Jericho Sailing Centre AssociationSeptember 19, 2012
            
in the wind
Ahoy Vancouver Ocean Lovers: 
   
Here is what's "in the wind", coming events and items of interest at the Jericho Sailing Centre, Vancouver' Ocean Access Community Centre, for September 19, 2012 and beyond:
 
In This Issue
Longboats Coming
SOS Kits CCG Station
Notice of AGM
Upcoming Events
Safety Your Responsibility
Join our Mailing List!
NEXT 2 Weekends @ Jericho - 2012 UBC REC "Day of the Longboat"

 This year's annual celebration of the paddle at Jericho is almost, slightly, historic. For the first time in more than 70 years, the recently uncovered central portion of Jericho Beach will witness mass numbers of native paddlers from the vantage point of daylight, as the 2012 UBC Rec "Day of the Longboat" ecstatically strokes by, pulling through the water in 10 person Voyageur canoes. Only in Canada, eh?

 

The removal of the 1.5 acre, former WWII RCAF Jericho Beach Air Station, concrete wharf last year will finally shed the light of day on a reunion of Vancouver's inter-tidal zone nature and copious quantities of paddling people.

 

 Three thousand years ago the original human inhabitants of the area flexed their paddles and launched their canoes from this pre-Vancouver, pre-Pacific, shoreline. It was a cornerstone of their culture. This weekend 3,500 participants will get their coming of age, one hour ocean indoctrination; as they prepare for the following weekend's big competition-the millenniums old Vancouver-ish tradition continues.

 

 The Jericho Sailing Centre, Vancouver's Ocean Community Centre, has hosted the UBC "Day of the Longboat" for the past quarter century and we welcome everyone to come view this spectator friendly, ocean playground, community event on September 29 & 30 (0800-1600H). You will witness an invigoratingly unique, very large, slightly loud, Salish Sea, celebration of the paddle; our soul connection to Vancouver's most ancient community. 

No Sail Racing THIS WEEKEND - Penguin Cup October 7/14/21 @ 1230H

Kitsilano Coast Guard Station Update

City of Vancouver Report Identifies Marine Safety Gaps

 Vancouver City Council received a report identifying gaps in the marine safety network if the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station were to close. Click to view:  

 

Titanic Mistake

Kitsilano Coast Guard Station Update 2

JSCA GM Letter to Fisheries & Ocean Minister + BC Conservatives

Ahoy Minister Ashfield:

 

When we met in Vancouver at the June 26 roundtable discussion regarding the closure of the Canadian Coast Guard - Kitsilano Station you told me along with other representatives of local marine transportation, industry and recreation, that the decision to close the Kitsilano Coast Guard station was made with "careful consideration" and assured us that neither the Canadian Coast Guard, nor you, would make a decision that would put lives at risk. Last week new, information came to light that indicates you've been purposely misinformed and that your words that day were untrue. (see attached). Victoria JRCC Letter   CCG Misinformation

 

The Canadian Coast Guard's most qualified Search and Rescue experts in the Vancouver area, the Maritime Coordinators of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Victoria, wrote two letters to their management on July 17, 2012. These letters are evidence that:

 

1)            Closing the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station will endanger the lives of mariners;

2)            Canadian Coast Guard management were negligent in not consulting their foremost Search and Rescue experts prior to the decision to close Kitsilano;

3)        The information posted on the Canadian Coast Guard website is deliberately false and misleading to the Canadian public; (it should be removed immediately),

4)        The federal government must now reconsider the decision based on competent, qualified  consultation, before lives are lost.

 

At this time, Mr. Ashfield, your assurances, based on incompetent, unqualified advice, ring as hollow to the people who transit the ocean waters of southern British Columbia as the Captain of the Titanic's assurances to his passengers that his ship was unsinkable.

 

There will be no satisfaction in "I told you so" from: members of Vancouver's marine, transportation or recreation communities; retired Canadian Coast Guard personnel; local emergency responders; our local and Provincial governments, your Conservative colleagues, and current active CCG SAR experts. BEFORE people perish unnecessarily in these Coast Guard protected Canadian waters, Minister Ashfield, we urge you and your government to do your due diligence and reverse this potentially disastrous decision.

 

If you would like to discuss this further I can be reached at (604)224-4566.

 

Fair winds,

Mike Cotter, General Manager

Jericho Sailing Centre Association

  

 

                                                                                                                                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

SOS 

We Need Your Help To Save Kits Coast Guard Station

 

We encourage all readers of "in the wind" to add your voice to this issue. Please feel free to cut and paste the above letter as you wish. The life you save, could be your own!

 

Minister Ashfields email: 'Min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca'

 

Please cc local Conservative MP's to help keep the heat on:

 

james.moore.c1a@parl.gc.ca

Kerry-Lynne.Findlay@parl.gc.ca

Wai.Young@parl.gc.ca

alice.wong@parl.gc.ca

james.lunney@parl.gc.ca

andrew.saxton@parl.gc.ca

mark.strahl@parl.gc.ca

randy@randykamp.com

mark.warawa@parl.gc.ca

john.weston@parl.gc.ca

ed.fast@parl.gc.ca

grewan1@parl.gc.ca

russ.hierbert@parl.gc.ca

 

Send Us Your Photos - Endless Summer!

 

The last week of summer 2012 has been simply spectacular 

JSCA Notice of AGM

Jericho Sailing Centre Association

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Tuesday October 23 at 1900H

The Jericho Sailing Centre Association's 39th Annual General Meeting will be held Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 1900H in the English Bay Room of the Jericho Sailing Centre, 1300 Discovery Street, Vancouver, B.C. The 2011/2012 J.S.C.A. Board and Committees will report on their accomplishments this past year and the challenges for the future. Please plan to attend and participate in the future direction of your ocean access community centre.

Call for Nominations

Voting will take place to elect seven members for a two-year term to our 15 member Board of Directors.   The J.S.C.A. Board meets once a month to set policy and determine Jericho's direction. Interested members who have time and expertise to offer are invited to submit a letter indicating their experience and areas of interest to the J.S.C.A. Nominations Committee c/o the Jericho office no later than 1700H, Tuesday, October 9.   The signed nomination letter must include your name, address and telephone number.   For additional information contact Mike Cotter, J.S.C.A. General Manager 224-4177 or email mike@jsca.bc.ca

Missing - "Kitty Pibb" $200 Reward

 

 

Jericho Sailing Centre's Security Officer, Blair Griffin, is missing his kitten, "Kitty Pibb" and is offering a $200 reward for its safe return. Please call him at 778-882-1737 if you have any information. 

New Motorcycle Parking Regulations @ Jericho

Effective immediately, only current JSCA members are eligible to park motorcycles in the designated area just inside the main entrance to the Jericho Sailing Centre.

 

In order to park in the designated area, members must register in the JSCA office. Once the designated area is filled, motercycles must be parked in the regular parking lot. Unregistered bikes parked in the Jericho Sailing Centre compound will be towed at the owners expense. 

Jericho Sailing Centre - New Waste Management Program

 The Jericho Sailing Centre Association has instituted a new waste management program to help us reduce the amount of waste we send to the landfill. For this to work we need everybody to pitch in.

 

Please help us by ensuring you use the correct container for your refuse.   

 

UPCOMING EVENTS @ Jericho Sailing Centre 

Day of the Longboat                     September 22/23/29/30  INFO 

Penguin Cup Racing                      October 7, 14 & 21

Racing Awards

& Volunteer Appreciation Dinner     October 21 

Jericho Folk Club - Tuesday Evenings

 

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:

 

  • Do not leave your craft unattended on the shoreline for extended periods - share the shore.                          
  • RAMPS, and the areas adjacent to launching ramps, are for craft launch/retrieval only. Do not rig, repair or otherwise loiter in this area.
  • Do not leave or rig your craft in the rinsing areas adjacent to hosing stations. 
  • The Jericho Sailing Centre is a SMOKE FREE facility. There is No Smoking permitted in any Vancouver Park or beach 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.
  • Do not block aisle ways.
  • Rinse racks are for rinsing not drying.
  • Swimming is prohibited in front of the Jericho Sailing Centre.
 
DANGER Boats Crossing
 
SAFETY is Your Responsibility
On the ocean 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.
 
Links to previous issues