Brand New Number Two (And Three!)

On January 11th, many Jib Set members came down to lend a hand on launching the latest addiction to the Jib Set fleet. The Jib Set Sailing Club is happy to announce it has received it's second and third Martin 244! This brings the total number of boats in the fleet to a whopping nine! Arriving just in time for the Vancouver Boat Shot (Feb 4th to 8th) at BC place, it provides the Jib Set with a unique opportunity to provide introductory rides on the hottest boat in Vancouver. Stay tuned, as these boats will be ready for member use right after the boat show!

The Dawn of a New Year

It's been a bit too long since we've had an update on the Jib Set Blog. Things certainly have slowed down over the last month at the club, with plenty of foul weather to compliment the season.

It seems Vancouver has been getting near record snowfalls over the last few weeks, which has put a damper on the Jib Set club's access to the water. Low temperatures caused a sheet of ice to form over the waters of Broker's Bay and it seemed we would need an ice breaker to free the fleet. Water pipes froze and exploded, docks were dangerously slick and each vessel resembled more of a snowy mushroom than a sailboat! And let's not forget the 35 knot winds, that caused the already cold temperatures to feel more like antarctic wind chill. But alas, the weather has turned to a milder (although wetter) system and the boats are once again cleared to sail throughout English Bay.

There are many events coming up in the next few weeks. The Vancouver Boat show is happning on Feb 4th to 8th at BC place. Jib Set will be hosting a fleet maintenance day and sail to ensure the boats stay healthy and fully functional this winter season. There are two more M244's planned to arrive in the next few weeks as well, so we will need your help to get them up and running! Don't forget that the Volvo Ocean Race Game Leg# 5 starts January 18th! If you don't have your boat, it's the last change to register and join the race! Dates will be posted on the blog in the next few weeks, so be sure to stay tuned!


And one last item, on behalf of us all at the Jib Set. If you weren't able to make it to the Christmas Party at Kits Yacht Club, then we hope your had a joyous holiday season and a safe and happy New Year! The Jib Set Sailing Club wishes you the best in 2009... we hope to see you out on the water!

Volvo Ocean Race... you haven't missed it yet!

Due to some random gamers not taking the directed course around Sri Lanka, the Volvo Ocean Race Game has been restarted! It's not too late to sign up your boat ( you also get to discard the worst two leg scores, so after this leg, it will be harder to join in!) as the restart begins at 2 a.m. on December 16th. Sailing from Cochin, India, to Singapore, Malaysia, this will be one of the more complicated legs of the virtual race due to navigational hazards and adverse wind conditions. Although it still beats sailing for real lately, as the Vancouver forecast looks severely chilly over the next few days! So for all your armchair sailors out there, head to http://www.volvooceanracegame.org and sign up today! It's also the perfect way to waste away your coffee and lunch breaks while at work!

P.S. You do not have to be awake for the 2 am start, as your boat will be automatically sailed for you... although you don't want to forget to check it the next morning!

Do you have a Nokia Smart Phone?

In the day and age of smart phones, we are often surprised and amazed at what these little electronic machines can accomplish. This past Sunday, I was once again amazed when Kay, a recreational sunday sailor showed me a new online application for his smart phone.

Recently Nokia has released something called the "Nokia Sports Tracker". Essentially it is a semi-automatic GPS activated diary of your daily activities! You can activate the tracker and it will plot your course then upload the data to your online diary for you and others to see. It also keeps track of altitude, top speeds, distances and camera phone pictures to make your trip diary more interesting.

Check out Kay's Sports Tracker Profile for a great example of how windy it was on Sunday and how well the new service works!

Unfortunately, it is strictly for Nokia smarts phones are the moment, but hopefully more models and phones will be added in the future! Check out the website at Nokia Sports Tracker

Get ready for the Jib Set Christmas Party!

Solstice is on it's way, as is Santa Claus and his sleigh. It is once again the Christmas season the Jib Set would like to extend to you an invitation to our Christmas Party! Happening at 7 pm on December 13th at Kits Yacht Club.

Another great chance to meet other Jib Set members, grab a bite, grab a brew and regale in the festivities of the season! There is live music from our resident musician, Neal Miskin and a collective jam session afterwards, so please bring your instrument of choice! It is also a Jib Set goal to support the local food bank during this holiday season, so please bring a non perishable item of your choice! We look forward to seeing you there!

Tickets are $13 for members, available at the Jib Set office! Tickets are limited so please get yours soon!

The Martin 244... officially released!

The Martin 244 has finally completed sea trials and has just recently been released exclusively to Jib Set Sailing Club Members!

Each weekend in December, the Jib Set is hosting member orientations on the Martin 244 so members have an opportunity to learn the major differences between the M244, Capri and Martin 242. It is mandatory for each member to complete a M244 orientation to certify that they are competent with the new systems of the boat, but it is also a great opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the Martin 244 in a safe and social environment as well as a chance to connect with other members! Give the Jib Set a call if you are interested in signing up for an orientation!

Race the Volvo Ocean Race from the comfort of your own home!

The around the world Volvo Ocean Race is going on right now as you read this. Currently there are a fleet of VOR 70 racers in the Arabian Sea on their way to Cochin, India.

There is also a fleet of virtual sailors heading north (some of whom have already arrived at the virtual finish line!) on a virtual course. Yes! There is a Volvo Ocean Race Game.

I have recently been informed that there are quite a few club members sailing virtual boats as well. Comparing tactics, weather forecasts and sail set ups with club members is a great way to get in on the sailing action, without having to leave your own home!

If you are currently sailing a virtual VOR boat and would like to connect with other members, email us and we will post VOR boat and member names here.

Jib Set Member Boat Directory

-Bastian Hane - Red Bull, Flying Betty, Lucky Ann
-Bob Davis - Yukon Gold
-Fraser Martyniuk - Somersault