Safety Rules

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.
You, and only you, are responsible for your safety on the water. Get all the safety knowledge you can and use it.

• Always wear your P.F.D. on the water.
• Sail powered craft have the right of way over powercraft, paddle and rowing powered craft.
• All non-commercial vessels shall keep well clear of commercial vessels.
• It is illegal and extremely dangerous to pass between a tug and it’s tow.
• A port tack sailing vessel shall keep clear of a starboard tack vessel.
• A windward vessel shall keep clear of a leeward vessel.
• A vessel clear astern shall keep clear of a vessel ahead.
• Any vessel overtaking another shall keep clear.
• A vessel tacking or gybing shall keep clear of a vessel on a tack.
• The area south of the orange can buoys is for training or transiting only.
• Stay well clear of groups of beginners.
• Swimming or wading on the beach in front of the Centre is prohibited and is particularly dangerous for small children.
• It is unsafe to loiter or let children play near the bottom of launching ramps.
• Stay well clear of the end of the Jericho Pier as fishers cast lines as far as possible
• Be cautious of pathway traffic when launching/retrieving.
• Do not leave your craft on the shoreline for extended periods of time.
• Beware of underwater hazards on the sea bottom between ramps 3 and 4.

Common sense goes a long way toward maintaining a safe environment. More information is available free to members and the public at the English Bay Safety Seminars.

Unlike our eastern counterparts, where sub-zero is more than just a fancy kitchen appliance and partially frozen waterways littered with icebergs keep people from dinghy sailing/paddling/rowing, English bay, our biggest playground, is accessible year-round. It is important to remember at this time of year to 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.