Mondays through Saturdays 1130H-2200H
Safety Notice: Running Out of Gas as Darkness Descends
If wind fuels your craft, you must be aware of the time of sunset as the wind frequently shuts off abruptly within the last hour of daylight. Sailing dinghies are required by law to carry a paddle for this very purpose. Never sail further away from Jericho in the evening than you would like to paddle. Today’s sunset is at 1945H and we lose a couple of minutes of daylight each day.
SAFETY NOTICE
Upcoming Low Water Levels of concern this week:
None this week.
For complete tide information skim over to: Water Levels
Foiler Alert!
Foiling Craft at Jericho can draw more than 1m of water when they are not foiling and we recommend launching between Ramps 2 & 3.
Pieces of the DND wharf remnants can be seen beyond the shore break in this picture to the left and right of freestylin’ Peter on his windsurfer. This photo was taken at the 0.1′ low on July 4. The visible sections are part of a creosoted wood beam wall pile driven into the mud bottom. They are about 30′ running parallel north to south and covered in nasty barnacles. Peter says he has hit them several times over the years at higher water levels (under 4′) when they are less apparent.
Photo: Seaotter
English Bay Safety Seminar
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 49+ 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
Sail the Slideshow on our Website
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
- Always wear your P.F.D. on the water. PFD’s MUST be properly fitted.
- Sail powered craft have the right of way over power craft, paddle and rowing powered craft.
- All non-commercial vessels shall keep well clear of commercial vessels.
- It is illegal and extremely dangerous to pass between a tug and it’s tow.
- A port tack sailing vessel shall keep clear of a starboard tack vessel.
- A windward vessel shall keep clear of a leeward vessel.
- A vessel clear astern shall keep clear of a vessel ahead.
- Any vessel overtaking another shall keep clear.
- A vessel tacking or gybing shall keep clear of a vessel on a tack.
- The area south of the orange can buoys is for training or transiting only.
- Swimming or wading on the beach in front of the Centre is prohibited and is particularly dangerous for small children.
- It is unsafe to loiter or let children play near the bottom of launching ramps.
- Stay well clear of the end of the Jericho Pier as fishers cast lines as far as possible
- Be cautious of pathway traffic when launching/retrieving
- Do not leave your craft on the shoreline for extended periods of time
- Stay at least 300M clear of ships at anchor in Vancouver Harbour.
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