Jericho/Locarno Floating Divider - It Needs to be moved!

[mjamero]

Hey folks. Every year during the summer the Vancouver Parks Board sets up a floating divider just west of the Jericho Sailing Center pier. The last couple years and last summer in particular the divider is being set up further and further east. It is progressively moving closer and closer to the pier. It is squeezing windsurfers out and in my view making it unsafe. Meanwhile there is virtually kilometers of beach west of the divider than often has nearly no one (Swimmers) in the water. The park board needs to understand that windsurfers need a winder area than what the Parks Board is providing. Depending on conditions (wind, currents, tides) it at times can be quite a challenge to get back to the launch site while at the same time trying to get upwind and back around the Pier. Windsurfers also need safe access to the associated shoreline of the area. They need to have an area of shoreline where they can rest, adjust and repair gear, learn beach starts and waterstarts etc. With a narrowing access point it makes it even more challenging for all aspects of the sport.

I'm all for separation between those engaged is water sports and swimmers. However, in the summer I regularly see swimmers on the east side of the divider (the side designated for windsurfers) while the lifeguards say/do nothing. However, if windsurfers venture west of the divider to get more room (both for fun and safety) or to avoid those swimmers on the wrong side we get a talking to from the life guards. Also, last year there was a half submerged log embedded in the sand on the east side of the divider that made the launch area even more hazardous. When the tide was in it would be just below the water line about 30 feet off shore. It would have been easy to move when the tide was out. Again, nothing was done about it from the Park Board.

In my view this floating divider needs to move further west. Perhaps just west of the Locarno dirt parking lot.

What are your thoughts on this?

How do we go about getting this divider moved west 100-200M to allow a more user friendly and safe launch site this summer?

[Slappy]

If you pushed it that far you'd have to move the swim dock, which would then be in too shallow water.

[mjamero]

Some approximate measurements on a high tide.

Pier to current Divider: 170m
Divider to floating warf for swimming: 150.

A good spot to relocate the divider would be parallel to the right side of the Locarno Beach Trimple Street parking lot. This would provide an additional distance of approximately 90m on a high tide and would make up for the lost area adjacent to the pier plus an additional margin. (See note below)

Notes:
1. On ANY tide there is a large area adjacent to the west side of the pier which is not usable. If a sailor ventures too close the wind, tide, and current can push you in to the pier. It's best to stay a least 40-50m west of the pier as measured along the shore line.

2. During the summer (when the divider is in place) almost EVERY day is a westerly. Meaning, if you launch from Locarno you MUST make a conscious effort to stay west (upwind) of the pier to avoid being blown in to it. Sailors must stay as close to the divider as possible to do this. With the divider re-positioned further west there is a better safety zone for windsurfers to avoid getting caught in the pier.

3. You cannot see this from the google image however, on an increasing tide there is an area at the corner of the west side of the pier that is particularly rough and chaotic. If you fall or bail there it can get interesting quick. Again, in the summer during the westerlies it is best to stay west of the pier as much as possible. The floating divider prevents this.