Larry, We have sailed a number of times on the Mighty Columbia and my son like wise with his Guppy. St. Helens is nice with great facilities, there is good ramp at SCappose Bay, however about an hours motor down the channel (nice scenery) to the main river. Fred's Marina is nice also, it is on the Multnoma Channel close to where the Willamette meets the Columbia. Last summer we launched and stayed for a few days at Camas/Washougal, a very nice spot with good facilities. Son Joe sailed last summer out of Rooster Rock, another nice ramp. Unfortunately, he misjudged the current and ended up at Camas in short order. The current can exceed 4 knots at times and with his guppy or even our M-17 it is a tough climb upstream. There is a nice Marina with good sailing areas downstream at Cathlamet . I'll watch for you next year on the Columbia (the boats in the garage for the winter). Regards and good sailing..Arnold Sharpe, M-17 "LITTLE BREEZE", Brownsville, Oregon. On Nov 21, 2008, at 10:31 AM, Farley Welch wrote:
Larry -
Where do you sail on the Columbia? I just bought an M15 and I've launched a few times from the Gleason ramp across from the airport. The river is nice and wide there. I've sailed a Laser for many years off of Sauvie Island, but I haven't located a boat ramp on the Oregon side out there. Have you ever put in at Rooster Rock State Park? It looks like a easy launch spot since the ramp is in a protected area - I'm wondering about the current there.
Thanks,
Farley Welch M15 - El Jeffe
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Well I've been out on the Mighty Columbia a few times now.? Not as much as I would like but that's how it goes this time of year.? I'm not nearly so brave when it's just me on the water.? I pull in my roller jib pretty early and am wishing for a topping lift for the main so I could reef if need be. the wind has been mostly very light and the one time it picked up we were already headed in.? Overall, I've learned some and had a good time.? The bad news is (good for Ida sailor) when I was single handing the first time I forgot to pull the rudder and almost ruined it.? My wife normally does this while I get the truck.? I salvaged it with some epoxy but it is in Bad shape.? So, over the holiday, I'll take it to Joel and have a new swing up made . Anyone have experience with reefing the main with no topping lift.? is there a good sequence of action that makes it easy??
At your service
Larry Pegg Pilgrim M-17 #55
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