Oregon Coast 2025

[Ryan]

Day 1 today for Ryan Jen, Brian (local) and Gleb at Cape Sebastian. 4.7/5. Wind 5 to 25. Waves up to logo high. Windguru forecast was for WSW 2.8 m.

The currents were super strong which made it hard to get out, especially with the light wind, it took me four tries for my last wave.
Jen and Gleb were ripping and getting big set waves.

We only have one crappy picture since we were too busy sailing, Jen got this of my last wave which was not one of the better ones.

#photo

PXL_20250521_012221261.TS_exported_40132_1747797859072.jpg (330.1 KiB) Viewed 31182 times

[Michael]

Jen and Gleb were ripping and getting big set waves.

Jealous! Haven't scored a big Cape day in years. Rip it up! Looking forward to more pictures.

[Cathulu]

Wish I was there but not in a position to go yet, hope to get wave sailing in the fall, maybe Capetown in Nov...

Keep the posts and pictures coming!!!

Cheers

[Michael]

I love the evenings down there, miss it! Hope things are going well, looks like another long stretch of wind in the forecast. I've never seen the water this high, where it goes around the rock.

[C36]

Not the coast (yet) but still trying to connect the dots!

S1 - windsurfing - Swell City (2025 Jun 16)



Trip started with a BANG! Driveless car rolled across the rest stop and hit my van while I was eating lunch at a picnic table. It was surreal ~ I couldn't believe what I was seeing (guy didn’t put the parking brake on). Luckly not functional damage to the van so trip could continue! Submitting insurance claim delayed my arrival. Got an evening session in at Swell City. Super gusty but seemed easy after all the gusty sessions at Long Beach! Local recommended taking 5.3, but opted for 4.5/92 and it was the right call for me (powered in the gusts and stayed on board in the lulls. Lots of foil SUPs doing downwinders on the large wind swell! Blue Heron and sunset dinner at Memaloose. Bonus no toll on the White Salmon Bridge (construction). But sad to see the Thai food truck is no longer in the Windance parking lot ~

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S2 - windsurfing – Doug’s Beach (2025 Jun 17)



Steady. Slept in to 8:30 am. Ran errands in town. Luckily found new mast tip inserts for to match the Ezzy Takas – trip saver! Headed off the Hatchery to meet up with Dan and Alex. Alex rigged twice but the wind had other ideas. Then off to Doug’s Beach. Marionberries for the first time. Wildfires on the Oregon side. Got steady wind to keep the 4.5/92 moving. Swell was small, but still worth it (for me) – some pushes and jumps in the centre channel! Only Alex and I sailed. Not enough to draw Dan off the beach while I was there. Heads up – they are charging for the showers at Tucker Park now, so bring your US quarters! Set up base camp at Tucker Park. Osprey and Steller’s Jay. Dinner at Tucker Park campsite. Full day!

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S3 - windsurfing - the Hatchery (2025 Jun 18)





AM. Morning session at the Hatchery, with Johnny and Heather, sort of. One local mentioned that windsurfing still has a community here but other sports including winging are popular with the tourists. Wind strong (enough for 3.8/79) and was solid when I took to the water from the small point by the washrooms. Then sailed down to the cove (when I realized I had forgotten my helmet). Then had enough power to sail up to the point proper, before the wind got punchy. Called the session early and had lunch and chatted with Jesse about his and Maxim’s surf trip to Alaska and Johnny and Heather about the their Gorge trip so far (day 4). Fun to reconnect!

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S4 - windsurfing - Doug's Beach (2025 Jun 18)



PM. Pulled out a 3.8 again, but this one was one of the new ones. First time using it. Seemed more stable and more maneuverable – hard to imagine, but they did it! Some nice big rolling swell in the main channel! Some strong gusts and a few lulls, but more consistent then the morning session at the Hatchery! A little disappointed that one of the slot box screws mounts is stripped on my 79 (hope the one remaining screw continues to hold until I can get it repaired. Nice to get to sail the two 3.8’s back to back on the same day! One guy out rocking a vintage Hurricane sail (complete with what looked like a 460 mast)!

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S5 - windsurfing – Swell City (2025 Jun 19)



Down and Up. Morning session to start the day off. Looked angry and a touch unsettled at first and just about headed back to Hood River to run errands. Then it filled in and started to look more consistent and more inviting. Two wings and three windsurfers sharing the morning wind an swell. Then I thought I spotted Alex down at the Hatchery so when the wind started to build I did a downwinder to the Hatchery to join him for a few runs. Swell was rolling well and nice and clean off the point at the Hatchery! Wind was steady enough and consistent enough for an easy return upwind to Swell City. Well worth the trip down and back! Sailing at Swell City feels like sailing with family so I picked up a season pass to support the site.

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S6 - windsurfing – The Hatchery (2025 Jun 19)



Dip. Ran errands in Hood River mid-day and was VERY pleased that Mark at Big Winds was able to help me get the set screw sorted on the slot box on my Quad 78 (sized up to a 5 mm grub screw). Second win was it looks like the Lampoei Thai Food truck has moved to Bingen and will be reopening soon! Quick evening session to cap the day. The crew opted to stay at the Hatchery for the afternoon. Launched from the cove to avoid the main bee hive of wings up at the point. Heather and Johnny were both rocking wings! Actually on the water at the same time as Heather this time!

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S7 - windsurfing - Arlington (2025 Jun 20)





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Spooked. Turnes out the Port Authority is now collecting the bridge toll electronically, so I picked up a transponder to get the discounted rate ($3.50 cash or $1.75 with transponder). Thanks to Dan for the suggestion. Wind check at the Wall. Crazy beat-up car with damaged grill, hood, windshield and roof that looked like something out of Mad Max movie passed bouncing around as we left the Wall! The crew then headed further east to Arlington. There had been site improvements to the launch since I had last been out there but the new key hole launch spooked me. It is really narrow, with some shore break and a couple of hidden boulders! The part the spooked me was I felt trapped by the limited entry/exit point the risk if you didn’t hit this one spot. I still went out but could shake the feeling while out on the water, so my session was short. There were some skilled sailors there showcasing the conditions on offer including Tyson M, Brad M, JP, and the crews own Dan T! Forwards, backs and push loops were all landed dry! Repeatedly! Really impressive! Saw a pelican fly-by at Rufus while Heather and Johnny winged. Camped in the overflow at Maryhill State Park. Great company at our communal dinner! Dark stary night sky on summer solstice.

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S8 - Roosevelt (2025 Jun 21)





Rain. French Toast for the crew at the overflow campsite at Maryhill to start the day. Wind check at the Wall, but the rain shut it down. Alex and Max headed north while the wind was turned off. Quick visit to Sam Hill’s replica Stonehenge on the day after summer solstice (in the rain). Then followed Johnny and Heather out to Roosevelt for a later afternoon session. Wind ramped up to 4.5/92 as I was rigging and kept building to full flat while I was out. Small choppy swell. Seems my campsite at Tucker was reassigned to someone else as I left it unattended for more than 24 hours. The good news was the campground hosts were very gracious about it an assigned me a new site (which happened to be an upgrade (more private, softer river sound, view of the river). Was glad to be back and settled at Tucker Park before the night rain passed through!

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S9 - Swell City (2025 Jun 22)



Swap. Stopped by the Windance swap and it was a little light on venders and mostly silly wing stuff. Headed to Swell City as an official season pass holder. Second to arrive and got rock star parking. Better yet there was solid wind a nice rolling swell! Took to the water and repeated the down and up to the point at the Hatchery and back. Local was saying how light the crowds are in town and thanked me for making the trip down. Nice way to start the day!

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[ShonanDB]

Looks like a great start to your trip! Following along vicariously.

[C36]

S10 - windsurfing - Doug's Beach (2025 Jun 22)



Bump n’ jump. Afternoon session at Doug’s just because we could. Two kites out taking up at lot of room. Johnny, Heather and Jesse all winged up to Mosier and back! Noce swell in the centre for riding and jumping when the wind was pumping! Dinner at 3 Rivers and ice cream from Mike’s! Sunset Hammock time at the campground. A day well spent!

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S11 - road bike - Hood River to Mosier (2025 Jun 23)





View. Up early to take advantage of the cooler temperatures. I was looking forward to returning to ride the section of the old highway between Hood River and Mosier with a road bike about 20 years after we did it as a family ride. I added the five switchbacks from Windance up to the park lot to the end of the ride to top it up to about 22 km and about 600 m of climbing. Finished the ride before the afternoon heat in the still air of about 27 degrees C! Wind check at Swell City, but not enough to windsurf. Dinner in town on at the plaza beside the library in the shade and repeated the ice cream at Mike’s. Three breaks in the hammock today – morning, afternoon, and sunset!

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S12 - windsurfing - Swell City (2025 Jun 24)



Shorty. Moved campsites this morning (I had my seven day max). Hot. 30 degrees C. West wind restarted and produced an afternoon session at Swell City. Big gear (first time on this trip). Decent Swell. Big Fun! Hot enough and water was warm enough to wear my shorty. Local kindly pointed out I had forgot my centre fin as I walked to the waters edge – silly me! That could have made things interesting! Hammock time in the late afternoon breeze. Chicken curry for dinner at the campsite. Nice to cool down in the river this afternoon!

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S13 - windsurfing - Swell City (2025 Jun 25)









WOW!!! Arrived at the Hatchery about 9:30 am and it was 3.7 (windsurfing) already! Johnny had shuttled some of the surfskiers east on the river and had noticed the swell looked sweat at Swell City. Off I went! He was right it was rolling!

The locals were all smiles and had a snap in their step! Hood River Mike said this was their first real swell of the season. HRM welcomed me as a envoy for the Canadian Navy! When I mentioned it was hard to find people to travel out to the coast he invited me to join them a Oceanside this weekend.

On my first stint (overpowered on my old Taka 3.8) carved down one of the largest swell faces I have experienced in the Gorge only to explode in the pit of the through! After me second stint on of the locals paid me a compliment by saying, “Looks like you have done this once or twice before!”. Later in my third stint (new-to-me Revo 3.0) I hooked into about the third swell on the way out from the cove and took the mid-line about half way up. It had some girth and jacked to over my head with a throwing lip – for a brief moment I considered tucking into the barrel! Even the ‘flat’ far section of the river on the south side had big, clean rolling swell!

Hood River Mike and I both spent the session sail testing – HRM tested four (3.7, 3.7, 3.4, 3.4) and I tested three (old Taka 3.8, new Taka 3.8, new-to-me Revo 3.0). For me it turned out good, better, best in that order (for those conditions)! The new-to-me 2022-23 Sailworks Revo 3.0 is a very good compliment to my 2025 Taka 3.8 both in spacing (sizing) and in feel. Amazing range, control, depowering, very smooth and it rigs on a 340 mast! Very impressed! Great compliment to the larger Takas.

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S14 - windsurfing – The Hatchery (2025 Jun 25)





Welcome. Jens arrive in the Gorge and this was his welcome session! Wind was strong, but punchy, shifting and turning north. Still Jens seemed to enjoy the swell and getting wet to rinse away the day of road travel!

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S15 - windsurfing - Swell City (2025 Jun 26)



Good morning. Jens and I took to the water at Swell City about 10 am and got treated to some sweet medium gear conditions – both steady wind and nice clean rolling swell. Jens though both were a big upgrade from last nights unravelling at the Hatchery! Even the locals seemed pleased!

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S16 - windsurfing – Doug’s Beach (2025 Jun 27)



Blast! Afternoon session following errands in town. One old timer noticed my BC plates and shared many of his favorite local spots with me (3rd heartfelt welcome). When we arrived a Doug’s a local woman also said my van was only the second Canadian plate she had see this summer and thanked me for coming down (4th heartfelt welcome). Earlier this week I sensed a shift from being a tourist in this magical place to coming home. These heartfelt welcomes have been a big part of that! When we arrived we almost rigged medium gear, but the wind kept amping up so it was small stuff! Once on the water it was full blast! Wind had some south in it and it was pretty steady. Swell was small for high-wind at Doug’s, but still fun! Dinner back at the campsite. It’s all good in the hood!

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S17 - windsurfing - Doug's Beach (2025 Jun 27)



Stable. Afternoon session at Doug’s as the corridor was patchy and gusty. Parking was in high demand and the launch was busier (windsurfers, wings, and kites). Jens and I just about took small gear down to rig but decided to gabble on the wind staying fairly stable and wisely went with medium gear (that turned out to be needed). Wind was a little gusty and up and down, but workable. Wind never ramped up into the evening as it often does. The swell was a better than yesterday and jumps and rides were both on offer. I followed Johnny and Heather up into the kite zone toward Doug’s West and got treated to some slightly larger and more organized swell! Fun to share some time on the water with friends! Fun sailing with Jens again too! He seemed to be enjoying himself again today! Dinner at the Mexican food truck across from the Hood River Library and an ice cream from Mike’s!

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[ShonanDB]

Nice, very nice! Love the pic of the VW Splitty! Heading to the Coast soon Dave?

[C36]

Nice, very nice! Love the pic of the VW Splitty! Heading to the Coast soon Dave?

Yup! Thankfully!

S18 - wavesailing - Newport (2025 Jun 28)





Forecast was for the Gorge to be shutting down for a few days and for the coast to be firing up! Time to head for the coast! Jens and I set the first target as Newport. We arrived to the perfect transition set-up – big gear slog and ride with fun-sized waves! We decided to launch from the day use area at South Beach Park given the modest wave size. Warm air, sun, wind, waves, and grass rigging area - it was all there! We worked our way about a third of the way up to the jetty to take advantage of the right breaking wave. Waves seemed to be the south swell forecast – widely spaced chest to head-high A-frames that would sluff not pitch. First wave was super clean, frontside ride with multiple hits! That one ride made the drive worth it! Light at first with some current on the way out. Later just planning on the outside. Many more waves. Jens enjoyed his new-to-him Goya Quad 104! My last wave treated my to at least eight hits ending at the launch! Climb up the sand dune out to the parking lot was a task! Lots of stoke on the beach post-session! Later both kiters (one from Seattle and one from Idaho both commented that we had done a good job of the working that peak. Drove the coast south to Florence – incredible scenery! Quick look-see at the south Jetty where Dan and Jeff had a fun session! Got lucky and was able to book a campsite at Honeyman State Park. Dinner at sunset and campfire. Great way to transition to the coast!

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S19 – windsurfing - Bandon (2025 Jun 29)









Messy. We decided to check out Bandon in an effort to avoid the heat bubble at Pistol River. Turned out the wind was held off shore all day at Pistol River (no sailing there on Sunday). High fog burned off to reveal the sun which made the ocean way more inviting. Unfortunately the wind swell had built overnight and was rather heavy and angry. Jens and I followed Ken (windsurfing) and Brad (kiting) out on the rising tide. Between the shore break, rejections, long swims, cranking wind and chop on big rolling swell on the outside, and waves with consequences coming in I really struggled to enjoy myself.

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S20 - wavesailing – Cape Sabastien (2025 Jun 30)





Mission complete! Wild turkeys at the campground. Jens shared a morning session with Portland Dave (fifth thank you for coming down) and Santa Cruz Brad. Solid wind and modest waves made for a fun session of 30 mph slog and ride! Brad effectively working the inside to win the wave count and bang off more than a few impressive aerials! Great to finally get the chance to sail the Cape! Mission accomplished! Cooked diner at the campground.

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S21 - wavesailing – Pistol River (2025 Jun 30)





Undergunned. Arrived to sailors leaving the water with 3.7 to rig smaller sails! That meant 3.4/90-something for Jens and 3.0/79 for me. Jens got out and got rides, but I was undergunned and couldn’t get out. Still fun to try and experience the strength of the waves and shore current! Seal hunting in the shore break. Leo lost his hat and his hat came back! Confusion at the grocery store when my bottle return receipts showed at total of $2,500! Laundry at the campground and treated myself to dinner from Thai food truck!

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[C36]

S22 - wavesailing – Cape Sabastien (2025 Jul 1)





Groundhog day! French toast and chicken sausage breakfast at the campsite. Very similar to yesterday ' wind ramped up quickly, just enough swell (maybe a touch more) to make it fun, same crew. The pre-sail land yachts were new! And sized down the main fin from 20 cm to 18 cm. Still struggling to get in front of the wind ' tomorrow sailing, then breakfast!

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S23 - wavesailing – Pistol River (2025 Jul 1)





Better. Leo gave me my sixth “Thanks for coming!” welcome! Even Dana sailed the Rock today! Swell was smaller than yesterday, but still large! Wind stabilized when we arrived and it looked like it was going to hold for a while, but then it started to ramp up just as we took to the water. I had lots of power to get out, but a touch too much! Flattened the sail. Switched to a smaller board (79). Still over powered so cut the session short. Jens sized down to 3.4 and sailed until dark (well almost)!

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S24 - wavesailing – Cape Sabastien (2025 Jul 2)





Breakfast club. Turquois moth at the campground! Pelicans at the Cape! Moved campsites (availability). Washed the van. Got groceries. Still got to the Cape earlier than the wind so ate breakfast with an ocean view. Windy week has made the dunes on the beach larger. When the wind arrived it ramped up quickly and I changed my mind three times in about 10 minutes (5.3/115, 4.5/92, 3.8/92). In the end the 3.8/92 was the right choice but the gusty wind and small waves made you work for your waverides! Got some memorable ones! The early ones were pretty clean! First session at the Cape this trip that didn’t start grossly overpowered. Nice to go through all three stages – underpowered, well powered, over powered. Called it to move down to Pistol River ahead of the curve too!

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S25 - wavesailing – Pistol River (2025 Jul 2)







Two wins! Finally choose the right gear at the rock. It was an odd couple for that spot – 3.8/92. Comfortable. The extra board volume was needed today to work through the light launch and holes on the water. Some jumping, some big swell breaking on the outside, and some frontside rides on the inside. The wind swell was smaller again, but still medium sized and super fun and playful! Got a few memorable side-onshore wave rides – one inside a shoulder-high foam pile! Portland Dave and I both used 3.7/3.8 today! Who knew we used the same sail size!! Nice to have the rights tools for the job!

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S26 - wavesailing - Cape Sabastien (2024 July 3)





Sick! The next pulse of south swell arrived, but so did the wind! The wind ramped up slowly but when it arrived Portland Dave said, “It brutalized us!” Started out on 4.5/115 to be able to float around in the lulls. Had a few wet tacks as the 4.5 didn’t offer much to pull against. Later sized the board down to 92 when the hate showed up! The interval of the south swell start out about 25 minutes and increased during the session, but all three of crew found is tough to get in a rhythm and it was big enough to wash all of us when trying to get back out once caught on the inside during a set. Toward the end of the session I had a chance to hit one of the decent sized south swell but had to cut it fine and bottom turn around Jens who was in the water. Later I asked him if he was comfortable with me being that close and he said, “That was sick!!! I wished I was wearing my GoPro to film the spray from the backside of the wave!”

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S27 - wavesailing - Pistol River (2024 July 3)





Wee-one. It seemed I was in a different space than everyone else today. Everyone was going bigger than yesterday and I was going smaller. Everyone was rigging 4.7s and I was rigging my 3.8. Roger seemed quite surprised at my sail choice. Portland Dave looked to be making his 3.7 work, but he is some lighter than me. Jens used 4.5/90-something. I saw him hit one jump that opened up into a human cross or air spock! It looked cool but ended with a hard impact! I ended up using a natural pairing of 3.8/78 and it worked! Balanced and fun! Some fast rides out, jumps, outside gybes, inside jibes, and rode a few set waves! The wind seemed to have fewer holes today! Nice to be able to use the small gear successfully!

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S28 - SUP - Agate Beach (2024 July 4)





SUP. Wind forecast weakened to nothing for the south coast and the morning fog combined to send us driving north. I made a quick pit stop for a SUP at Agate Beach! Such a sweet spot! Treated to clean south swell! So worth it!

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S29 - windsurfing - Swell City (2024 July 5)







Rinse. Morning wind was pumping so started on 3.8/79 and then rerigged to 4.5/92. Both felt powered when in use and got a rinse! Fun session with decent swell and jumps! Great way to soften the transition home! Did some quick sight seeing before leaving town.

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Overall a great trip with 29 sessions in 20 days and 11 of these sessions on the coast! Thankful it happened and grateful to all those who shared in the adventure!