Portland to San Juan Islands

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DannyO

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Jun 12, 2012
19
Hunter 340 Jantzen Beach
Hi everyone,

I have an O-25 CB and was thinking about sailing it from Portland, OR to San Juan Island. Has anyone ever done this before OR do you have any thoughts about taking it across the Astoria bar or coastal sailing North along the Western side of WA? I'm obviously thinking about doing this over the summer when the weather is a bit more trustworthy and forgiving. I'm just purchased this boat in June of 2012 and don't know about it's ability on the Pacific. I've been sailing for more than 20 years and pretty comfortable on the water, but have been told that getting across the bar is a pretty scary thing. Does anyone have any experience with this? Should I attempt this? Will the winds be too strong once I get out of the Columbia River and overpower my boat? The plan is to take about a week to sail up there depending on the tides and currents. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks everyone and Merry Christmas.
 
Apr 8, 2010
2,091
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Hi everyone,

I have an O-25 CB and was thinking about sailing it from Portland, OR to San Juan Island. Has anyone ever done this before OR do you have any thoughts about taking it across the Astoria bar or coastal sailing North along the Western side of WA? I'm obviously thinking about doing this over the summer when the weather is a bit more trustworthy and forgiving. I'm just purchased this boat in June of 2012 and don't know about it's ability on the Pacific. I've been sailing for more than 20 years and pretty comfortable on the water, but have been told that getting across the bar is a pretty scary thing. Does anyone have any experience with this? Should I attempt this? Will the winds be too strong once I get out of the Columbia River and overpower my boat? The plan is to take about a week to sail up there depending on the tides and currents. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks everyone and Merry Christmas.
I have several decades of doing this delivery, both ways. If you have a Good outboard like a Yamaha 10 hp Hi-Thrust with the 25" leg, it should be OK in good weather. You will still be limited to about 5.7 kts max thru the water in calm water. Loooooong ways to motor. Plan on about a half gallon per hour and carry several tanks and hoses - sufficient for the whole distance, and with a safety margin for doubling the fuel usage.

Far better (!) to trailer it up to Puget Sound.

With a good weather window you will need a couple days to get to Astoria from PDX, and then about 30 to 40 hours, sorta kinda, to get to Neah Bay. If you find the seas too short and close together and your SOG drops to 1 to 2 kts.... go into Grays Harbor and wait for it to moderate. If north of there and you need a port of refuge, go into LaPush. OTOH, if it's really rough, the USCG @ LaPush will probably advise you to go on.... the entry way is very short (good thing) but puts you on a narrow channel approach in beam seas (not a good thing).

Better just trailer it up. The ODay 25 was not designed or engineered for rough waters in the open ocean.

Oodles of islands to explore once you get there.... but the "getting there" can be arduous in any size boat. Even in the summer sunshine, it can blow 25 kts for a day and seas will rise to 7 feet at 7 seconds.
You do NOT want to be out there between waves like that when you discover that you really belong ashore, sitting under a tree.
:)

Regards,
Loren
 
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