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| Jericho Sailing Centre Association |
April 1, 2010 |
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2010 JSCA FEES DUE APRIL 1
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| Spring 2010: 2500 Years Sailing the Salish Sea |
There still lies in Jericho Park today, close to the Jericho Sailing Centre,
a shellfish midden, archeological evidence of an ancient civilization that once
existed beside this spectacular natural Vancouver shoreline.
A people at one with the big water, this original population launched their
small seafaring craft into what, as of 2010, is known as the "Salish Sea".
Muscles stretching skin, paddles pulling water, cedar hulls dancing on the
rhythm of the waves, these earliest people learned to live in harmony with the
ocean, became skilled seafarers, fished, travelled, discovered, traded, warred
and raced on the same winds and waters that users of the Jericho Sailing Centre
enjoy today. According to the clammy remnants long hidden within the nearby
cedar laced soil, just a seagull's cry away, 2010 could very well mark as many
as 2500 years that the ocean embracing people of the Vancouver area have
spilled their hulls into this sea from these shores.
Late in 2009, the environment loving Federal Governments of Canada and
the USA, themselves wishing to become more at harmony with the ocean, formally agreed
to adopt an overlay name for the interconnected ocean ecosystem that contains
English Bay, Burrard inlet, False Creek , Georgia Strait locally and all the
bodies of ocean water from the Johnstone Strait in the north to the western
entrance of Juan de Fuca Strait to the Southern tip of the Puget Sound-the
Salish Sea.
While paying due respects to early Salish Sea shore dwellers, including
the Jericho Sailing Centre's ancient neighbours , the name is not quite historically
accurate, however, the primary point of officially identifying and defining the
Salish Sea is more about recognizing and
protecting a unique Pacific Ocean aquarium and it's fragile, at risk ecosystem.
With Vancouver and Seattle the anchor tenants, over seven million
people live along the shores of the Salish Sea and her feeder streams, placing
a hefty environment taxing burden on all of it's waters and marine inhabitants.
Identifying, defining, recognizing, protecting, Salish and sea are all just
words and for this idea to actually do more than just float away it is now up
to the current shore dwellers and their regional and local governing bodies in
this well populated water table to pick up their paddles en masse and follow
through together with definitive actions.
After all the inevitable capsizes, no one appreciates a cleaner ocean more
than the paddling, surfing, dinghy sailing and rowing, marine inhabitants of
Vancouver's Jericho Sailing Centre who often surface sputtering the sea from
facial orifices. If, after 2500 years of intimate human contact and connection,
calling this geographical fishbowl the Salish Sea is the first of many stepping
stones toward restoring a portion of it's pure pristine saline Salish past
glory, the people here will be among the first to climb back on board, squishy
aqua shoes and all.
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More About the Salish Sea
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Learn more about the Salish Sea, the life within it and what you can do
to protect it by surfing over to
http://www.seadocsociety.org/Salish-Sea-Facts
http://myweb.facstaff.wwu.edu/~stefan/SalishSea.htm
What is the City of Vancouver doing to recognize and protect the
SalishSea?
The City's Action Plan for becoming the
world's Greenest City by 2020 recommends the restoration of shoreline
and
Inter-tidal Zones as well as advocates for a healthy Pacific Ocean-great
words,
let's do all we can to follow through. More info at http://vancouver.ca/greenestcity/index.htm |
| Grub's Up! |
The Jericho Galley is now open 7 days a week (weather depending)
Weekdays 1100H-Sunset Weekends 0930H-Sunset |
| Penguin Cup Race Series April 4 & 11 |
The naval conflict begins in earnest this Sunday as the JSCA launches another season of dinghy sail racing with the springtime Penguin Cup Race Series at 1230H.
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| Annual Boat Wash Weekends April 10 & 11; 17 & 18 |
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Time to stow the snow gear, get off the couch and get your boat ready for the new season. No more procrastinating, the JSCA will provide buckets, long handled brushes and a pressure washer available to members who have paid their 2010 fees. 0930H-1700H.
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| Flights of Spring Regatta April 17 & 18 |
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| Earth Day 2010, April
24 at Jericho Park |
Earth Day 2009 attracted hundreds of participants to Jericho
Park and many plants were planted including a large number along the south
fence of the Jericho Sailing Centre.
Plans are currently in the works for Earth Day 2010 on April 24 which
will include workshops, presentations, guided tours and a beach clean-up. More
information will be reported as we spin closer to that date.
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| Jericho Rescue Team Training Course April 24 & 25 |
 The Jericho Rescue Team is looking for experienced sailors, windsurfers, paddlers and rowers who are interested in developing their seamanship and water safety skills, and are willing to volunteer to assist their fellow boaters. The Jericho Rescue Team provides safety and rescue support for all on-water events facilitated by the JSCA. This year our Rescue Team members will provide rescue coverage for the over 80 on-water event days on our 2010 events calendar. Qualified candidates can sign up for the Jericho Rescue Team Training Course which will be conducted on April 25 & 26. We provide training in water safety and seamanship, Boathandling, boat rescue and first aid. Course graduates must complete ongoing Rescue Team training including the Pleasure Craft Operators Certification, VHF Radio Licence, emergency first aid and CPR Certification (all provided). If you are interested please contact Benj or Mike in the Jericho office to discuss your qualification for this program. |
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Upcoming
JSCA Meetings
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JSCA Board
April 13 @ 1900H
Committee minutes and meeting schedules can be found on our
website at www.jsca.bc.ca to facilitate
member awareness and involvement in their one of a kind, world class, ocean
access community centre.
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JSCA Office Hours
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April Hours 0930H-1700H Every Day
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On the Water, Your Safety is Your Responsibility
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Don't be fooled by mild spring air temperatures, that water is still "winter cold" and hypothermia is the most significant danger you face.
Members who play on the bay at this time of
year must place 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, dialing *311 will put you in touch with the Canadian
Coast Guard's Rescue Coordination Centre.
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