Club Locarno High Wind Offsite Passholder Policies

Created: June 5, 2015
Last updated: July 24, 2019

Why did our club create the offsite pass program in 2015?

We created it to enable level 2 and level 3 windsurfers to access high wind conditions off site more frequently than is possible at Jericho, to practice skills in high wind locations such as Squamish in the summer, and Boundary Bay in the shoulder season. We also created it to ensure a fair and equitable use of gear for members who want to regularly sail offsite, at Jericho, or at both locations.

General club rules apply equally off site

All the club and windsurfing fleet rules, procedures and safety precautions, and unwritten club norms (the Locarno way), apply when taking gear to sail offsite. Equipment undergoes extreme use under high wind conditions. Any damage when using gear away from Jericho must be repaired and paid for.

Additional rules and procedures on how to handle the gear are detailed below.

Who can can take gear under this program?

For windsurfers in the offsite pass program:

• Level 3 windsurfers are authorized to take gear alone
• Level 2 sailors must be accompanied with a Level 3 sailor
• At the discretion of the windsurfing director, a level 2 sailor who has demonstrated their commitment to the club and responsibility handling and transporting gear may be deemed an "advanced" L2 and granted the full privileges of an L3 sailor (given the ability to take gear without accompaniment of an L3 member). See further down for definition of "advanced" level 2.
• A technical problem is that currently cage access can only be gained by level 3 sailors. As a "temporary" work around, a type of "conditional" L3 status may be granted to advanced level 2's so they can access to the cage. This is entirely at the directors discretion and will usually come with some restrictions, such as which boards can be taken.

Members can join the offsite pass program after receiving approval from the Windsurfing Director, and paying the fee shown in the membership section of the club website.  Approval can be granted or revoked at the discretion of the Windsurfing Director.

Single Day Offsite Rental

Starting in 2019, in addition to the high wind offsite season's pass, advanced windsurfers will now have the option to take windsurfing gear off site for single day use. As with the unlimited off site season's pass, this is only available for level 3 and more advanced level 2 windsurfers. In order to use this option you will first need to get the permission of the windsurfing director. This is a one time requirement. That is, once permission is given, the member may take gear off site for single day use without requiring further permission. All the rules applying to offsite season's passholders apply to single day use passes. Rentals are limited to a single windsurfing board and up to three rigs. You take full responsibility for loss and damage when you rent gear from the club.

What club gear can be taken?

Boards

Level 2 and 3 boards only may be taken off site. Before taking a board off site you must verify that taking it does not reduce the number of usable (undamaged and available) boards below the limits specified on the Board Availability Policy page. If you are planning to take a board during the time a club trip is scheduled, you must also factor in the  number of boards being taken on the trip as club trips take priority over individual off site use. If in any doubt, you must contact the trip organizer or windsurfing director to verify.

Sails

Sails/rigs can be taken from the level 3 gear reserves, stored in the windsurfing container (“the cage”).  The pre-rigged sails that are hanging on the rack outdoors should not be taken without permission.  These pre-rigged sails are meant for use at Jericho.

Accessories

As we currently (as of 2019) have a large number of harnesses for Jericho use it is permissible to take a harness for offsite use as long as there are plenty of harnesses left at Jericho for local use. However, if you are at this stage in your windsurfing progression, we strongly advise you to purchase your own harness for personal use.

Aside from harnesses, you may take ANY other normal accessories as needed, e.g. PFDs, extra harness lines, universals extensions, etc.

When (and how long) can I take the gear?

• Normally gear can be taken for ONE (1) day at a time unless granted special permission in advance by the windsurfing director to take the gear for more than a single day*
• Gear can be taken ANY day of the week
• Gear can be taken late on the evening the night before, or on the morning of your trip, and should be returned on the evening (same day) of your trip, or early the next morning
  
• Please note that club trips take priority over offite passholder use! Therefore, if you wish to take equipment off site at the same time as a scheduled club trip you must get explicit approval from the windsurfing director to do so!

If your gear is wanted by another member, you should return the gear so they can take it. It is up to you, as an offsite passholder, to coordinate the return of your gear with club members who have the same privileges as you.  Consideration and coordination is part of our general club rules.

*If you think an exception to the 1-day rule for your trip is warranted, contact the Windsurfing Director (windsurfing@clublocarno.com) for approval.

Where can I take gear?

Squamish in the summer, and Boundary Bay in the shoulder season. You may also take the gear for a multi-day trip to Nitinaht, Hood River or other high wind destination with the prior approval of the Windsurfing Director.

How to travel with the equipment?

All level 3 boards must be transported in the available board bags in the cage.

All transport of gear must be done using the same procedures taught at the club’s rigging clinics, or as instructed individually by the Director or a Fleet Captain.

How do I sign out the gear?  Do I do anything differently?

Sign out the gear as a “Rental” (the options are Pleasure, Lesson, Club Trip, Rental).  

In the comment area, indicate the location, expected return time, and equipment taken (e.g., “Taking the Ezzy 4.7 and Goya 5.0, 400 Ezzy mast, Severne 150-200 boom”).

Remember to sign-in the gear upon your return.  You could be tired after a long day, so don’t forget.

Do I need to coordinate or notify others?

You don’t need to notify anyone UNLESS you are planning on a multi-day trip or taking gear away at the same time an official club trip is scheduled. Both these scenarios require the prior approval of the Windsurfing Director.

This is to make impromptu trips possible and to minimize need for coordination.  As long as you use the club online signout system, you do not exceed the limit of number of boards allowed to be taken from the club, and take gear for 1-day trip only, you don’t need to seek approval or notify others.  Remember, Level 2 sailors must be accompanied with a Level 3 sailor unless granted "advanced" status by the Windsurfing Director.

"Advanced" Level 2 Definition and Criteria

This may also referred to as L2.5. This is an "unofficial" level in the sense that the member will still be considered an L2 for all other purposes but will have the same offsite, high wind pass holder privileges as an L3, i.e. they may take gear offsite without supervision by a level 3. Any existing L2 fleet member may be nominated to become an L2.5 by a fleet captain or trusted L3 member or may put themselves forward to be designated L2.5. The designation of L2.5 will ultimately be at the discretion of the windsurfing director.

The L2.5 will be designated in the system by the following:

• Their level will remain L2 in the club computer system
• They will be given cage access (NOTE: there is currently a technical difficulty around this so it may not be possible) so that if they purchase their offsite high wind pass they will be allowed to take sails/masts/booms etc. to offsite high wind locations without L3 supervision. They still may only take L2 boards. Under no circumstance should they take L3 boards!

Criteria for becoming an L2.5

This is somewhat subjective and ultimately up to the discretion of the windsurfing director (with input from fleet captains or other trusted L3 members) but should generally meet the following:

• The member is already be an L2 but doesn't quite have the full set of on water skills as an L3 (e.g. is unable to water start consistently or is not completely comfortable in the foot straps etc.)
• Has been on at least one and preferably several club trips to high wind destinations
• Has demonstrated the ability to sail safely and responsibly in high wind (>20kts) conditions
• Has demonstrated the ability to rig and de-rig without supervision
• Has demonstrated that they are able to handle and transport gear safely in such a way as to avoid damaging the equipment
• Has generally demonstrated good citizenship in the club/fleet by helping other members, putting in volunteer hours, fixing equipment etc.
  

Future topics and questions for discussion

The offsite passholder privileges and policy may not cover all circumstances.  So, there still may be some unanswered questions that are worth discussing in the future after members have had some experience with the program.  Any windsurfing fleet member can join in to discuss these questions:

1. How is the high wind/offsite pass program working so far?  Any issues? Improvements?
2. Has the offsite pass had good uptake? Are pass holders getting their money's worth? Should we also allow daily rentals?
3. Should we allow gear to be taken across the CAN-US border? Are there any insurance issues for offsite use?
4. Have their been any issues of availability for members sailing our of Jericho due to equipment being taken for offsite use?
5. Is the "advanced" L2 necessary? Should they just be made L3 if they have all the criteria but perhaps missing a few on water skills?