When heading South from Astoria if weather is a bit dodgy, I will pull into Newport and visit the Rogue Brewery while waiting for conditions to settle. Weather was clear and cool. After a perfect crossing of the Columbia River bar, meaning six foot swells we sailed to Winchester Bay and averaged about 5.5 knots for the trip. The weather was supposed to bring rain so we chose to drop into Winchester Bay.
Bars on the Oregon coast are notorious for more excitement than I usually like while sailing but we timed this crossing with the flood so was a non event. An added bonus was Eldon Best, who I had not seen in 30 years. He is living aboard his boat in the marina.
Le Chat Beaute tied up to transient dock with storm clouds building in the back ground.
Playing with our new camera and another shot of the dock.
Not only is Winchester Bay a great salmon catching area but every year they have a huge chainsaw carving contest and several of the entries become a permanent part of the area around the small downtown.
Sometimes when it is time to go it is time to go! Such was the case after rain subsided and winds turn Northerly. Coast Guard posted no restrictions on the electronic board so at 1030 hours we headed for the bar. The Umpqua can be unpredictable and as we approached the bar all I saw was white water at 6-8 feet. I moved closer to the South jetty and saw the calm water. As we left the confines of the jetty there were 10-12 foot waves. Fortunately they were not breaking and only lasted a couple of hundred yards. The view heading South is of these high sand dunes. Quite popular with the four wheeler crowd.
Bars on the Oregon coast are notorious for more excitement than I usually like while sailing but we timed this crossing with the flood so was a non event. An added bonus was Eldon Best, who I had not seen in 30 years. He is living aboard his boat in the marina.
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