Windsurfing

Back in the day, I spent a lot of time driving to Hood River, OR to test my mettle against the Columbia River. I’ve taken a few years off, but am trying to get back into it.

Things have changed a bit since I last sailed here. First, kite sailing has taken over several of the prime sites I used to sail, most notably The Marina and Event Site in Hood River.

That leaves The Hook and he WA side sites for windsurfers, and it turns out there is another new site between Hook and Event Site that I need to try out.

I decided to do a bit of a tour today, and reacquaint myself with the sites. I actually got one run off at The Hook, the wind died just as I got in the water. Note to self, always rig the 7.0m. I was trying the 5.8 because it was really nuking while I was rigging up. Bad idea. Also, I correctly recall that The Hook is not an awesome site for actual sailors, because it’s a lee shore and has a huge island that puts up a wind shadow just as you get going.

The Dalles Waterfront Park was flooded today, they are spilling a Ton of water through the Dalles Dam. There were sturgeon swimming amongst the picnic tables. 😮 free parking, toilet, grassy rigging area. But not sailable today.

On the way back from Hood River (I am staying in The Dalles), I stopped at Rowena. It’s just as posh as I remember. $5 a day to park, but several beautiful lawns to rig on, a big flat open launch zone, and sensibly perfect water conditions. It was still blowing hard at 5pm.

I decided to check out a site I had heard about but never seen, Celilo. I don’t know why the site isn’t more popular. Looks to be a free campsite, under trees, on grass, picnic tables and toilet, free parking, with a sandy beach launch. I will be sailing there tomorrow unless something better comes up. It’s 10 miles past The Dalles, 32mi past Hood River, but maybe I will drive home through Yakima. Sounds like a winner to me.

My rigging job left a lot to be desired, I don’t have the hang of getting the sail flat and tight. I will get there.

Also, I am badly out of shape, a short run and I was panting hard for several minutes. Then both calves cramped in quick succession. Ouch. I need to do more sailing.

It was good to get back on the water again. My waterstarts seem like they are pretty dialed in already, like riding a bike.

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