drought in gorge?

ajs · Joined: 19 Mar 2000 Posts: 15

We are considering a trip to the Gorge the last week in July but the water situation has us concerned.
Anybody have any info? I know at least one site is not available. We would be particularly interested in intermediate sites. I waterstart but do not jibe(yet.)

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

The drought affects mainly farmers and firefighters. The primary impact on windsurfing is that less current => less swell. Lucky you!

Im not aware of any sites being closed. Even if one did (I dont know why it would; the rivers still way over a hundred feet deep), any of the other 49 sites should work fine. The real factor that make a site suitable for intermediates, advanced, or expert sailors is the amount of wind that day at each spot, with the exception of a small handful of spots that get big swell even on modest 5.0 days.

Just be aware that waterstarting on flat water is a different story than waterstarting on big swell. Jibing is icing on the cake; solid waterstarts in chest-high swell is a necessary safety skill at most spots if the wind and swell pop up unexpectedly.

Mike \m/

LAWLER · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2001 7:46 pm Post subject: RE: drought in gorge?

IVE BEEN IN THE GORGE THE PAST 3 WEEKENDS. I HAVENT SEEN ANY EFFECTS OF LOWER RIVER LEVELS. EXCEPT MAYBE AT DOUGS BEACH WHERE THE OREGON SIDE WAS ALWAYS A LITTLE SHALLOW. NOW ON SOME DAYS YOU CANT SAIL AS FAR TO THE OREGON SIDE AS YOU USUALLY CAN BECAUSE YOUR FIN WILL HIT SAND SOONER. SEE YOU THERE AS MY 3 WEEKS IN A ROW OF GORGE FUN STARTS THE WEEKEND OF THE 21ST