Seattle, Oregon, or California ?

[coreyholmes]

Hello everyone.

Im looking at sailing up the California, Oregon, and Seattle coast. Im just wondering which states coast is the most difficult. If you could tell me any info on it that would be great.

Thanks

[Pato]

The whole west coast is a lee shore with a rocky coast line and some nasty bars to cross so it's all about the same difficulty It's all about weather planing It's a bueatiful coast worth seeing

[Swift Drift]

I'll provide a quote I pulled off of CF in the past that I found to be insightful:

"Getting "experience" in open ocean conditions is a double edged sword - first you are not born with such skills so only "on the job training" is available to get them. And then you have to be lucky or resourceful enough to survive your "experiences."

Wish I could give credit to the member it came from.

To answer your question, I would vote for N of SF with slight relief upon reaching the Northern Oregon coast. Any and all could turn nasty though.

My advice: go find out within the confines of proper preparation, safety, etc.

[cchesley]

Yup. North of San Francisco, it's all pretty much equally, uh, 'challenging', especially headed north. I've done it a few times (in powerboats) and I suspect that in my own boat I'd be scooting north during the windows of opportunity under power instead of sail, while trying to just 'get it over with'.

[estarzinger]

Originally Posted by coreyholmes

Hello everyone.

Im looking at sailing up the California, Oregon, and Seattle coast. Im just wondering which states coast is the most difficult. If you could tell me any info on it that would be great.

Thanks

DO you know how to read a pilot chart? The below is for the month of July. Basically from San Francisco to Portland you have strongish headwinds on average 66% of the time. To the North and South it is a bit more variable with a somewhat higher probability of favorable winds.

Our personal experience is that during the late summer you will have it worst off the Oregon Coast, as a Crush zone often sets up just about there.

[Stu Jackson]

You might be interested in reading this: Cruising the Northwest Coast - A book by George Benson Read the Narrative.

Doable.

[rubyjean]

Danger area's north of SF are; Punta Gorda. Cape Mendoncino, Cape Blanco, and sometimes Cape Heceda just north of Florence, Or.. Punta Gorda & Cape Blanco being the most dangerous in the right conditions. I sailed all this past year. ..Michael..

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Swift Drift

I'll provide a quote I pulled off of CF in the past that I found to be insightful:

"Getting "experience" in open ocean conditions is a double edged sword - first you are not born with such skills so only "on the job training" is available to get them. And then you have to be lucky or resourceful enough to survive your "experiences."

Wish I could give credit to the member it came from . ..

It was osirissail in post #12 at http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...p-70768-7.html

[rubyjean]

Also, I forgot to mention, Cape Dissapointment off the Columbia River. Advoid this area at all cost, the bar is the most dangerous on the west coast. A good day could have 30 knt wind and 9-10' wind waves and a heavy tidal current.
Then there's Cape Flattery..... Good luck and alway's check on weather.
..Michael..

[dandrews]

And watch closely if you try to put in at Newport, OR. Also has a bad bar near the entrance, not as bad as the one fuehrer north at Astoria, but approach with respect.

Don

[Ironhorse74]

I want to echo what others said. The whole coast is a lee shore. The prevailing winds will probably be on the nose for a north bound passage. Most of the harbors in Oregon and Washington have wicked bars. Slack tide is usually the time to cross the bars. Keep an eye on the weather and tide charts.

Have fun

Brad

[Capt Phil]

I certainly agree with what Ironhorse74 offers. After over 50 deliveries up and down from the PNW to SoCal and points south, anything from Pt Conception north to Juan de Fuca deserves much respect and a lot of sea room. Best way to approach it is get out 40-50 nautical miles and stay there until you reach your destination. Do a few day and overnighters straight out from San Francisco, Astoria or Cape Flattery to see if you enjoy that sort of thing... good luck, Capt Phil

[roverhi]

Read George Benson's book. He did it a bunch of times in a Coronado 25. Not so fearsome if you do it in the summer close to shore with lots of anchorages in the prevailing NW winds. Good chance of southerly winds from January thru March but you have to be very cognizant of the Lows marching across the North Pacific.

Aloha
Peter O.

[gjordan]

Read the books and cruising guides, but dont forget to talk to the local fishermen every chance you get. They usually know even more little coves than you will find in the books and I have always found them helpful. Cold and fatigue are your biggest enemies on an upwind slog, so anytime you can tuck into a cove for a hot meal and good sleep will make your trip better. Carry big ground tackle and anchor far enough off shore so that if the wind shifts you can get under way without your stern being in the surf line. Have a good time.___Grant.