West Coast Tour - Out and About in The Gorge

by Kate Sheahan
West Coast Tour Coordinator

Hood River Yacht Club

When on the west coast, one must not miss sailing in Oregon "...it is gorges," the tourism board says, as we all lovingly roll our eyes! A few years back many dedicated families tried to build up the 29er fleet in my hometown San Diego, which evolved in to additional 49ers and even a neighborhood 59er. San Diego winds can often be light, so we turned to Oregon for a change of scenery and some serious wind power. Part of the fun of class racing are the road trips, and I have found that many American families have been making sojourns to "The Gorge" to sail in one of the windiest spots in the U.S.

George Yioulos, long-time board member of the Columbia Gorge Racing Association, avid volunteer and owner of West Cost Sailing in Portland explains that, “this place gets the reputation it gets because people come and have experiences that they can’t have in other places. You cannot replicate what happens here… “

The towns of Cascade Locks and Hood River are the heart of The Gorge sailing venue. From southern California, expect a two-hour flight, or plan for a two-day drive. The scenery along the way is part of the experience. By air in to Portland you will find yourself surrounded by the snow-capped mountains of Mount St. Helens, Mt. Adams and, of course, Mt. Hood as you descend. By road one can wind through deep forests filled with giant evergreens and an undeveloped coastline dotted with equally monolithic rock islands. The inland route takes you past Crater Lake – the deepest fresh water lake in the U.S.

Oneonta Falls

Sent by President Jefferson, Lewis and Clark’s Corp of Discovery charted this territory in the early 1800s, and I believe the area still holds true to Meriwether Lewis’ report, “I have scarcely experienced a day since our arrival without some novel occurrence or uncommon object.”

You will know you have arrived when snowmelt waterfalls begin to line the road and serve as a natural gateway to the Columbia River Gorge. Think Lake Garda for scenery, and replace great Italian food with great microbreweries.

As George reminds us that, “without the people who come to sail and enjoy it, it is just a windy river, but when you combine passionate sailors, dedicated volunteers, breathtaking scenery and reliable winds there is something magical about that compared to the corporate style yacht club.”

It is a land of pioneers and should be your next frontier for experiencing sailing in the purest form. Here, passion is undefeated. Just get on the road. Oregon welcomes you. 

Visit www.cgra.org to check the racing schedule or learn how they can help you host your own event.

Photos from along the road...

Gorge Sailing 2013, a set on Flickr.

Listen to a dialogue with George, organizer of The 2013 Gorge Skiff Invitational, as he explains how having a simple passion for sailing blazes new trails, the importance of volunteerism in building something meaningful, and the magic of sailing in The Gorge.



Stay tuned for more coverage of kiting and kite racing as it spreads along the west coast.

Up next is my visit to the McNish Classic Yacht Race with contenders Dennis Conner (Splendor), Dick McNish (Cheerio II) and CF Koehler (Sally) at the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club in Ventura, CA. The winning owner takes home their weight in champagne!

Follow the West Coast Tour on Twitter at @USSailing

Check out The West Coast Tour Schedule