[Chantal Ethier]

Hello Fellow SKABC Members,

I posted a trip a couple of nights ago (see Trip List) to the Discovery Islands Lodge.  The trip isn’t until the end of the month (Oct 27th to 29th) however, I will likely loose these dates if I can’t confirm the booking, for which we require six (6) more persons. Please read the post – this trip offers several possibilities and/or contact me if you require additional information.

Cheers,

Chantal

 

[Kathy Romses]

The federal Navigation Protection Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navigation_Protection_Act is the legislation that governs the waterways that the Port Authority is working on revising.

Members can provide a comment on the proposed changes and copy their Member of Parliament. I am planning on sending an email that will include the lack of genuine consultation, existing rules that prohibit kayaks from paddling around Siwash Rock and proposed changes to the regulations.

Good luck everyone.

[John McIntyre]

I was all ready to send my objection in, when I decided to check on what the previous boundaries were.  The relevant pages (85 and 86) from the 2016 Port Information Guide and those from the 2017 proposed changes (59 and 101) do show the boundary has changed on the west.  However, east of Ferguson Point and Siwash rock were already in the exclusion zone for kayaks and other pleasure craft.

 

[Nick Heath]

Thanks for posting, Philip.

I saw this a couple of days ago and alerted PIKA, BCMTNA and our Pres, Randy.SKABC and members should submit their comments.

The Port Authority has a weak process for notifying interested parties and seems to have done no consultation with those affected.  The only rational provided is the word ‘safety’ but nothing specific is provided for rationale.

This notification is about extending an existing ban on navigation by non-motorized vessels through First and Second Narrows.

In my view paddling and rowing should be permitted under both Narrows outside the defined shipping lanes, but paddle craft and row boats should not be permitted to enter or cross those lanes. This would give we paddlers and rowers access into and out of the inner harbour, which currently we are barred from entering or leaving.  I realize that there are strong (but predictable) currents at both bridges.  Paddle and oar propelled vessels are capable of sustaining speeds exceeding some motorized vessels.  We do not require the deep draft clearance of the main channels. If we remain clear of the buoyed channels, risk of collision is small.

Transiting from the Salish Sea to/from Burrard Inlet is a traditional route for non-motorized vessels, long pre-dating the Port of Vancouver itself. We should re-establish this right of transit. At a minimum, we should resist being picked on as a scapegoat by the Port Authority and kept even further away from areas already often used by recreational paddlers.

 

[Philip Kubik]

The Vancouver Port Authority is proposing to prohibit watercraft including kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards from the waters off the NW shore of Stanley Park, including Third Beach and Siwash Rock. I would like to encourage SKABC members to comment on the proposal. The deadline for public comment is Sunday, Oct. 8. Comments may be emailed to navigation.review@portvancouver.com, e.g., with subject “Comments on Proposed Notice of Amendment: Port Information Guide”.

The proposed restricted area (MRA-1) is shown in yellow on the map below.

Here is a link to the full document.

https://www.portvancouver.com/news-and-media/news/notice-of-amendment-port-information-guide/

Relevant passages are:

p. 59:

The First Narrows Movement Restricted Area (MRA-1) comprises an area enclosed:

• To the west by a line drawn directly north from Ferguson Point off Stanley Park and the intersection of a line drawn from the north pier of First Narrows Lions Gate Bridge through Capilano Light.
• To the east by a line drawn from Brockton Point off Stanley Park to Burnaby Shoal, then north to the eastern edge of Fibreco Dock.

p. 67
For safety reasons, vessels engaged in fishing (including crab-by-trap), personal watercraft such as jet skis, row boats, canoes and vessels, sailing or proceeding without mechanical power, are not permitted within MRA-1. Fishing, sailing and other non-powered recreational activity is permitted only in designated areas outside of the boundaries of MRA-1 west of First Narrows Lions Gate Bridge.

The Jericho Sailing Centre has some information at:

https://www.jsca.bc.ca/inthewind/itw.html#LETTER.BLOCK45

[Nick Heath]

Thanks for this, Laura

I’m trying to accommodate all wishes – so it would be great if you were to come without a kayak – that way I have someone to ride in the boat with me!

Actually, using a kayak for this task is not so efficient, as one travels too slowly to get to all the sites in one weekend.

Talk at the meeting tomorrow, I hope.

 

[Laura South]

Hi Nick,

We talked briefly at the end of the September meeting.  I’m still interested and I’m still free for October 14 and 15.  If it ends up being a trip via kayak, I’d have to rent one and need help getting it to the launch site.  If it ends up being a trip via motor boat, easy peasy.

I will probably be at the October meeting to hear more info!

Looking forward to it!

Laura

[Nick Heath]

Hi Gaila,

If the web description is not detailed enough, I’ll bring a handout to the meeting next week and send it as an email att to anyone who wants it. My idea is to be flexible to accommodate what folks wish to do.

[Gaila Eddie]

What does it involve?

[Nick Heath]

I’ve posted a trip Oct 14/15 for inspecting/touring the 6 sites in Howe Sd for which SKABC has assumed stewardship.  I regret this clashes with the Harrison R day trip. Please sign up for one or the other!

[Heather Kirk]

Hi,

I’d like to put on a paddle trip down the Fraser once again from Hope to the Aggassiz Bridge, Saturday September 30th. Participants must have experience in fast moving water, either from taking the Currents Course or from prior white water river experience. Contact Heather Kirk by September 28th at the latest at @heakirk@telus.net to get the driving directions, meeting location and time. We usually go to a nearby pub for dinner if there’s interest.

[Nick Heath]

Successfully completed by Heather Kirk and me. Super trip and not very hard either.

[Nick Heath]

Sold!

[Gaila Eddie]

Hmmm.  I might be in.  How does the camping work there?  Do we need to reserve?

Gaila

[Randy Chatterjee]

Is anyone else planning to wheel their kayak onto the ferry this Friday to go to the BC Marine Trails weekend: Friday early afternoon departure to Sunday later afternoon return?  Two of us are now planning to meet at St Davids in North Van to combine boats on one car and thus share the parking cost at Horseshoe Bay, work together to move/wheel our boats onto the ferry and to the boat launch in Nanaimo, and then paddle together to Newcastle Island.  Up to two more boats can safely be loaded on my racks for any others who which to share the parking cost.

We might plan on taking the 3:10 PM ferry over on Friday and 5:20 PM ferry back on Sunday, but this is not yet set.

[Author]

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