In the Wind, September 28, 2006

Ahoy JSCA Members:
Here is what’s “in the wind”, coming events and items of interest at the Jericho Sailing Centre, your ocean access community centre, for the week of September 28-October 4, 2006 and beyond:

Longboats are Here! The real BIG Event Sept. 30 & Oct. 1
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if every member of the JSCA showed up on the same day come down and have a gander this Saturday, September 30 between 0800H-1630H. Over 3,000 paddlers, from novice to expert, will be competing in the 20th Annual UBC Rec Sports “Day of the Longboat”. This is our biggest annual event, very spectator friendly, and showcases the Jericho Sailing Centre in action. There will be a festival atmosphere with a DJ and music filling the air. Three hundred and twenty 10 person teams, primarily UBC students (teams from the General Public are also included) compete in Voyageur canoes. Heats of eight boats start in Le Mans style on the beach just below our deck and the bump and grind action is fast and furious as they scramble to get through that first fibreglass crunching turn just 50 metres off the shore. From there they race east and round a second mark heading for Jericho Beach where they pick up a cone and head back to the Jericho Sailing Centre. For the first time the entire race will be viewable from our new rooftop Safety/Observation Deck. If you are looking for a slightly quieter day comedown on Sunday when only the finalists are racing-you can cheer on the Jericho Rescue Team crew, trying to preserve their perfect record, as they go head to head with the UBC Rec Crew. If you are looking for a really quiet day, go to UBC!

Skiff Racing Clinic Sept. 30 & Oct. 1
In order to defend her against a barrage of “Voyaguer torpedos” the Albatross will be relocated NW of the Jericho Pier this weekend during the Day of the Longboat. We’ll drop a Start pin and a windward mark to allow our skiff sailor’s to conduct a race clinic each day from 1000H-1600H. Everyone welcome.

Rewind - UBC SC Freestyle Windsurfing Jam – Last Saturday
There was great freestyle windsurfing energy and boardhead camaraderie at the first (maybe annual?) UBC Sailing Club Freestyle Windsurfing Jam last Saturday. Thanks to Randy Clark and all the club members who organized the event and invited all Jericho boardheads including windsurfing dinosaurs like Bernard Labrosse and myself to share in the spirit of creative splashing. Maryam Moghaddas wowed the crowd with her best impression of the “Tortoise and the Hare” by engineering a stunning come from behind victory in the Freestyle Supercross leaving her competitors floundering and sputtering in awe.(she must have a good coach!)

Penguin Cup Racing Coming Soon to an Iceberg Near You
Rig with numb fingers and walk like a Penguin in your cumbersome winter sailing attire-- Penguin Cup Racing Dates are October 8, 15, 22 & 29 @1230H. It’ll be chilly on the chuck but a warm fire awaits your return in the Sailor’s Lounge.

Mini Rugby Program Sundays @ 1000H
Former Canadian Rugby team member and current UBC Old Boy Gareth Rees is conducting the UBC Ravens Mini Rugby program over the Fall and Winter out of the Jericho Sailing Centre. The program is for kids ages 6-13 and goes Sundays from 10-Noon. Contact Gareth for more info or to sign up (604)562-9392.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Garden Party! October 7 & 8 1000H-1400H
The time has come to plant our new native plant garden outside the south fence of the Jericho Sailing Centre between the entrance sign and the SW Corner. The garden was designed by our resident “Green Thumb” Paul Morris and approved by the JSCA Planning Committee as part of our Compound Development Plan. The area was seeded with grass last Spring to fallow over the summer and is now ready for planting. If you can dig it, we are looking for volunteers to help us plant an artfully arranged garden of Shore Pines, Dogwoods, Western Trumpet Honeysuckles, Thimbleberries, Pacific Ninebarks, etc. amongst a groundcover of Coastal Strawberry. Refreshments supplied. Many thanks to the Jericho Park Stewardship Group and the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (as well as Paul Morris and Rae Collins) for donating soil and plants.

Good BC Grass! October 7 & 8 1000H-1400H
We will be turning the soil and reseeding the grass rigging/rinsing area just east of the building adjacent to the plaza so that we have a fresh crop of grass for the Spring of 2007. We are looking for volunteers who want to get down and get dirty in order to functionally beautify our compound. Refreshments provided, worms welcome, lawn chairs optional.

JSCA Annual General Meeting Volunteers Wanted
We are looking for volunteers to assist with the election at our Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, October 24. If you are interested in helping out with voter registration, ballot counting or scrutineering please contact me in the JSCA office. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Jericho Photo Contest
We are preparing the JSCA New and Improved 2007 Tide Chart Calendar and need some classic Jericho Sailing Centre type photos to grace it’s pages. Send us your best photos and you could win a 2007 Calendar plus a Jericho H2O Travel Mug.

MacSailing Fall Dinghy Sailing Programs
Adult Sail Training Programs are available Sept. 30 & October 1.
Fall Racing Sessions will be on weekends during October and November from 1300H-1600H. Contact MacSailing at macsailing@telus.net or tack over to their website at www.macsailing.com.

October Office Hours
JSCA October office hours are 0900H-1700H seven days a week.
Galley Patio & Grill Now Open Weekends Only

JSCA Board Meeting October 10 @ 1900H
JSCA Annual General Meeting October 24 @ 1900H

Safety Tips-Launching Amongst Longboats
Regular users of the Jericho Sailing Centre are encouraged to follow through with their sailing/paddling plans during the Day of the Longboat however you must be aware of the hazard and captain your ship accordingly. The Voyaguer canoes are difficult to maneuver and impossible to stop within a reasonable distance when crewed by experienced paddlers. In this event most of the paddlers are inexperienced so the onus is on you to avoid a collision. This is easily done if you are aware and attentive to the situation. The heats start between Ramps 1 & 2 and go roughly every 8-10 minutes heading due North. If you time your launch or arrival back to shore just after a start you should be in a good position, however, there are two heats on the course at any one time and you must be aware of the finishers heading to the beach between Ramps 2 & 3. Usually by the finish of the 2Km course the boats are well spread out and it’s easy to leave or return from shore between them.

Award Winning Galley?
Late breaking News…. The Galley Patio & Grill has been nominated for a WHERE Vancouver magazine Most Memorable Meal Award in the category of “Cheap Eats”. That knowledge and $5.69 will get you a basket of Yam Fries in the Galley on weekends only now as they commence their Fall/Winter schedule.

Have a safe week!
Fair winds,
Mike

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