Jim Ferguson's Lower Columbia Cruise 2004

Just got back from a little trip on the Columbia. Three days and my GPS odometer logged 81 statute miles.

Launched from Washougal, Washington and sailed about five hours and reached the I-5 bridge, upwind all the way. This is the bridge between Washington and Oregon about 15 miles downstream from where I started. It was about 3 PM and my destination was the downtown Portland RiverPlace so I started up the motor. It was quite a distance to Kelly point (where the Willamette River dumps into the Columbia) and back up the Willamette to Portland under seven bridges. Took me another 4 hours to make it.

I'm not sure but a P19 might not clear the Broadway Railroad bridge. I creeped up to it and cleared it by a few feet. There was a sign that instructed you to call on VHF at least an hour in advance to get it lifted.

Spent the night there and put $4 in the self service pay slot. Esmeralda looked a little silly tied up with all those Grand Banks Trawlers. Good dinner and beer at the Newport Bay Restaurant.

Next day I was heading for St. Helens, Oregon and decided to go down the Multnomah Channel so motored the entire way. It's too narrow to sail much and would take too long to get to St. Helens. There are several moorages with beautiful floating houseboats in the channel. I can't figure out why I don't live on one. While I was motoring down the channel I was wishing I had brought a fishing pole. I saw a nice salmon hooked up and landed.

Spent the night at St. Helens public dock (free moorage and showers and several good places to eat) and headed for Kalama, Washington the next morning. The river looked a bit choppy so I started out with a reefed main. After about a mile and into the main channel I realized it was too much for me. Any little mistake and I would be capsized. So I pulled down the sails and motored on up the 10 miles to Kalama. Man it was rough! Whitecaps, three foot waves, strong wind, water over the bow, water pumping up the centerboard trunk, prop spinning out of water. I was wondering why I didn't just wait until the river settled down. It's not like I have a real job to get back to.

Anyway, made it to Kalama and stayed overnight and called a former co-worker who commutes from Longview to Vancouver every day and he picked me up on his way to work the next morning to get my trailer.

After refueling the Honda in the nasty chop, I am definitely setting up a squeeze bulb fuel system like Derek Jensen uses on El Nino before I go again. I darn near was flipped overboard trying to refuel.

Sorry I didn't take more pictures.

The next time I take this trip I think I will stretch it out and stop more places. There is a nice dock on the north side of Government Island in the Columbia that would have been a good destination the first day. Coon Island in the Multnomah Channel would have been another nice place to stop overnight.

Could be a future NWP group sail!

Jim Ferguson
P15 1244 "Esmeralda"
Vancouver, USA

Washington Idaho Oregon British Columbia

Home [Previous Page]	Jim Ferguson's Lower Columbia Cruise 2004 Just got back from a little trip on the Columbia. Three days and my GPS odometer logged 81 statute miles. Launched from Washougal, Washington and sailed about five hours and reached the I-5 bridge, upwind all the way. This is the bridge between Washington and Oregon about 15 miles downstream from where I started. It was about 3 PM and my destination was the downtown Portland RiverPlace so I started up the motor. It was quite a distance to Kelly point (where the Willamette River dumps into the Columbia) and back up the Willamette to Portland under seven bridges. Took me another 4 hours to make it. I'm not sure but a P19 might not clear the Broadway Railroad bridge. I creeped up to it and cleared it by a few feet. There was a sign that instructed you to call on VHF at least an hour in advance to get it lifted. Spent the night there and put $4 in the self service pay slot. Esmeralda looked a little silly tied up with all those Grand Banks Trawlers. Good dinner and beer at the Newport Bay Restaurant. Next day I was heading for St. Helens, Oregon and decided to go down the Multnomah Channel so motored the entire way. It's too narrow to sail much and would take too long to get to St. Helens. There are several moorages with beautiful floating houseboats in the channel. I can't figure out why I don't live on one. While I was motoring down the channel I was wishing I had brought a fishing pole. I saw a nice salmon hooked up and landed. Spent the night at St. Helens public dock (free moorage and showers and several good places to eat) and headed for Kalama, Washington the next morning. The river looked a bit choppy so I started out with a reefed main. After about a mile and into the main channel I realized it was too much for me. Any little mistake and I would be capsized. So I pulled down the sails and motored on up the 10 miles to Kalama. Man it was rough! Whitecaps, three foot waves, strong wind, water over the bow, water pumping up the centerboard trunk, prop spinning out of water. I was wondering why I didn't just wait until the river settled down. It's not like I have a real job to get back to. Anyway, made it to Kalama and stayed overnight and called a former co-worker who commutes from Longview to Vancouver every day and he picked me up on his way to work the next morning to get my trailer. After refueling the Honda in the nasty chop, I am definitely setting up a squeeze bulb fuel system like Derek Jensen uses on El Nino before I go again. I darn near was flipped overboard trying to refuel. Sorry I didn't take more pictures. The next time I take this trip I think I will stretch it out and stop more places. There is a nice dock on the north side of Government Island in the Columbia that would have been a good destination the first day. Coon Island in the Multnomah Channel would have been another nice place to stop overnight. Could be a future NWP group sail! Jim Ferguson P15 1244 "Esmeralda" Vancouver, USA