Portland to the Pacific how long?

greendot

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Dec 10, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/10/97

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I was wondering how long it would take to sail from portland to the
ocean and back? I'm assumeing around 6-7 knots. How fast is the
columbia?
Robert

Joe Engel

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Dec 11, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/11/97

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Wierd question IMO:

Distance is about 100 miles to the actual ocean from downtown Portland. The
Columbia can run from about 13 knots in peak Springtime flood times to an
slight upstream current in low flow and high flood tides (the Columbia is
subject to tides all the way to the first dams well above Portland.)

Power boaters have an easy day to Astoria. A long day back to Portland.
Most take 2 days back just to enjoy. Sailboaters typically take 2 days down
and 4 days back assuming easy days and not travelling at night.

greendot wrote in message <348F7B54...@holly.colostate.edu>...

kozo...@sns-access.com

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Dec 12, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/12/97

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In article <66pto4$t97$1...@news2.ispnews.com>, Joe Engel wrote:
>greendot wrote in message <348F7B54...@holly.colostate.edu>...
>> I was wondering how long it would take to sail from portland to the
>>ocean and back? I'm assumeing around 6-7 knots. How fast is the
>>columbia?
>

>Distance is about 100 miles to the actual ocean from downtown Portland. The
>Columbia can run from about 13 knots in peak Springtime flood times to an
>slight upstream current in low flow and high flood tides (the Columbia is
>subject to tides all the way to the first dams well above Portland.)

The current usually is about 2-3 knots on the ebb and can be 1-2 knots
_upstream_ on the flood, especially in the shallower areas of the river
(e.g. out of the shipping channel). This is for summer time. It can run
much higher during the spring.

>Power boaters have an easy day to Astoria. A long day back to Portland.
>Most take 2 days back just to enjoy. Sailboaters typically take 2 days down
>and 4 days back assuming easy days and not travelling at night.

Using the tide to your advantage make a big difference in a sub 15 knot boat.
One of my favorite places to stop is Cathlamet, WA. It's about 30 miles from
Astoria, OR and about 60 miles from Portland. St. Helens, OR is another good
place to stop. It's about 25 miles from Portland.

Also, be aware that there are many places on the river that you do need to
follow the channel fairly close or you will end up aground.

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Mark Anderson

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Dec 15, 1997, 3:00:00 AM12/15/97

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greendot <gree...@holly.colostate.edu> wrote:

> I was wondering how long it would take to sail from portland to the
> ocean and back? I'm assumeing around 6-7 knots. How fast is the
> columbia?

> Robert

I usually do it in 2 days each way. Often sailing down, but usually
motoring up, (unless the wind is quite favorable and adequately strong).
Definitely ride the tides up. In summer the prevailing wind is from the
NW so it's often a run upstream, but unless your boat is doing 5 kts. or
more, (and riding the tides), there'd be frustratingly slow progress
over the ground.

--
Mark Anderson
Riparia
"The trouble with good ideas, is that they soon turn into
alot of hard work." Anon.