When tennis balls reach their fuzz saturation point and fling sprinkler bursts spiraling from their soggy smashing wakes; when hard core golfers don hip waders to navigate their balls through whole hole water hazards; when jogging shoes slosh in squishy squashy rhythm and grass field users lose all of their traction; when even the most hardened cyclists dread the water ski wake of passing cars; whenever Vancouver gets rinsed by relentless rain, from deep within the very nature of Vancouver, ocean sports swell and rise to the occasion.

 At the top of the short list of outdoor recreation lessons that don't get cancelled in the rain, ocean kayaking, windsurfing, dinghy sailing, skim boarding and stand-up paddling are all at the peak of poor weather high performance.   Dressed for the wettest possible conditions, bobbing on the briny, a little precipitation just means you shower as you go.

Global warming, bad luck, the constantly slowing rotation of the earth, Murphy's Law or climatic admonishment for harbouring so many sore Stanley Cup losers, whatever the reason, most Vancouverites are "suffering" what appears to be the worst spring/summer weather combo on record. Many of those who refuse to stay indoors and suffer often find themselves launching small craft from Jericho Beach.

As with sunnier times, the sea mammals of Jericho are all going to get wet anyway. They simply wipe away the sky tears, and appreciate the natural beauty of a thousand different shades of grey, the ripple pattern of rain craters on the ocean face, the adventurous feel of being wind powered or the pulling of water into wake, coasting the slipstream trails that hulls blaze through the surface of the sea, and as a bonus, at the end of a rainy recreational Vancouver day, it doesn't take nearly as long to rinse all of the salt off of the equipment.

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.

7:30pm Jam Session    8:00pm Open Stage   9:20pm Feature Performer                                

$8.00 Admission

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.