Jericho Sailing Centre Association

March 21, 2011

in the wind

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 March 22-April 6, 2011 and beyond:

In This Issue

2011 JSCA FEES DUE

Jericho Wharf Meeting

Club Sign-ups

Spring Sails in just ahead of a New JSCA Membership Year

If you haven't already paid your 2011 Jericho Sailing Centre Association fees, and by now most of you have, March 31 is time to either buck up or ship out sailor.

Payments received after April 1 will have to include a $30 Late Fee and any unpaid craft may be subject to immediate removal from its current location.

Vacating members are asked to notify the office when they are removing their craft so that we may bring members craft in from our waiting list.

If you've paid for your craft but it is not in the compound or it has been "shrink wrapped" for the winter please report to the JSCA office when the boat is available to be decaled.

By April 17 all craft stored in the Jericho Sailing Centre compound will either have a 2011 decal or will fly the Unpaid "flag of shame".

Jericho Marginal Wharf Public Meeting - April 6

The decision to remove the concrete Marginal Wharf immediately east of the Jericho Sailing Centre was made last November. The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is about to commence a Public Consultation process to develop a new conceptual design for the beach space about to be liberated. A public Open House event about the Jericho Marginal Wharf removal, beach restoration, and newly proposed upland area concept plans will be held on April 6th (4-7) at the Jericho Sailing Centre.

The Park Board is hosting this meeting to give all stakeholders (park patrons, neighbours, interest groups and the general public) an opportunity to find out about the project and to give feedback on the newly proposed concept plans.

All users of the Jericho Sailing Centre are encouraged to take part in the Public Consultation process to ensure the new beach is accessible to small naturally powered craft and that there is no change to the waterway use immediately offshore from that which has been established over the past 37 years.

For more info. check out the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation website at

http://vancouver.ca/parks/info/planning/jerichomarginalwharf/index.htm

Join a Club at the Jericho Sailing Centre

One of the best ways to enjoy recreational ocean access on Vancouver's largest playground is to join one of the community based clubs based out of the Jericho Sailing Centre. These low cost, not for profit, volunteer driven organizations provide a wide variety of boat access and training programs for dinghy sailing, paddling, windsurfing and rowing programs as well as social opportunities. Clubs looking for new crew include:

Club Locarno - New member sign-ups April 9th 1000H & 14^th at 1900H for more info. click over to http://www.clublocarno.com/

UBC Sailing Club- New member sign-ups April 2, 3, 9 & 16 1000H-1200H. Please complete online registration ahead of time. Non-UBC student spots fill up very quickly so please come early. For more info. http://register.ubcsailing.org/

Viking Sailing Club - New Members Night April 6. For more information pillage over to:

http://www.vikingsailingclub.bc.ca/join-our-club/

Discovery Sailing Club -- the Discovery Sailing Club is recruiting new members. For info. cruise to http://discoverysailing.org/ or phone Malcolm McMillan 604-228-1848.

For more info. on all JSCA Affiliated Clubs surf over to http://jsca.bc.ca/clubs-2/

Jericho Fleets Spring into Action!

The 2011 Jericho Racing season kicks off on Sunday, April 10 with the first Penguin Cup Race at Noon. The first regatta of the season is on the following weekend as the annual Flights of Spring Regatta takes off April 16 & 17. The last Penguin Cup of Spring is on April 24 and then our weekly racing series commence with the first Tuesday Nite Race on May 3 @ 1815H followed by the first Sunday Race on May 8 @ 1230H.

Racers are reminded that all competitors must be properly dressed for cold water conditions and that early season racing is not necessarily recommended for in experienced sailors. Anyone interested in learning to race is encouraged to sign up for the Rookie Racing Seminar on May 15 @ 0900H.

For a complete event schedule barge over to: http://jsca.bc.ca/events/

Jericho Sailing Centre Schools in Session

Dinghy Sailing, Windsurfing and Ocean Kayaking Schools at the Jericho Sailing Centre start tip toeing out of hibernation in April and find their full on sea legs in the month of May. For full Season Pass, Rental or Lesson information and registration click the link below:

Dinghy Sailing http://www.macsailing.com/

Windsurfing & Stand Up Paddling http://www.windsure.com/

Ocean Kayaking http://www.ecomarine.com/

Compound Clean-up Work Parties

The JSCA encourages all members to participate in the 2011 Jericho Sailing Centre Compound Beautification Project by keeping your boat and storage space ship shape and by participating with volunteer work parties in 2011 to help clean up aisle ways and other common space areas. We have a "Big Blue Bradford Bin" onsite for the month of March to facilitate compound clean-up; please pitch in. Members can jettison their onsite junk into the bin on the main aisle way anytime or join in on organized volunteer work parties on Sundays in March at 1000H.

Jericho Rescue Team Receives Lifesaving Award

Each year the B.C. & Yukon Branch of the Royal Lifesaving Society Canada honours civilians who have prevented a drowning through their heroic efforts. This year, as part of their 100th Anniversary celebrations they also honoured first responder groups who regularly save lives from drowning including the Jericho Rescue Team.

Rescue Team Members in attendance at the March 12 ceremony included (shown in photo) Mark Daigle, Ashley Ford, Andrei Bredin, Mike Cotter, Benj Rummen, Jeff Lee, Stephen Chessor and Dave "Mad Dog" Scoular. Missing from photo: Nigel Cornwall.

Join The Jericho Rescue Team - Training Course April 30 & May 1

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 2011 events calendar. Qualified candidates can sign up for the Jericho Rescue Team Training Course which will be conducted on April 30 & May 1. 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 Andrei or Mike in the Jericho office to discuss your qualification for this program.

Jericho Sailing Centre OPEN HOUSE

The annual Jericho Boat Show Open House is on Saturday, May 14 from Noon-1600H. Bring your landlubber friends, co-workers, neighbours and relatives down to the Centre on that day to check out all of the ocean access opportunities available to them. Our schools, clubs and fleets will be on hand with sign-up information and displays, there will be plenty of activity on the water and guests will receive member discounts on purchases in the Galley Patio & Grill.

On the water, Safety is Your Responsibility

A reminder to members who play on the bay at this time of year-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.