Sailing in the Gorge
While boardsailing (or windsurfing) put the Columbia River Gorge on the map, boat sailors find haven here as well. Sailors of all types have found that the reliable, warm winds of the Gorge can thrill and test their skill whether they are cruising, racing, or just out for a day sail. With summertime air temperatures in the 80s and 90s and water temperature in the 70s, sailing here feels more like Key West than the Northwest! In the fall, spring and even winter, calmer winds prevail, creating ideal conditions for a river cruise from town to town. Here are a few of the hot tickets for sailing in the Gorge:
Racing – Cascade locks and Hood River
Both The Columbia Gorge Racing Association (CGRA) in Cascade Locks and The Hood River Yacht Club (HRYC) in Hood River host races in the summer for all types of boats and sailors. Cascade Locks has become famous in performance sailing circles as a stunning venue blessed with strong winds and flat water. National Championships, youth sailing and “one-design” regattas for keelboats, skiffs and dinghies proliferate during the summer season.
Up the river just 20 miles in Hood River racers take to the water every Wednesday evening from April – September to race in the big waves just west of town (Hood River Yacht Club). A special thrill in Hood River is sailing beneath the green span of the Hood River Bridge.
Cruising
A cruising sailor entering the Columbia River from the ocean will find thousands of miles of waterway to explore. In fact, the Columbia / Snake River system can take a cruising sailor clear into Idaho! The Gorge section may well be the most scenic run of this stretch, transitioning from temperate rain forest to desert geography in 30 miles! Cascade Locks, Hood River, Bingen and The Dalles all have docks and protected harbors with amenities. Of course there are hundreds of islands, coves, nooks and crannies for the adventurous to anchor in.
Click here for some fun Columbia River cruising pictures
Day Sailing
Pick the spot and tuck in a reef! There are literally hundreds of boat launches up and down the Columbia. Pick the spot you want to explore and make a day of it. For a quick jaunt to a different world, launch at Biggs, Oregon or Maryhill, Washington and sail to Miller Island where you can anchor in a protected cove and swim or explore the island.