Sail the Gorge Magazine
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WELCOME TO THE GORGE AS I WRITE THIS, A COLD IS WIND BLOWING THROUGH THE GORGE AND IT’S RAINING SIDEWAYS. HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SUMMER’S JUST AROUND THE CORNER. BUT HERE AT THE COLUMBIA GORGE RACING ASSOCIATION, A DOZEN OR SO LOYAL VOLUNTEERS ARE BUSY SCHEDULING REGATTAS, LINING UP SPONSORS, WRITING NORs, HIRING COACHES AND CATERERS, AND ATTENDING TO A THOUSAND OTHER DETAILS NECESSARY TO PRE- PARE FOR WHAT IS SHAPING UP TO BE ANOTHER EPIC SAILING SEASON IN THE GORGE. This summer, CGRA will host na- try out sailing the Gorge in a friendly, to the Columbia River Gorge. If you tional or regional championships for supportive environment. share that vision and would like to seven popular one-design classes, in- Whether you’re aiming for a na- see it grow, please consider including cluding the MELGES24s, Laser Masters, tional title or just a sailboat ride off CGRA in your tax-deductible, charita- 49ers, International 14s, and Weta the beach, CGRA has you covered. We ble contributions this year (for more trimarans. But that’s not all; CGRA is may be short on fancy yacht club ame- information on contributing to CGRA, especially thrilled to be bringing the nities, but we promise terrific sailing see page 28). fantastic coaching team of the Inter- conditions, breathtaking scenery, and Hey look! The sun is coming out. national Sailing Academy to the Gorge a warm welcome to all. Of course we I’m sure that, by the time you read for the first time this summer to lead could not do this without the gener- this, the wind will have shifted and four high performance Laser training ous support of our donors, sponsors we’ll be enjoying warm, brisk wester- camps. And of course we’ll again be and dedicated volunteers who have lies. Summer is coming, and I’m look- hosting our popular Thursday evening stepped up year after year to con- ing forward to sharing it with you in community sailing potlucks at the tribute their time, talent and financial the Gorge! Cascade Locks Marine Park beach. It’s resources to support this crazy vision - Bill Symes, CGRA a great opportunity for new sailors to of bringing world-class sailing events 3 Photo © Sean Trew SAILtheGORGE.COM STG CONTENTS ON THE COVER 2016 Columbia Gorge One Design Regatta at Cascade Locks Photo by Sean Trew 06 Photo © Sean Trew 06 RS Aeros FLY TO THE GORGE! Racing Aeros in The Gorge is more than just racing Aeros. 07 LASER MASTERS: NEVER TOO OLD! Sailing for the young and the young at heart. 07 08 Photo © Bill Symes RETURN OF THE MELGI! Excitement is in the air as MELGES24 racers prepare for the 2017 NorAm Championship. 14 BEFORE CGRA A look back at the thrill - and the dan- ger of wood scows on the Columbia. 18 08 EXPLORE THE GORGE Photo © Jan Anderson What to do and where to go when the wind doesn’t blow. QUICK FIND 20-30 03 WELCOME 15 ABOUT CGRA ADVERTISERS 2017 12 CASCADE LOCKS MARINA 28 SUPPORT THE CGRA | Advertisers arranged by community MAP 30 ADVERTISER INDEX and indexed by service or product 10 LEARN TO SAIL 4 31 SUPPORTERS type. (Also see page 2 and 32.) STG CGRA.ORG SAILtheGORGE.COM TREW SEAN © STG 5 PHOTOGRAPH RS Aeros FLY TO THE GORGE! BY PETER BARTON - RS Aero CLASS WORLD & UK MANAGER, LYMINGTON, ENGLAND I had heard so much about the air and fresh river water—all in the the ideal playground for this boat. sailing conditions in the legendary Co- safety of an enclosed environment, I look forward to coming back lumbia Gorge that I jumped at the op- and the beauty of breathtaking soon to race with the growing North- portunity to sail there in the 2015 RS surroundings—makes sailboat rac- west RS Aero fleet and enjoy the Aero North American Championship. I ing in the Columbia Gorge a joy. The warm hospitality of the Columbia enjoyed the experience so much that river current adds to the fun, produc- Gorge Racing Association. And I defi- I returned the following year for the ing exciting waves for the downwind nitely plan to add a few extra days to US National Championship. We had run and a free escalator ride back to my next visit to have time to further over 30 RS Aeros racing in that regat- the windward mark. When describing explore the many wonders of this ta, just one year after the class had the Gorge to Europeans, I often call amazing part of the world! been introduced to the region! Both it “Lake Garda on steroids!” in refer- This summer, the RS Aeros will events were awesome, with a range ence to the Italian mountain lake that return once again to the Gorge for of conditions that built from light is our gold standard for spectacular their 2017 Pacific Coast Champion- winds early in the day to the thrill of scenery and sailing conditions. The ship, August 18-20, hosted by CGRA fresh breezes in the afternoons. RS Aero loves to play in the waves and in Cascade Locks, Oregon. The mix of reliable wind, warm fly across the wind, and the Gorge is THE GORGE IS MY FAVORITE PLACE TO SAIL AN Aero - WARM, WINDY AND A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN TO SAIL IN BIGGER BREEZE. IT WAS AT THE GORGE THAT I LEARNED TO NOT FEAR STRONG BREEZE. GROWING UP, I WAS ALWAYS FEARFUL IN STRONG WINDS, BUT AT THE GORGE, YOU CAN LEARN TO LOVE IT AND ATTACK IT. - Michael O’Brian 2017 | 6 Photo © Sean Trew STG CGRA.ORG LASER MASTERS: NEVER TOO OLD! BY BILL SYMES MASTERS SAILING IS FOR “SEASONED” LASER SAILORS; THAT IS, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE REACHED THE RIPE OLD AGE OF 35. THERE IS NO UPPER AGE LIMIT; MASTERS LASER SAIL- ORS CONTINUE TO COMPETE WELL INTO THEIR 80S! Photo © Jan Anderson The 14-foot, 130 lb. Laser class Laser sailors continue to compete Laser Masters World Championships, dinghy is famously lively and physi- well into their 80s! It’s still the in- held annually at venues around the cally demanding. As the Olympic tensely athletic racing that we’ve world, we race against competitors single-handed sailing class for both come to expect from the Laser class, only in our own age division. In North men and women, it attracts the most but Masters recognize that, while our America, Laser Masters typically committed and talented young sail- minds may still be young, our bodies race as one fleet but are scored in ing athletes in the world, many of may no longer be able to hang with their age divisions. An overall winner whom go on to professional careers the 20-something Olympic hope- is determined using a handicap sys- in long-distance ocean racing or fuls. Fortunately, Laser sails come in tem where Apprentices add 3 points the America’s Cup. Because of the a choice of sizes, from large (“Stan- to their finish position in each race, strength and athleticism, not to men- dard”) to medium (“Radial”) to small Masters 2 points and Grand Masters tion the time and money, required to (“4.7”), and many Masters sailors take 1 point. be competitive in the Laser class, it is advantage of the option to change Masters Laser sailors are all busi- a young person’s sport. down to a smaller, more manageable ness on the water. But off the water, But what about those aging La- rig as they grow older–or happen to the emphasis is on having a great ser sailors whose Olympic dreams are be sailing in a windy venue like the time with our friends, an extraordi- fading in the rear view mirror, but who Gorge! nary group of “seasoned” men and aren’t yet ready to give up the thrill of To keep the playing field some- women who’d rather be sailing than racing this lively little boat? what level, Laser Masters are broken sitting on a couch in front of a TV. Like Two words: Laser Masters. into four age divisions: Apprentice the bumper sticker says, “Cheat the Masters sailing is for “seasoned” (35-44 years old), Master (45-54 nursing home. Die on your Laser!” Laser sailors; that is, those of us who years old), Grand Master (55-64 years CGRA will host the 2017 Laser have reached the ripe old age of 35. old) and Great Grand Master (65+). At Masters US National Championship, 7 There is no upper age limit; Masters the highly competitive but very fun July 7-9, in Cascade Locks, Oregon. SAILtheGORGE.COM STG R E T U R N O F T H E MELGI! BY BRIAN HUTCHINSON THE MELGES24 FLEET RETURNS TO ITS FAVOR- ITE VENUE, CASCADE LOCKS, ON JULY 19-22 FOR THE 2017 MELGES24 NorAm CHAMPION- SHIP, (NORTH AMERICANS), STAGE 2 OF THE 2017 MELGES24 NorAm TOUR. MELGES24 SAILORS are cade Locks and The Dalles. Jonesing for that steady Quality time on and off the supply of warm wind and water in the world windsurf- water that pump through ing mecca of Hood River is the Columbia Gorge. They compulsory! are coming for the sensa- It’s just a few minutes tional high-speed runs sur- sail from the launch ramps rounded by a stunning back- at Cascade Locks or Steven- drop of 1,500-ft tree-lined son to the race track where rock walls. the 2015 Velocitek MEL- To anyone who has GES24 Speed Challenge saw JAN ANDERSON JAN sailed the Gorge, it is no at least four teams surpass PHOTOGRAPHS © wonder that it’s home to 24 knots, and Bruce Ayres’ so many of the sport’s top Monsoon reach 25.8 knots! athletes.