In the wind: November 4, 2026
November 11: Remember the Jericho Beach Air Station
by Mike Cotter
The bells that now toll here are wind whipped stainless halyards ringing a forest of anodized aluminum sailing dinghy masts; but it wasn’t always that way.
Department of National Defence Building 13, now known as the Jericho Sailing Centre, was a hustling, bustling place during the Second World War. Here, Canadians carried out their solemn duty to serve our country, to stand with honour to defend and preserve the freedom and peaceful way of life we all cherish today.
What is now known as Jericho Beach Park and the adjacent lands south of 4th Avenue were all part of the largest military training base in western Canada; Canadian Forces Base Jericho Beach. The foreshore, which was hemmed with a concrete wharf apron, 4 large airplane hangars and a Marine & Stores Building (now the Jericho Sailing Centre), was RCAF Jericho Beach Air Station, a flying boat and seaplane base. Through the CFB Jericho Beach passed thousands of western Canadians in their metamorphic journey from civilians to soldiers, launched from here to the eternal hell that is war. Too many never came home.
The Jericho Beach Air Station’s focus was civil defence; launching reconnaisance missions from this shore to patrol the BC coast, looking for signs of enemy vessels and/or aircraft. This original Jericho “ocean access facility” featured floating wooden launch ramps, steel wheeled launch dollies, winches, winch ropes, indoor flying boat storage, armed guards and barbed wire; lots of barbed wire. The crews and personnel of Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron 4, launched flying boats and seaplanes from here; craft like the: Blackburn Shark, Fairchild 71, Vickers MKII, Canso Catalina and the mainstay of the fleet, the Supermarine Stranraer – a sub hunter-nicknamed “the Whistling Birdcage” by flight crews for the sound generated by it’s biplane wing shrouds and rigging in flight.
The wind and the sea were elements as important to those brave souls as they are to us today although their work was far more dangerous than our leisure time launches. A dead calm sea was difficult to take off from as the heavy craft’s hulls had to break through the salt laden surface tension to lift off. A sleeping sea was also treacherous to land on as it was impossible for sky skippers to judge altitude over a swiftly rising glassy surface.
Larger waves could also be a problem. There were many spills; eleven aircrew lives lost in mishaps during this period. In one episode a Blackburn Shark’s pontoons punched head on into an English Bay rogue wave in the late stages of a takeoff, flipping the bird and killing the crew.
It may soothe the prevailing pacifist nature of our modern day users to know that in over 1700 wartime sorties the original crews of Jericho never fired a shot in anger and their only contact with the “other side” was a mysterious, ineffective, invasion of incendiary bomb rigged weather-type balloons in the winter of 1944/45.
A monument, just south of the Jericho Sailing Centre entrance; the Jericho Hostel; Jericho Arts Centre; the Vancouver Park Board Maintenance compound, and the Jericho Sailing Centre are all that remain in Jericho Park in Remembrance of those flighty days and fearless crews. When the tubular bells of the Jericho Sailing Centre ring every November 11 they ring for all who served our country and particularly for those who served from these shores. Whenever we launch from Jericho we are exercising the freedom passed on to us from their weathered hands. Remember them well.
Service at Sea: On Water Remembrance Day Ceremony
Each year, leading up to the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month our good neighbours at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club hold a Remembrance Day Service on the water. The ceremony will be held on the dinner dock, at the north east corner of the marina. Many of their past members served in the Canadian military during two world wars and current RVYC members do an excellent job of paying their respects in this solemn nautical tradition. Jericho Rescue will be on the water between 1030-1200H to pay respects on behalf of the JSCA and assist any attending paddlers who may wish to observe this unique maritime service. The service commences at 1045H. Please remember to display a poppy on your PFD.
Canada by Canoe: Epic Cross Canada Canoe Trip Will End at Jericho Saturday Nov 14
After 218 days and a cross-Canada journey by canoe, Nolan, Will and Georges are making their final approach to Vancouver! Jericho Sailing Centre is proud to welcome the Canada by Canoe team ashore on November 14 at around 1:00 p.m.
Since April, the three paddlers have travelled Canada’s waterways, connecting with communities and raising more than $100,000 for True North Aid, a charity supporting northern and remote Indigenous communities.
We’re calling on Jericho paddlers and rowers to join the welcome flotilla! Launch after sunrise, head west along Spanish Banks to meet the team as they round Point Grey, then escort them home to Jericho. Let’s give these adventurers a proper Jericho welcome after seven months or paddling and portages!
Can’t bring your own boat? Jericho Beach Kayak is offering a guided paddle to join the flotilla, with 50% of proceeds going to True North Aid. Reserve your kayak here.
Everyone is welcome to gather at the Sailing Centre to celebrate this remarkable
achievement. Let’s make sure their final landing is a memorable one! Want to support the cause? Donations to True North Aid can be made at Canada by Canoe. Follow the expedition’s final days on Instagram and Facebook: @Canada by Canoe.
Off-Season Fitness Training at the Jericho Sailing Centre
Join the indoor rowing program with False Creek Rowing Club!
False Creek Rowing Club is returning to Jericho for another winter to host its rowing machine program. Coached workouts will run from the beginning of November to the end of March.
We invite all members of the JSCA community to learn about rowing and discover how the ergometer can be an excellent fitness tool for all ages.
Coached sessions
Sessions are held every Monday and Wednesday at 1800H throughout the five months. Each follows a planned workout. Participants set their own goals and track progress through tests on set dates. All sessions are led by Rowing Canada certified coaches. Participants also get 24/7 access to the rowing machines, so you can follow the planned workout or train on your own at your own pace.
Come and try!
During November, we’re hosting free introductory sessions every Tuesday at 1800H. We would like to invite all members of the JSCA community to learn generally about rowing, and particularly how the ergometer can be an excellent fitness resource for all ages. If you’d like to join, please contact us at least 48 hours in advance.
Fees
For non-FCRC members, the program costs $267.75 ($200 coaching + $67.75 RCA and Rowing BC fees), plus JSCA membership.
Want to know more?
Visit https://falsecreekrowingclub.ca/row-with-us/erging/ or contact us at https://falsecreekrowingclub.ca/contact-us/.
Seaside Sauna Sessions are Back – With a Discount For JSCA Members
Located right outside the Windsure beach hut, Seaside Sauna Sessions is a wood-fired sauna pop-up experience that will run from mid-October 2026 to mid-April 2027. Each sauna session is 1h 45mins, during which guests can cycle between sweating in the sauna, plunging into the ocean, and resting in the outdoor hangout area. Sessions are for up to 11 people for socials and 12 for privates. This pop-up is a collaboration between Windsure Adventure Watersports, Tality Wellness Kitsilano and The Finnish Sauna Co.
For more information and to book, visit: https://www.thefinnishsauna.ca/seaside-sauna-guide.
JSCA Members can receive 10% off social sessions with the code JSCMember10.
How to redeem a discount code:
- Find a session you want to book here: https://www.thefinnishsauna.ca/booking
- Scroll to the brown Add discount/gift card code box, and type in JSCMember10
- Click Book
Winter Paddling: 2h paddle Saturdays and select Sundays from 10am-12pm
Join Jericho Beach Kayak throughout the winter to go paddling, connect with other kayakers, and enjoy a beautiful paddle.
Whether you are new to kayaking or an experienced paddler who wants the company of others we will ensure it will be a great experience. Registration is required.
Only $47.25 per paddle with the winter paddle pack (pre-purchase 4 paddles), drop-in price is $75, and includes the kayak, safety equipment, and even a wetsuit & paddling jacket.
Click here For more information or to book online.
Galley Patio and Grill – Closed for the Season
The Galley is now closed for the season. Check back here for details on opening dates.
2027 ILCA Masters North American Championships at Jericho
Volunteers wanted – Experience the Vibe!
After recent ILCA Masters Canadian and Pacific Coast Championship regattas hosted by Jericho Sailing Centre, the Jericho ILCA Fleet sailors from across North America (and a few overseas) have been clamouring for Jericho to host another big regatta. They love the vibe of Vancouver, Jericho Beach, and all that the Jericho Sailing Centre offers.
So, we will be hosting the 2027 ILCA Masters North American Championships June 24 – 27, 2027. If you want to experience the fun, camaraderie, sailing knowledge through osmosis, and excitement of this event there are many opportunities to volunteer, assist, and be right in the middle of the vibe! While the regatta is a long time away, now is a great time to express your interest in being part of the team. Please contact Bob Ennenberg at bennenberg@gmail.com.
JERICHO PAY PARKING PASSES FOR OCT 1 – MARCH 31 AVAILABLE
Summer parking passes are now expired. Seasonal passes for the next period October 1- March 31 are available from EasyPark via their email: mp@easypark.ca , with the subject ”Jericho Seasonal Pass Lot 69”; in the email body include: your full name, phone number, licence plate, make and model of the vehicle.
All net parking revenues go to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation to allow them to fund park amenities.
Water and air temperatures are trending down, are you ready for the cold weather?
While it is not winter yet, and despite our sunny weather, air and water temperatures are trending down on a daily basis. If you intend on enjoying the water through the shoulder season and winter months, it is worth planning to do it safely. Click on through to our cold water blog post for more information.
Schools Now in Off-Season Mode
All three schools at the Jericho Sailing Centre are currently wound down to off season programming.
Jericho Beach Kayak
Off season offerings include group paddles on weekends as well as trip planning, and marine VHF radio courses. For bookings and more information, paddle over to the Jericho Beach Kayak website.
MacSailing
Tours, private lessons and select classroom sessions, are available on a limited basis. Reach over to the MacSailing website for more information.
Windsure
Windsure is closed for regular SUP, Windsurf, skim and wing lessons and rentals. However, winter sauna programmes are now available. Surf on over to the sauna booking website for more information. Discounts are available for JSCA members using the code JSCMember10.
Follow Jericho on Facebook and Instagram
Are you following Jericho on social media? Don’t miss out on photos and videos from the goings on at the centre and more rich media profiles on our clubs and partners. Check out this photo of a humpback swimming past the facility.
Sharing the Shore
Our launching beaches can get busy with sailors, paddlers, lessons, and members of the public. A little common courtesy goes a long way toward keeping the shoreline safe and enjoyable for everyone.
Whether you’re new to Jericho or a lifelong user, please take a moment to review our Jericho Sailing Centre Etiquette blog post.
Steer Clear of the Pier
Avoid entanglement by keeping north and east of orange and white can buoys
Jericho Pier is Vancouver’s only shore-based fishing and crabbing spot in English Bay, making it a busy place for crabbers, anglers and their gear. Crab traps and nearly invisible monofilament fishing lines can easily snag an unsuspecting sailor, paddler, foiler or their gear.
The orange and white can buoys mark a safe buffer around the pier. When passing through the area, stay north and east of the buoys to avoid getting caught on a line.
Give the pier a wide berth and keep your voyage from becoming the one that got away.
English Bay Safety Seminar
Never take water safety for granted
Jericho Sailing Centre users share Vancouver’s largest playground with Canada’s busiest port and are required to know and exercise the “rules of the road” while recreating in this area. Users should be aware of shipping lanes, ships transiting between the lanes and anchorages, and Traffic Control Zones. All non-commercial vessels shall stay well clear of commercial vessels including ships at anchor.
Learn from the mistakes of others. The English Bay Safety Seminar helps keep Jericho users safe while at play 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 50 years.
Sail the Slideshow on our Website
For more Safe Boating information check out Transport Canada’s Safe Boating Guide.
Transport Canada Interim Order for the Protection of the Southern Resident Killer Whale 2026
Transport Canada has published rules around boating near mammals in our local waters. A vessel must not approach within 1000m of a Southern Resident killer whale.
More information about the laws and regulations around approaching marine mammals in Canada is available here.
Port of Vancouver Safety Regulations: Traffic Control Zone 1 Around First Narrows is a Jericho Style Craft No-Go Zone
The area in yellow on the chart above, including the inset area in light green, is an official no-go zone for Jericho style craft.
The area in yellow on the chart above, including the inset area in light green, is an official no-go zone for Jericho style craft.
Safety Notice to all non-motor power craft users in Vancouver
“All pleasure craft and sailing vessels must be under mechanical power when transiting through the First Narrows traffic control zone. It is prohibited to enter or transit through the First Narrows traffic control zone on board a personal watercraft, including jet skis and non-motorized vessels, such as sailboats, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards.”
– Boater’s Handbook the essentials of informed navigation within the Port of Vancouver.
The western edge of Traffic Control Zone One is defined as:
- To the northwest by a line drawn from the north pier of the Lions Gate Bridge through Capilano light, intersecting a line drawn north from Ferguson Point
- To the southwest by a line drawn from Prospect Point, along the Stanley Park seawall, intersecting a line drawn north from Ferguson Point
Boaters’ Handbook: Your go-to guide for safe navigation within the Port of Vancouver
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Boaters’ Handbook is essential reading for recreational boaters in Burrard Inlet or the Fraser River, with key information to help you navigate safely and confidently.
For the latest boating safety information and handbook updates, subscribe to the Port of Vancouver’s newsletter.
On 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. Click through for some key rules which every Jericho member must know and practice.