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| Jericho Sailing Centre Association | July 13, 2011 |
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| Ahoy Ocean Lovers: | |
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 July 14-20, 2011 and beyond: |
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The Continuing Evolution of Jericho Beach
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Last Sunday, on the sunnier west side of Jericho Beach, a vision saw the light of day once again, and thousands of Vancouverites poured into the sea to rekindle a tradition that has existed since people first lived here.
 MEC Paddlefest 2011, the third incarnation of this annual event held on west Jericho Beach, was the essence of what the people who dreamed up the idea of this unique public park space were dreaming of. Frolicking pods of kayakers, canoeists, outrigger canoeists, voyageur canoeists, surf skiers and stand-up paddlers were an impressive array of marine mammals engaging in play in English Bay from here: sea life, in Vancouver, was definitely thriving.
 This unique west section of Jericho Beach was first designated for such community use in 1974, evolved in 1980 when 60% of the original Jericho DND Wharf was removed, and 31 years later is ready to evolve again as the remainder of Jericho wharf is removed. Vancouver citizens of the paddling, and potentially paddling, persuasion, are ready at long last, to return to a historic beach area that links the land with Vancouver's largest and wettest playground.
Back in 1974, the vision was for community access to naturally powered recreation on the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver's most prevalent playground. At that time only dinghy sailors and windsurfers roamed western Jericho Beach. These sports continue to flourish, and are the anchor of recreation in this place in the city named after a sailor, and, as Vancouver's population continues to grow, will continue to be more in demand.
Paddling existed here thousands of years before Europeans introduced the sail in the 1790s. In the 1990s there was a strong resurgence of paddling at Jericho Beach and worldwide. Over the last three decades paddle sports have continued to diversify and grow in popularity. Launch space that was ample in 1980 has experienced increasing demand to the point where public safety in the congested beach and adjoining water must be carefully considered.
The City of Vancouver has the opportunity to realize important strategic goals in their quest to become the Greenest City in the world by 2020. Giving residents easy access to nature, re-establishing connections between green (blue) spaces, increasing access to the waterfront and adding outdoor recreational facilities are all on the menu.
When the City stated an objective to provide a diverse range of accessible quality facilities for participation and performance they probably weren't thinking it would be as easy as providing a well designed, appropriately designated, recreational beach space. Here on Jericho Beach, this vision, with cultural roots going back thousands of years, has been evolving since 1974. |
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Jericho Beach Restoration Update | |
The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation approved a $1.2 million demolition contract for removal of the former Department of National Defence concrete apron known as the Jericho Wharf (above left). The project is expected to commence in early August and be completed by late September. Demolition will take place from both the water side and the land side. Steps will be taken to minimimize disruption to park users and ensure public safety. We'll likely see some sort of containment boom on the waterside to limit the possibility of boats drifting into the project area.
The usage of the newly restored natural beach is still to be determined as well as the design of the adjacent upland area. A third public consultation meeting on the issue is expected to be held in the fall. The JSCA will continue to stay on top of this issue and inform all users of the Jericho Sailing Centre and adjacent public beach designated for small, naturally powered craft, of progress in the evolution of Jericho Beach. |
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Georgia Straight Splashes MEC Paddlefest 2011 | |
Click here to see The Georgia Straight's excellent coverage of MEC Paddlefest 2011. |
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THIS Weekend
Vancouver Folk Music Festival a Hippie Hotspot | |
 Jericho Beach Park celebrates it's roots this weekend and parking at the Jericho Sailing Centre will be as rare as deodorant on a hippie. If you don't dock your land yacht in your usual stall before 1600H Friday, or 0900H on Saturday and Sunday, you may as well hitchhike a magic carpet ride in a rusty old, eight track equipped, flower child laden, VW van with a groovy paint job and have them drop you off in the heavily defended Jericho Sailing Centre Loading Zone. The annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival is coming back to Jericho Beach Park.
Not long after the formation of Jericho Park in the early nineteen seventies, the first Vancouver Folk Music Festival here featured flower power, love beads, incense and paisley peppered peace: it was a celebration of freedom, political activism, and a love revolution fueled by cannabis, marked by random sporadic bare foot dancing, arts & crafts and, oh yeah, music- a mountain filled vista of mind mending mystical music to back up all that free speech in a magical Vancouver "Summer of Love"-it was a major "Be In". If you visit this year's Vancouver Folk Music Festival you'll notice not much has changed.
If the wind blows from the west, other than the "up tight" parking situation, Jericho Sailing Centre users won't notice anything unusual this weekend except for some interesting retro hippie fashions and a few more strangers than usual bathing in our washroom basins and drinking water out of our hoses. If the wind blows out of the east it will carry a pot-pourri of disjointed sound permeating from 5 stages of bongo laced alternative music and the accompanying supporting aromas to be a part of your psychedelic sailing weekend.
In a public park nobody, including the JSCA, gets reserved parking. The only thing we are able to do is make our users aware, advise them to arrive early or use alternative methods of transportation and have vehicles which park in the loading zone efficiently serviced by Buster's valet parking. From there, we just have to hang loose and go with the flow.
Non-conformists, alternative lifestylers driving "road less traveled" ideologies, ever more liberal thinkers further pushing social envelopes, surfers on waves of new consciousness - did today's users of Jericho Park evolve from 1970's hippies? There's certainly a good chance this weekend's users did and if you can't beat 'em, you might as well join 'em. What could be so bad about a little more peace, love and happiness in your world?
For info on the 2011 Vancouver Folk Music Festival trip over to
www.thefestival.bc.ca
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Sunday Racing This Weekend @ 1230H | |
Our regular Sunday Racing program returns this weekend after a brief hiatus last week for MEC Paddlefest. |
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Register Now
Summer Youth Camps @ Jericho Sailing Centre | |
Send your kid to camp
on the sea!
Dinghy Sailing (604) 224-7245
http://www.macsailing.com/
Windsurfing & Stand Up Paddling (604) 224-0615 http://www.windsure.com/
Ocean Kayaking (604) 689-7575
http://www.ecomarine.com/
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| UBC Sailing Club Beach Party July 23 | |
Come down and flap your flip flops at the UBC Sailing Club "Beach Party" on July 23 Tix are available from the UBC Sailing Club or the Jericho Sailing Centre office for $12. |
| SUP & PFD's | |
The Canadian Coast Guard and Vancouver Police Department have asked us to remind Stand Up Paddling users of Jericho Beach that PFD's are required by law on SUP's and every craft launched out of the Jericho Sailing Centre.
PFD $50
No PFD Fine $200
Your safety on the water: $Priceless |
| English Bay Safety Seminar - July 25 @ 1900H | |
Skippers are completely responsible for their safety and that of their crew when out on the water. If your knowledge is lacking here is your chance to fill in the gaps. The English Bay Safety Seminar is based on the "sea disasters" experienced in English Bay over the last 37 years as written in the logs of the Jericho Rescue Team. RSVP JSCA Office (604)224-4177. |
| Safety is Your Responsibility - Tip of the Week - Pre-sundown Wind Shutdown | |
During the summer the wind will typically shutdown abruptly in the hour before sunset. Skippers of sail powered craft should be aware of the time of sunset, what the tides will be doing in the previous hour and should not sail any further from the centre than they would care to paddle - of course having a paddle on board at all times is a legal requirement. |
| Find us on FACEBOOK | | Are you a landlocked "Jericho Junkie" in need of your latest sea level fix? Find us on Facebook. |
| Jericho H2O Wear - Now Available in the JSCA Office | |
 Jericho Sailing Centre staff Tristan and Lorena model the latest in Jericho Beach fashion, sporting the Jericho Sailing Centre's new H2O logo.
Focus on fashion, arrive at the beach in style sporting your Jericho Sailing Centre colours. Shirts (available in cotton & wickwear, short and longsleeve), hats & lanyards. |
| Jericho Folk Club Tuesdays in the Surf & Turf |
Tuesday evenings from from now through September 27 are Jericho Folk Club Nights in the Surf & Turf room of the Jericho Sailing Centre. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy Celtic, singer songwriter, sea shanties, and traditional music.
7:30pm Jam Session 8:00pm Open Stage 9:20pm Feature Performer
$8.00 Admission
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| Jericho Sailing Centre Etiquette |
Common sense and consideration of fellow members help make the Jericho Sailing Centre a true community centre with a friendly salt water community atmosphere. Here are a few etiquette reminders to keep things sailing along smoothly:
- The Jericho Sailing Centre is a SMOKE FREE facility. There is No Smoking permitted in any Vancouver Park or beach area.
- the areas adjacent to launching ramps are for craft launch/retrieval only. Do not rig, repair or otherwise loiter in this area.
- Give pathway users the right of way and bear in mind they may be distracted and not aware that you are crossing the pathway with your craft or launch rope.
- launch dollies are for launching/retrieval only (not for storage) and must be returned to the fence immediately after use.
- if you launch from your own dolly or trailer return it to your storage spot after launching.
- do not use the winches unless you are familiar with their safe operation. Winch instruction is available from staff or Jericho Rescue Team members. Only members or registered guests may use winches & dollies.
- only leashed, well behaved dogs are allowed in the compound, no dogs are allowed in the building or on the deck. Do not tie dogs to the base of stairwells or in other traffic areas. Do not leave your dog onshore while you are on the water. The City prohibits dogs on beaches. In consideration of other Jericho users please consider leaving your dog at home while visiting the Jericho Sailing Centre.
- Please coil hoses immediately after use and conserve water.
- Rinse racks are for rinsing not drying.
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| Danger! Boat Crossing | |
Over a busy weekend thousands of people stroll the beach path past the Jericho Sailing Centre. Many are focused on all of the on water activity and are not looking for people, boats and equipment suddenly emerging from our chain link compound. Please be extra aware and cautious of lollygagging landlubbers on the beach path as you exit the gates with your equipment. |
| Your Safety is Your Responsibility | 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. Here are some key rules which every Jericho member must know and practice.
1. Always wear your P.F.D. on the water.
2. Sail powered craft have the right of way over power craft, paddle and rowing powered craft.
3. All non-commercial vessels shall keep well clear of commercial vessels.
4. It is illegal and extremely dangerous to pass between a tug and it's tow.
5. A port tack sailing vessel shall keep clear of a starboard tack vessel.
6. A windward vessel shall keep clear of a leeward vessel.
7. A vessel clear astern shall keep clear of a vessel ahead.
8. Any vessel overtaking another shall keep clear.
9. A vessel tacking or gybing shall keep clear of a vessel on a tack.
10.The area south of the orange can buoys is for training or transiting only.
11.Swimming or wading on the beach in front of the Centre is prohibited and is particularly dangerous for small children.
12.It is unsafe to loiter or let children play near the bottom of launching ramps.
13. Stay well clear of the end of the Jericho Pier as fishers cast lines as far as possible
14. Be cautious of pathway traffic when launching/retrieving
15. Do not leave your craft on the shoreline for extended periods of time
Common sense goes a long way toward maintaining a safe environment. Membership in the Jericho Sailing Centre Association is contingent on members knowing and observing the Safe Ocean Sailing rules.
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