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My boys and I went racing last night. We started by racing against red 46. We were neck-n-neck until sunset when the wind picked up a little. We then left him behind and started giving red 48 a run for his money. We were able to pass him up also. By 9 pm we were running down green 49, but had to head home. Green 49 was the winner, but we'll get him next time.

Jeff

Awesome! Don't get too addicted to racing, you'll start hoisting all sorts of crazy sails.

And want to change out everything for carbon fiber! That would be a little excessive for buoy racing.

Jeff

We passed up green 49 last night!

Jeff

Eveywhere I travel I see 26Xs around but hardly ever see them race. I've done my share of racing in Xs and just wondering what sizes and brands of boats your overtaking?

Newell wrote:Eveywhere I travel I see 26Xs around but hardly ever see them race. I've done my share of racing in Xs and just wondering what sizes and brands of boats your overtaking?

We've never overtaken another boat that wasn't anchored. The racing I was referring to was "racing" bouys. We're just trying to go faster than the current, which is 2-3 knots in our area of the Columbia River. Last night we were able to make it from 46 to past 52 in about an hour and a half. Nice wind on our tail, sailing mostly wing on wing. Thanks again for the tip about attaching the main sheet to the rail to act as a preventer! This takes the stress out of worrying about an accidental jibe.

Jeff

C Buchs wrote:We've never overtaken another boat that wasn't anchored. The racing I was referring to was "racing" bouys. We're just trying to go faster than the current, which is 2-3 knots in our area of the Columbia River. Last night we were able to make it from 46 to past 52 in about an hour and a half. Nice wind on our tail, sailing mostly wing on wing. Thanks again for the tip about attaching the main sheet to the rail to act as a preventer! This takes the stress out of worrying about an accidental jibe.

Jeff

Great story

Hello,
Racing the buoys, that's great. I nearly put my X on the rocks at "green 49" sailing down river. I see lots of boats unable to overtake the buoys so don't feel thwarted. I was sailing on a friend's Cal 22 out of Tomahawk Is. and it took us over 2 hours to overtake the 205 bridge.

Don

Don T wrote:Hello,
Racing the buoys, that's great. I nearly put my X on the rocks at "green 49" sailing down river. I see lots of boats unable to overtake the buoys so don't feel thwarted. I was sailing on a friend's Cal 22 out of Tomahawk Is. and it took us over 2 hours to overtake the 205 bridge.

Don

One of the guys I took ASA 101 with said that he would always have the motor down going under the 205 bridge. He said the wind was unpredictable because of the hill on the Washington side. I've motored under, but there was no wind. What's your experience?

Jeff

Hello,
OK I'll confess here. The wind is very fickle around the bridge. We have done a pirouette on the center board more than once under the bridge. SO........... I tend to set the iron jenny and head upstream, set sail at Beacon or Rooster Rock and sail back down river after pausing for lunch or whatever . On the Columbia 2 hours of motoring = the rest of the day sailing. Doesn't matter whether you are sailing down and motoring back up OR motoring up and sailing back down. It just means I get to see a lot more of the river with the Mac.

Don

We've been motoring up river, going swimming till dark and night sailing back to port a lot. My boys don't like to waste swimming time. After dark they like sailing better. Works for me!

Jeff

Hello fellow Portland area people! Have you ever tried Cascade Locks? Nice and wide there, good winds (watch forecast), and two ramp options. I've launched at Cascade Locks Marine Park and across the river at Stevenson. Beautiful area!

Sailor Dale wrote:Hello fellow Portland area people! Have you ever tried Cascade Locks? Nice and wide there, good winds (watch forecast), and two ramp options. I've launched at Cascade Locks Marine Park and across the river at Stevenson. Beautiful area!

I haven't had the boat out there. I've talked to several people who have and they say it's great. I pulled up the area on Google Maps and it looks about 3/4 of a mile wide for over 3 miles. Plenty of room and The Columbia River Gorge almost always has wind! There's a reason it's the windsurfing capital of the world. The last time I drove across The Bridge of the Gods there was what looked like a race with a bunch of small sailboats going on. We didn't have time to stop It's on my list, but I've got to replace my wheel bearings before I can go far from my slip. Maybe I'll have time this weekend

My wife has Lake Merwin, up by Mt. St. Helens, on the list for our first trailered trip. Anyone gone up there?

Jeff

Green 49 is still out crying in the river after you passed him.....