In the Wind: Dec 13, 2023
SEAson’s Greetings from the Jericho Sailing Centre
As we draw near to the Winter Solstice the shortest days of the year are upon us. Today’s sunset is at 1614H. Please plan your ocean therapy sessions accordingly and dress appropriately for potential cold water immersion.
The Jericho Sailing Centre office will be closed from December 22 to January 2. For security sake, please ensure that all gates are closed and locked when not actively passing through them.
On behalf of the JSCA Board of Directors, our volunteers and staff we wish everyone a merry and safe holiday season.
King Tide Season – Jericho Flood Barriers Now in Place
King Tide season is here with high tides ranging between 4.9 and 5.0+ M in the periods between December 14 & 19, as well as January 12-17. A King Tide on it’s own will overwash the deck remnants of the Jericho Pier and the majority of the beach in front of the Jericho Sailing Centre. An accompanying storm surge can raise the level more than half a metre and bring the ocean well into our compound as it did on January 7, 2022 (see photo).
All Jericho Sailing Centre building openings now have flood barriers in place. The doors are usable but not wheelchair accessible while barriers are in place. If needed, we’ll send a call for volunteers via this newsletter in the aftermath of a King Tide/Storm Surge event.
False Creek Rowing Comes to Jericho
Off Season Fitness Training @ Jericho Sailing Centre
The False Creek Rowing Club is delighted to begin hosting a rowing machine program as a partner of the JSCA from the very end of October to the end of March.
Coached erg sessions will be held every Monday and Thursday with two time slots: 6-7pm and 7-8pm. In addition, joining this program will give you 24/7 access to ergs. For more information scull your way over to https://falsecreekrowingclub.ca/row-with-us/erging/
The program will cost $216 in coaching fees + $46.25 RCA and Rowing BC fees + $110 if not already a member of Jericho Sailing Centre Association.
To sign up, please register with both FCRC here: Rowing Canada AND JSCA
If you have questions please contact us via email at questions@falsecreekrowingclub.ca
Oar you looking for a New Year’s Resolution? Free Come and Try Day.
When: Sunday, Jan 14, 10am – 10:45am/11am – 11:45am (please come five minutes before the start time so we have enough time to check you in and have you sign waivers)
What to expect: A fun and sweaty 45 minute indoor rowing focused fitness class. We will be exercising on and off the rowing machine and is for adults of all fitness abilities (no prior knowledge/fitness required). Come ready to sweat and get back into shape after the holidays!
To sign up please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/qbAbFBSgvLD7XfXm6 and we will send you more information closer to the date.
The World Around Us…
Jericho Lands Update
City of Vancouver Planners have asked us to share the following link for the online Policy Statement Highlights booklet (we’ll bring paper version of this for you on Monday):
Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
In 2024 the Jericho Sailing Centre Association will mark 50 years of providing programs, facilities and services for small naturally powered craft to the people of our City in cooperation with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. While the future of the park board is in doubt at the time of this writing, we look forward to continuing our constitutional mission, regardless, on behalf of the people of Vancouver for the next half century.
Inactive Craft Must Vacate Jericho Before April 1, 2024
As of December 8 there were still 12 inactive craft which are not eligible for storage renewal next year. The owners of these craft have all been served notice under JSCA’s storage policy that they face losing storage privileges due to inactivity.
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
1. Always wear your P.F.D. on the water. PFD’s MUST be properly fitted.
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
16. 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
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 flake 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.