Gorge Guide on iWindsurf.com: Rowena, Dougs, Swell/Hatch etc

Arrgh · Joined: 05 May 1998 Posts: 864 Location: Rio

Current issue of Windsurfing has an extensive Gorge Guide.

andymc4610 · Joined: 19 May 2000 Posts: 684

Rowena is the next spot for you. An intermediate spot....swell is fairly small (maybe not this year), compared with doug's. there are no real issues with this site. depending on the water level rocks can take a fin if you jibe too far inside.

Current is running fast everywhere in the gorge (I'd guess 7 knots), plan for it and stay up-river.

allen · Joined: 13 Aug 1996 Posts: 237

If you end up upwind, by the houses on the Oregon side, there are a lot barely submerged rocks that can chew up your board or fin. They're close to shore so try not to come all the way in on your jibes.

geohaye · Joined: 03 Apr 2000 Posts: 1437

johnl · Joined: 05 Jun 1994 Posts: 1330 Location: Hood River OR

Watch the rocks where you launch. In past years they have been very slippery and more than one sailor has gone down on his tailbone. Not a good way to start a session.

geohaye · Joined: 03 Apr 2000 Posts: 1437

And the Gorge Beach Maps here on iWindsurf are pretty handy too:

Rooster Rock:
http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=218&Isection=Beach+Map&siteID=247

Stevenson:
http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=218&Isection=Beach+Map&siteID=248

Swell City:
http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=218&Isection=Beach+Map&siteID=243

Event Site:
http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=218&Isection=Beach+Map&siteID=242

Rowena:
http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=218&siteID=240&Isection=Beach+Map

Maryhill:
http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=219&siteID=244&Isection=Beach+Map

Roosevelt AND Arlington:
http://www.iwindsurf.com/windandwhere.iws?regionID=219&Isection=Beach+Map&siteID=260

geohaye · Joined: 03 Apr 2000 Posts: 1437

More iW Gorge Beach Maps.

River-Lizard · Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Posts: 188

Roweena will be a good spot for you. The wind can get very strong there, sometimes its much stronger than it appears from the shoreline. I actually cut my foot on a submerged rock this year there, even though I was wearing booties.

One thing to be aware of is that the home owners on the Oregon side can be very protective about their property, so if you end up down river, walk along the shore but in the water so you know you're not going to "trespass" on anyone's property. As you've already mentioned, keep an eye out for barges, as you will be sailing in the barge lane and they sometimes sneak up on you a bit, especially when you just miss that jibe.

wsmike · Joined: 07 Jun 2003 Posts: 412

One person posted that they estimated the current at 7kts, that's almost 9mph. I'd say that estimation is not what my experience has been, I'd guess the current in the fastest parts of the river (middle) are maybe 5kts, which is certainly something to consider. If you tend to spend a lot of time in the water (missed jibes, waterstarts, falls) then you will get washed downstream VERY quickly and before you know it you will have to sail dead down wind just to get back to the launch which can be exhausting.

My advise: stick to the event site where at least there are many exit points downriver from the launch. In the event that you are swept away you will have many more better options than at Roweena.

I consider myself advanced, I make 90% of my jibes, 100% waterstarts, jumping, waveriding no problem, learning to loop. Last week at the Hatch I sailed OP'd on a 3.7 amid huge cresting swells and almost got swept down to Swell City because I couldn't get back down river and kept falling in and exhausting myself.

Granted Roweena is easier than the Hatch, but relative to skill level it is about the same. The water is very cold still, don't take unnecessary risks until you are confident you can swim for an hour and be ok.

bajabill13 · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 11

Rowena is right for you...under the right conditions. The river is flowing fast now and what other have said is good advice. You might consider Bob's Beach at Stevenson. The river's wider there and the current not so much of an issue. Nice grassy rigging, no huge chop and the wind is less gusty.