[Philip Kubik]

A trip to the Nootka Sound region using two attached, rustic floating cabins off Bligh I. as a base has been posted on the Trips List. Dates are Aug. 16 – 25. Participants will stay at Utopia Bay Lodge for 7 nights and have the opportunity to explore Nootka Sound, including Bligh Island Marine Park, Strange Island, Friendly Cove, and the Spanish Pilot Group. For more information and to register, log in and go to the Trips List on the Trips menu. Registration deadline is Mar. 31.

[Susan Servos-Sept]

I live on the Sunshine Coast (Halfmoon Bay). I am willing to help any way I can but not willing to sleep out on the the Island this time of the year (March). Have you considered the water taxi and just going out for the day / 2 days? You are welcome to stay at our home (inside and warm) if you don’t mind couches and the floor.

Susie

 

[Cynthia Materi]

Hi, I could help assemble the kits.
Cynthis

[George Prevost]

Hi everyone,

Last year the executive learned that Transport Canada requires a first aid kit meeting their specifications to be carried on all of our on-water activities, both trips and training. We struck a committee that did some good work on examining commercially available kits, considering what would work best for us, etc. The committee concluded that we can best meet our specific needs by creating our own kits and put together a couple of samples which seem like they will fit the bill. A lot of the hard work has been done, but there’s still more to do.

We are looking for volunteers who are willing to help with one or more of the following tasks:

• Sourcing and purchasing supplies – we already have a list of what is needed and a couple of names of potential suppliers.
• Assembling the kits – we are planning on putting together ten kits. Once the supplies are on hand this could probably be done in a couple of hours by a small work party.
• Distributing the kits to instructors and trip leaders as needed and keeping track of where they are. It’s not clear yet what the best approach will be, but it will probably involve assigning some or all of the kits to instructors and trip leaders who have already signed up to lead courses and trips this year and then coordinating swaps between them and any other instructors and leaders who weren’t initially assigned a kit. Sounds complicated but in practice might not take much work. This would be a good job for someone who is well-organized and detail oriented.
• Ensuring that the kits are kept fully stocked with items being replaced as they are used. Again, this would be a good job for someone who is well-organized and detail oriented. Ideally it would be the same person who is in charge of distributing the kits or perhaps a team of two could work together to do the two jobs. (Eventually we will need to ensure that supplies in the kits are replaced as they reach their expiry dates but that shouldn’t be a problem for a year or two.)
• Normally our Safety Officer would take the lead on this project, but, unfortunately, we have been unable to find someone to take on the Safety Officer role this year. If this is something that interests you, we love to have you join us on the executive.

If you are able to help with any of the above tasks, please reply to this post or send an email to membership1@skabc.org.

Thanks!

George Prevost
SKABC President

 

 

[Chris Fleming]

According to a friend who lives on Dufferin the restrictions were initiated by the Residents of the adult only, gated community at the top of the beach.  They  used COVID fear to lobby the City to restrict access completely.  They went door to door with stories of groups of children coming from Vancouver to play on the beach in groups larger than six.

I tried writing to the City about getting registered to access Stearman Beach for more than 3 hours and was never even dignified with a response.  I live about a kilometre away from this beach and have used it for 25 years.  The irony is that another friend who lived by the beach said that she could register my license plate as being  one of her family members.

[Nick Heath]

Likely BRMB is your best bet.

[Nick Heath]

Maybe the rot set in at Lions Bay and moved south during Covid?

DWV should be ashamed that Batchelor Cove’s quite fancy concrete small hand-boat launch will never get used again because no kayak or SUP owner can park near enough to it. ( I thought 15 spaces on Dufferin had a 3 hr limit, but perhaps the NIMBYs have lobbied to reduce that to 1 hr?)

It might be time to start writing letters…

[Admin]

Western Canoe and Kayak has announced a sale, Paddling Expo, and a Paddling Film festival. They sent details and a coupon to distribute digitally. Here’s a link:

https://www.skabc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WCK-Gear-Up-2024.pdf

Specific sale items include:

● PAST SEASON NRS PFDs & APPAREL – 30% OFF
● MUSTANG DESTINY & TRIDENT PFDs – 30% OFF
● GREYOWL HIGH PERFORMANCE DRAGON BOAT PADDLE – 40%OFF
● GREY OWL OUTRIGGER ECO PADDLE – 25% off
● BLACKWATER CARBON DRAGON BOAT PADDLES – 15% off
● DRAGON SADDLES – 15% off
● ALL SUPs ON SALE – SAVE UP TO 50%

There is also 10% off other items with the coupon. The Paddling Film Fest is in Mission on March 7. The Paddle Expo is at Cultus Lake on April 28.

[Chris Fleming]

West Vancouver residents can get a $20 annual parking pass for use at Whytecliffe, Lighthouse Park, and Whyte Lake parking lots.  The City is also looking at charging for permits to use picnic tables, Divers changing rooms, Dive class/Dive Club usage of the beach, and anything else they can to limit the use of the parks and make some coin

Covid stranger panic allowed waterfront residents in West Vancouver to lobby West Vancouver city hall to put  year round parking restrictions in around all of the useful beach accesses in West Vancouver.  They now have between 1 hour at Bachelor Bay to 3 hours at Stearman Beach (where I put in to kayak Pt Atchinson).  At Stearman, a local waterfront owner patrols the limit and calls the City Bylaws to get offenders ticketed.  They have successfully banned dogs  from the beach (despite waterfront owners dogs running around)    And  banning winter use fire pits, despite the owners all having their own  fire pits.

Eagle Harbour still has some unregulated parking spots probably because of the yacht club and their need for visitor parking.  This is a good spot to put in to access the waters from Lighthouse Park, the little offshore islands, and past Fisherman’s Cove over towards Horseshoe Bay

it’s fair to say that I’m pissed off at the restriction of these public amenities  by the influence of a privileged minority.

[Maureen Benzon]

Parking fees are in effect year-round, between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Rates during the initial phase of the plan will be $3.75 per hour, plus taxes and processing fees.

Pity!!

[Kevin Amos]

If you are looking at BC Parks I have used there maps for Clearwater/Azure

https://nrs.objectstore.gov.bc.ca/kuwyyf/wells_gray_clearwater_azure_marine_map_f0ac0fd443.pdf

 

[Will Cullen]

Hi,

I’m looking for suggestions for hard-copy maps of lakes in BC – especially for the campgrounds and marine campgrounds, parking, and launch points (BCMT is fantastic for the coast stuff).

I realize there are many electronic options available, but I’ve a preference for hard-copy maps. Topo/hydrographic maps are great, but they’re not going to be up-to-date with campground, etc.

I’ve looked at the Backroad Maps (especially the fishing maps) and they seem to be excellent options.

I’m just wondering if there are better options available the BRM..?

Thanks!

[Cynthia Kennedy]

Gerald Island Volunteer Registration Open
April 11 @ 8:00 am – April 14 @ 5:00 pm

On the BC Marine Trails WEBSITE Gerald Island Volunteer Registration form is now open for April 11 – 14, 2024.

Gerald Island Invasive species removal has been ongoing for five years and once again the BC Marine Trails completed two invasive species removal cleanups in 2023.

Join us in the fight against invasive species! BC Marine Trails looks for passionate volunteers to help us remove English ivy on Gerald Island . Together, we can protect the island’s biodiversity and ensure a healthy environment for generations to come.

This is an ongoing project that we are excited to be working on in partnership with BC Parks. By volunteering with us on this project, you will be contributing to a larger effort to control and prevent the spread of invasive species in our parks and natural areas. This is an important initiative that will have a positive impact on the health and diversity of our ecosystem, and we are grateful for the support of our volunteers in this effort. Let’s work together to make a lasting difference on Gerald Island and beyond!

Gerald Island Park, an island located near Nanoose Bay, was established as the result of a private land acquisition.

The park is a good example of the rocky coastal bluff ecosystem rarely found undisturbed in the Coastal Douglas-fir biogeoclimatic zone in the southern Strait of Georgia. Northern and California sea-lions, bald eagles and various bird and marine species are found in the park.

No camping is usually allowed on Gerald Island.  I believe this BCMT conservation has an exception and you can stay on the island.

[Nick Heath]

Bob, I can’t answer the PIKA question, but several of us are members of both clubs, so perhaps one of them will let us know? I’ve attended some of their in-person meetings in past years (as a guest) and suspect that the rental paid for their Langley meeting hall is relatively modest.

Yes, we have substantial savings that we accumulated over the years from various sources (including, I am told, a federal government contract over-payment!). An ad hoc committee of the Exec/Board is currently analyzing our operating budget, which in recent years has been treated separately from savings.

Cheers/n

[Bob Maher]

Nick,

I received your email on how the Bluewater Cruising Assn. handles their meetings and that they are now charging members and guests for the In Person Meetings.

Just curious, how is PIKA handling their In Person meetings?

Does SKABC still have a high, five figure amount in the Bank?

Happy Valentins Day, Bob Maher    🙂

[Author]

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