Ahoy JSCA Members:
Here is what's "in the wind", coming events and items of interest at the Jericho Sailing Centre, Vancouver's Ocean Access Community Centre, for May 15-May 22, 2008 and beyond:

Vancouver Sport Strategy- Ocean Sports Inclusive
Three cheers for the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation who unanimously approved the Vancouver Sport Strategy "Vancouver Sport for Life" at their meeting this past Monday evening. "From our ocean playground to Olympic venues, the Vancouver Sport Strategy (VSS) reflects our City and its citizens - dynamic, progressive and forward looking. It provides a roadmap for the way ahead in sport for all Vancouver residents and charts a course for a new approach to sport in our communities - Sport for Life." VSS

Our members participated in the development of the strategy through an on-line survey in the fall and our sports have been well recognised. In amongst the traditional field, gymnasium and arena sports the document acknowledges Vancouverites' passion for recreating on the ocean through our unique facility in outrigger canoes, canoes, kayaks, windsurfers, skimboards, sailing dinghies and sailing dinghies for people with disabilities. The cover of the document actually includes a photo from the shore of the Jericho Sailing Centre showing the launch of a Disabled Sailing Association boat and a youth windsurfing program.

" dynamic, progressive and forward looking" the strategy includes increasing accessibility, enhancing facilities, and increasing the capacity to deliver quality sports programs-all important factors in allowing the Jericho Sailing Centre to serve the growing ocean access demands of Vancouverites.

The Vancouver Sport Strategy will go before Vancouver City Council in the near future for approval and ultimately funding. The document can be viewed at www.vancouverparks.ca

Vancouver Park Board says "Yea" to kids who want to play on English Bay. Vancouver Sport Strategy supports all inclusive ocean access for all segments of Vancouver. Photo by Dory Haney

Marginal Wharf Decision Meeting - May 26
The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation will consider their staff's recommendation with respect to the future of the Marginal Wharf on Monday, May 26 at 1900H (7pm for landlubbers). The JSCA is in favour of Concept 1A the complete removal of the wharf returning the beach to its natural state. This option would pave the way for increased ocean access to English Bay through the Jericho Sailing Centre and will allow us to better serve current and future demand.

We expect to receive the staff report one week prior to the meeting and will inform our members of the recommendation it contains.

"Outing" the Unpaid Members
A number of 2008 JSCA Membership and Storage fees remain unpaid. For various reasons the JSCA has been unsuccessful in acquiring the attention of our "past" members in order to settle their accounts. Maybe they missed our phone calls because their answering machine was full; maybe they ignored our messages because their bank account was empty; maybe they moved away and forgot to tell us. Whatever the reason we need to contact them and in hopes that they, or someone they know may see it, we will be publishing a list of expired 2007 JSCA Members whose bailiff bound boats remain in the Jericho Sailing Centre Compound in two weeks on May 30.

Upcoming Events:
Sunday Racing - Sunday 1230H Sharp
Tuesday Nite Racing - Tuesday 1815H Sharp
May 24 & 25 Jericho Outrigger Iron Race
June 7 & 8 Jericho Classic Regatta
June 7 UBC Sailing Club Beach Party
June 21 & 22 Hobie Classic Regatta

Send us your Jericho Sailing Centre photos.
We are looking for "Jericho style" photos to spice up our website, newsletter and promote the Jericho Sailing Centre. Please send us your photos with a brief description.

David Hadley "Tom Cruises" his Hobie 18 "Risky Business" toward the Marginal Wharf just off of the Jericho Sailing Centre
Jericho Folk Club

This Tuesday sea salts Pat Thompson and Tony Latimer are the Jericho Folk Club's feature artist. The JFC injects music into the soul of the Jericho Sailing Centre every Tuesday between now and the end of September. 1930H Session; 2000H Open Stage; 2120H Feature Artist. $8 admission. For more info call (604) 222-4113

Pay Parking in Effect - They are Ticketing Members!
Pay Parking is now in effect in Jericho Beach Park. The cost is $1/hour or $5/day. Members who wish to purchase a $60 season parking pass for Jericho Beach Park can pick up the forms in the JSCA office or via our website www.jsca.bc.ca . Pay parking is in effect from now - September 30, 2008.

UNPAID Craft Flagged - Subject to Loss of Storage Privileges
Haven't paid your JSCA fees yet? Consider this: JSCA Storage Policy states that when storage and/or membership fees become overdue 30 days (May 1st) they may be removed from the compound at the owner's expense. Any craft removed from the compound must go on the waiting list before coming back in. With an ever growing waiting list for ground storage, the JSCA will be following this course.

Retire Your Tires
Members who currently store their craft on tires are asked to participate in the JSCA's effort to rid our compound of old rubber. Members may trade these tires to the JSCA for foam blocks at no cost to them. The tires will be collected by the JSCA under the BC Tire Stewardship Program and sent for recycling. Members are asked to help us rid the compound of tires, a breeding ground for mosquitoes which could potentially spread the West Nile Virus, as soon as possible. While we prefer not to tamper with boats stored on tires, volunteer work parties may remove any tires remaining under boats after the end of May.

Launch Dolly Etiquette
A reminder to those who may be unfamiliar with launch dolly protocol at the Jericho Sailing Centre. Our fleet of launch dollies are for launching and retrieval only- they are not for storage or occupying during lunch or a beer break, or teaching a lesson on. Please be considerate of your fellow members, use the dollies properly and return to the fence immediately after use.

JSCA Office Hours
May 1-15 Hours 0930H-1730H every day. Gates open at 0700H and are locked at Dusk. (Approx. 2100H).

Upcoming JSCA Meetings:
Operations Committee June 2 @ 1900H

English Bay Safety Seminar June 16, June 23 & July 14 & 28
This 2 hour seminar covers all the known hazards in English Bay as experienced by members over the past 35 years and chronicled in the logs of the Jericho Rescue Team. Why learn the hard way in nature's harsh elements? Learn from the mistakes of others in a nice dry classroom. RSVP JSCA Office. (Note: The English Bay Safety Seminar originally scheduled for May 26 has been re-scheduled to June 16).

On the Water, Your Safety is Your Responsibility
Please remember that launching in Vancouver spring conditions requires an extra emphasis on boat safety for yourself and your crew. Jericho Rescue and other boaters are notably scarce at this time of the year so you must take extra care to ensure a safe on water session. It starts with a check of the weather forecast and tidal activity. Let a friend or family member know you are going, where you are going and when you expect to be back on shore (follow-up with an après sailing phone call). Do a meticulous pre-launch check of your craft and equipment. Recognize when conditions are beyond your ability and choose not to launch. Make sure you are properly dressed-wetsuit/drysuit/hat/booties/gloves-including your PFD. Double check your safety equipment-paddles, bailer, whistle, flares. Know when the sun is setting and understand that the wind often shuts off abruptly in the hour before sunset. Don't go farther from shore than you care to paddle back if you or your equipment should fail or the wind shuts off.
One final tip: enclose your fully charged cell phone in two sealed sandwich bags and keep on your person. In the event of a sea disaster you can't solve yourself, dialling *311 will put you in touch with the Canadian Coast Guard's Rescue Coordination Centre.

Fair winds,
Mike