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Hood River Daily Wind Diary 1998

• 12-17 I sailed a 4.7 at Swell City today on my lunch break.  Very warm and sunny.  
  Windier out east, but I didn't have time to drive that far.  I'm hoping for sailable
  Northerlies on the Coast on Saturday (might be kind of cold, though).
• 11-23 Got a few hours on a 4.2 at Stevenson this morning before work. (Spencer)
• 11-16 I had a great 4.7 session at the Gap yesterday.  REALLY gusty at Swell and the
  Hatchery, but pretty steady at the Gap.  Warm air temps 60 - 65 F, and  still pretty warm water.
• 11-11 Wind report for this week.  No wind but lot's of snow...we had about 2 1/2 feet
  this week and the area plans to open on Friday.  The backcountry is in good shape but
  the avalanche danger will rise as the temperature is supposed to go up this weekend. (Chris)
• 11-6 I sailed a 4.7 at Doug's yesterday.  A little gusty, but pretty fun.
  I'm hoping for big easterly on Saturday. (Spencer)
• 11- 4 The east winds came up but few people had the cajones to go out and sail them...
  the temperature was a bit too low.  Steven Zacher did head out to get the afternoon session
  but I don't know if he ever got rigged and out ( or back in for that matter)  Hope your back
  safe Steve.  The snow is piling up on Hood. Chris Eubanks and I got up early and hiked to
  9600 feet on ziz-zag glacier and got some nice turns last Friday...plan to do the same this Friday...
  your welcome to join us. (Chris Kelly)
• 10-29 The east winds have left us and we've been having an awesome
  stretch of BEAUTIFUL weather !  There was a west wind on Tues. and Wed
  but it was short lived and far out in the desert.  The Snow is starting to
  accumulate on Hood and the skiing should start soon.  Chris Eubank
  and I may head up to Zig-Zag for some turns tomorrow (Thurs.)  HAPPY HALLOWEEN
• 10-21 The east winds are crankin!! This is the fifth day in a row of sailable
  east winds ! and they've been getting stronger as the weeks worn on....
  today they had gust to 50mph!!  The downwinder from Home Valley to
  Stevenson has been great but even the swell at Stevenson has made
  for excellent jumping and fun sailing.  Still lots of sailors hitting the water
  for this time of year! (Chris Kelly)
• 10-20 I had a great 3-day weekend at Pistol River.  Got the whole variety of
  conditions between the Rock and the Cape during three days.  Everything
  from 5.7 to overpowered 4.7, shoulder high to mast high, side-on and
  side-off.  Fun camping with great people down there, and many hours of
  insane wavesailing.  Record high temps in the low 80's in Brookings during
  the weekend.  Pretty nice for this time of year. (Spencer)
• 10-15 Really good 4.2 at Doug's yesterday.  Lots of people out having a
  great time.  The air is getting cooler now, but the water is still very
  warm. (Spencer)
• 10-12 I had a great time on a 3.7 at Stevenson yesterday.  Yes, the east
  wind season is starting.  I couldn't believe how many people were out
  sailing.  Between Home Valley and Stevenson, there must have been 50+
  people out.  It was actually hard to find a parking place.  The east wind
  sailing is especially good right now, because there is almost no current on
  the Columbia. Spencer
• 10-9 I sailed a 4.2 at 3-mile yesterday.  Great for 45 minutes, then it got
  pretty light.  After a way above average Summer, we're having a below
  average Fall.  Oh well - After 4 months of relentless 3.7 - 4.2, I'm not
  quite as wind crazed as in previous years (note: others may disagree with
  my self described mental state). Spencer
• 10-2 I sailed a 5.0 yesterday, way overpowered.  Launched at Rowena and
  sailed down to Doug's.  Very windy, but the swells were smaller than usual.
• 9-30 I had a great day at Road's End yesterday.  Powered 5.7, and head high
  with some higher sets.
• 9-28 I sailed a 4.2 at 3-mile on Friday.   A little gusty at times, but
  mostly ripping.  Best swells I've seen on the river in two months.
• 9-23 I was out of town for a while, but came back to good wind.  Yesterday
  I sailed a 4.2 at the Hatchery.  Slightly southerly wind direction made for
  really good port ramps.  At 8:30 this morning, it's already blowing over 30 at Arlington.  I'm
  hoping to make it out to 3-mile by early afternoon.
• 9-16 20 to 28 at the Hatch.   Still hot, summers hanging on !
• 9-14 I sailed (swam and hiked mostly) at OceanSide on Saturday.  It was 13'
  on the bouys, and really light.  I got worked over and over again for
  hours.  At least I didn't break any gear.  I should have stayed in the
  Gorge this weekend.  It was windy at the Hatchery both days.  It hasn't
  been quite as windy as April - July, but it's still been pretty good
  lately.  Lots of 4.2 to 4.7.  It looks like we could see the return of epic
  conditions here mid-week when a big cold front goes through.
• 9-13 Still big on the Coast but more manageable, only three broken masts, good waves and good wind all day.  The same crew could relax ( a little), light wind in the Gorge.
• 9-12 HUGE WAVES AND BIG CARNAGE!  By the end of the day Sat. we would see 9 broken masts, 3 broken boards, two lost rigs and three sailors forced to crawl out of an angry Pacific on the Florence jetty as waves crashed heavily against said jetty!  This was BIG BOLLUCKS wave sailing !  Not much organization to the waves and NO RESPITE! Laird, Tad, Jeff, McGoo, O'go, and the portlanders all took turns sailing and helping each other haul broken gear back and forth up the beach. Did I mention SAILWORLD has the best mast prices in town!
• 9-10 Good wind in the Gorge for Labor Day weekend.  It was fairly good
  sailing Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
  Today (Thursday) also looks very good.  Friday I skipped sailing in the
  Gorge, to sail a 5.2 at OceanSide with Pascal Hardy.  Gusty side-off
  and solid head high.  Wednesday was exceptionally good.  I was on a
  4.2 at the Hatchery.  Really good swells.
• Sept. 9 WINDY again! Maryhill is finally getting wind but the hatchery is still the best with readings from 31 to 37 mph. River current is down but the swell is still pretty good . The air is cooling off now..starting to feel like fall, we expect good fall winds and a very wet, snowy winter. The coast is still going off on occasion...now that labor day is over I may need a trip to get my wits back...any takers ?
• Sept 8 Yours truly...(that's me!) got in a great dawn patrol!!! while the tourist slept off hangovers and sipped coffee..I was riding tasty morning waves from 6:30-8:15 ...the rest of the day was good and windy ...mostly 3.7 to 4.2
• Sept 7 Labor day. Slow start but good finish! wind built most of the day...from flat to 4.2 ...very good energy in town this weekend!! lots of good attitudes and stocked people!!!
• Sept 6 sun Good winds again!! solid 4.7 and some 4.2 periods! Again the water was very crowded but reasonably well behaved...
• Sept 5  The wind picked up a notch and so did the pace..people flowing into the gorge with good winds predicted!  Lots of people on the water!!! sails were everywhere from the bridge to Swell City...very nice to see!!  sailing was a bit crowded but not annoyingly so...good attitudes and mutual respect kept things under control..(and nice steady 4.7- 5.2 winds helped)
• Sept 4 The wind was a little bit light but still good 5.1 sailing with a nice pre labor day feeling...not many people yet but you knew they were coming!

• 8-26 I sailed a 4.2 at the Hatchery yesterday at lunch. Pretty good
  swells, but fairly crowded.
  
• 8-24 I sailed a 4.2 at the Hatchery on Friday afternoon. I sailed a 3.7 at
  Arlington on Sunday morning. By early afternoon, the clouds moved in and
  it backed off to 4.2. The wind has been pretty good lately, but very
  crowded. Sunday was near record level crowds at Arlington, Roosevelt, and
  Rufus.

((((Just a note to do justice to the Hood River wind diary: I remember

sending in a wind diary entry for Monday June 15, 1998. It was one of the

most unbelievably insane days in history. WAY beyond a typical "Nukin"

day. The September/October issue of Windsurfing Magazine has a brief story

about that day with photos. Unfortunately most (probably all) of the

photos are not from that day. Some of the photos weren't even taken at

Doug's! Most of the sailors in the article weren't even in the Gorge that

day. Pascal Hardy was in Quebec. Chris Wymann wasn't in the Gorge then

either. The photos of Carl Meinberg and myself were taken at Doug's, but

either they were taken later in the day when the wind had backed off, or

were taken on a different day altogether. During the mid-afternoon, the

river was a haze of solid spray, and the swells were XXL. The photos in

that article are representative of really good 3.7 spring/early summer

conditions in the Gorge. However, those photos don't do justice to some of

the extreme "off the charts" days we've had in 1998 - especially June 15,

1998!))))

• 8-17 I sailed a 4.7 at the Hatchery on Friday afternoon.   Saturday, I
  sailed a 4.2 at Arlington all day.  Sunday looked pretty windy, but my left
  ankle is still bothering me, so I took the day off.
• 8-13 I've been passing up some fairly windy days in the Gorge lately due to
  a sprained ankle, but yesterday I wasn't able to resist temptation.  I
  sailed about 4 hours at the coast (Road's End) extremely powered on a 4.7.
  Most people were on 4.0 - 4.2.  Solid head high, but very short period,
  mushy wind swell.  Still just possible to go down the line.   Insane
  jumping on the way out.  Everyone was getting huge air.
• 8-10 1998 continues to be one of the windiest in history.   Friday was 3.7
  at the Hatchery.  Saturday it looked like there shouldn't be any wind at
  all, but some how the thermals kicked up to 5.0 - 5.5.  Sunday I sailed a
  4.2 from 6:30 am to 11:00 am at the Hatchery.
• 8-7 I sailed a 4.7 at lunch today at the Hatchery.   Plenty windy, but a
  little bit choppy.
• 8-6 I sailed a 4.7 at the Hatchery yesterday.   Unfortunately, I got there
  too late, and the wind died shortly after I got out!  It was windier out
  east, but I didn't have time to drive yesterday.  It's looking a little
  better today.
• 8-3 Light wind today, but looks like a really windy week ahead!

• 8-2 Pretty light (maybe slalom sailing?) in the Gorge, but I
  had a great time on a 5.2 at Road's End State Park at the Coast.  Small
  shoulder high waves and light wind, but just enough to be really fun.
• 8-1 Very windy at the Hatchery, probably 3.7 in the
  afternoon, but I was busy painting my house.
• 7-31 Full on ripping 3.7 at Doug's in the late afternoon.   It
  had been gusty and weird everywhere all day, but at about 3:30, it really
  went off at Doug's.
• 7-30 I had a great time at the Hatchery today.  I sailed a 3.7 for 2 1/2
  hours on my lunch break.
• 7-29 I had a great 4.2 session at the Hatchery this morning.   Very powered,
  very warm water, and surprisingly un-crowded after several days in a row of
  hot, no wind weather.  Looks like we're in for several very good days in a
  row.
• 7-24 I had a great 3.7 session at the Hatchery on my lunch break (long
  lunch!).  Good swells, and lots of fun!
• 7-23 I had a great dawn patrol at the Hatchery this morning.   I got there
  at 6:00 am and sailed a 4.2 until 9:30 am.  Good swells and not very
  crowded.  It took about an hour and a half to get back to Hood River from
  the Hatchery due to road construction on Hwy 14!
  Tuesday I sailed (slogged, actually) at Lincoln City on the coast.
  Way underpowered 5.7 and head high waves.  By some miracle, I kept making
  it out and got some rides back in.  Occasionally it was too light to even
  waterstart, so I resorted to uphauling just to get some wave rides.  Some
  friends of mine got epic conditions at the coast on Monday.
• 7-20 I just realized I haven't sent any wind reports in a while.  It's been
  sailable 18 out of 19 days so far this month, but the last week has been
  very marginal.  Friday I sailed a 5.2 at tunnel #5, and Sunday I sailed a
  4.2 at the Wall in the morning, then 4.2 at the Hatchery in the afternoon.
  I've been skipping the really light wind days to get some work done.  The
  next 3 or 4 days look like great wind and waves at the coast, but hot and
  light wind for the Gorge.  I'm hoping to make it to the coast tomorrow.
• 7-13 I sailed a 4.7 at Arlington late Friday afternoon.   Very steady, and
  not at all crowded.  Saturday, my wife (Kim) sailed a 4.2 at Doug's from
  6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Sunday I sailed a 4.7 from the events site up to the
  Hatchery, but it got very gusty and weird.  Yesterday was the 13th sailable
  day in a row.
• 7-8 I sailed a 4.2 at the Hatchery yesterday afternoon.   It got a little
  bit gusty and choppy late in the afternoon, but still pretty fun.  The day
  before was sailable, but I couldn't make it out.  From my office window I
  can see people out sailing already this morning.  So, we are up to 8 out of
  8 for the month of July so far, and it looks like it should be sailable
  every day through Saturday!
• 7-6 Thursday afternoon, I sailed a 4.2 at the Hatchery.   It was best late
  afternoon and evening.  Friday, it was very windy at Doug's, but the crowds
  and 7 mile hike in prompted me to go out to Avery.  A good friend and I
  sailed in full on 3.5 - 4.0 spray until dark, pretty much by ourselves.
  Sunday I sailed the evening session at Maryhill campground with some
  friends who were camping there.  I was very powered on a 5.2.  I didn't get
  off the water until 9:30 p.m.
• 7-1 I had a great time at Pistol last week.  I competed in amateur
  division (and didn't do very well) and judged for the pro heats.  It was
  4.7 to 5.2, and logo high.  The Maui sailors really put on a great show.
  Now I'm back in the Gorge, and it's really going off.  I mean REALLY
  going off!  Yesterday it was gusting over 50 all afternoon at the Hatchery.
  When I got there at 3:00 it was very powered 3.7, and it just kept getting
  windier and windier until it became difficult to just sail back and forth.
  Some extremely talented sailors were really struggling out there.
  Photographers Michael Hildreth and Tad Craig were shooting photos at Kodak
  Point.  Hopefully some of those shots will end up in the magazines.  Anyone
  who hasn't been here this year really wouldn't believe how insanely windy
  it's actually been.  Today looks like another good day, and tomorrow is
  forecast to be another full on freak show day.
  Oh, by the way, there was a collision at the Hatchery yesterday, and
  one board was virtually cut in half by the other's fin.  Fortunately, no
  one got hurt.  Something like that could be fatal in those conditions.
  Events like that should be a reminder to everyone to spread out and be
  extra cautious on those windy days!
• 6-30 WIND!  WIND! One of the windiest days I've ever seen in the corridor!
  Got a dawn patrol on a 3.7 then went to work..then went back to the hatch only
  to be COMPLETELY PASTED on my 3.2...I have never admitted before this day to
  being "blown off the water" but....I got BLOWN OFF THE WATER!  I must be
  getting old...I sat and watched at the hatch while MASSIVE swell after swell rolled by unridden.  :(
• 6-29 slalom wind late in the day at the event site and 4.7 at the hatch into the evening

• 6-26 very windy at Doug's..TOO windy for many people..lots of bystanders waiting for lulls.  swell
  was not as good as usual due to gust and northerly cant.
• 6-25 6/25-good wind in the corridor and at Doug's and excellent wind at the wall..4.2
  and steady with nice smooth rollers..no crowds Friday.
• 6-22 I sailed a 4.7 at Manzanita (on the coast) on Saturday.   Really
  onshore with junky waves, but fun jumping, anyway.  Tons of people out
  there having fun.  There was no wind in the Gorge this weekend, but it's
  back on today, and looks like it should be windy for the entire week.
• 6-19 I sailed a 4.2 at Doug's yesterday afternoon.  It was a little gusty,
  but pretty fun.  I didn't sail on Tuesday or Wednesday, but I talked to
  people who sailed 4.7's at the Hatchery and Doug's both days.  It's windy
  again today, but might not be so good on the weekend.  We've had 17 out of
  19 sailable days so far for the month of June!
• 6-16 Yesterday was one of the raddest, baddest days in Gorge history.
  Possibly the most extreme ever.  It was as windy as a big December or
  January east wind day, definitely gusting over 70 at Doug's.  Driving down
  Hwy 14 between Lyle and Doug's at 65 mph, the sheets of spray were
  definitely going faster than I was.  Looking up towards Rowena, it was just
  a white haze from all the blowing spray.  There were frequent water spouts
  upwind on the Oregon side, sending swirls of spray 50+ feet in the air,
  looking like small tornado's.  One of the Port-o-potties even blew over.
  The swells were so big that entire sails and masts were disappearing
  between the sets.  Only a handful of sailors out.  People were taking one
  reach and then calling it quits.  By 6:00 PM, it had gotten light enough
  that more people started going out, but between 3:00 and 5:00 it was on the
  verge of unsailable.  Apparently, it was equally insane in the Maryhill to
  Rufus corridor.  There were reports of people getting blown off of the
  water on 2.5's at Rufus in the late afternoon.  You would have to have seen
  it to believe it.  It was completely insane!
• 6-15 You must be getting really sick of hearing about all the wind in the
  Gorge.  It's pretty crazy how windy it is this year.  Friday was another
  3.7 - 4.2 day at the Hatchery and Doug's, but I didn't make it out.
  Saturday I sailed a 3.7 at the Wall.  Really epic.  It was gusting to near
  or above 50 everywhere from the Hatchery to 3-mile.  Sunday I sailed a 4.2
  at the Hatchery, but should have definitely been on a 3.7.  Huge swells.
  It's already blowing 35 at Arlington this morning, and the weather service
  is calling for gusts to 50 this afternoon.  We're up to 13 out of 15 for
  the month of June!  I really haven't ever seen it this windy so often in
  the Gorge in the last 8 years.  It's absolutely insane!
• 6-12 This is the best season I've ever seen in the Gorge.   Yesterday I
  sailed a 4.2 at the Hatchery.  Incredibly huge swells!  It's blowing again
  this morning, and will probably be sailable for the next week.
• 6-11 The Gorge continues to go off.  I sailed a 4.2 at Doug's yesterday
  afternoon.  Looks even windier today.  We're up to 9 out of 11 for the
  month of June, so far.  Looking at my calendar this morning, I noticed that
  there haven't been more than two no wind days in a row since late April!
• 6-9 I sailed a 4.7 at the Hatchery yesterday afternoon.   Lots of fun.
  Tons of people out.  Very warm.  It's already sailable this morning, so
  we're up to 7 out of 9 for the month of June.  And, it looks like the next
  5 days in a row should be really windy!
• 6-5  Yesterday was ripping 4.2 at Doug's.  A little bit too much current,
  but very windy.  After an epic May, were off to a very good start for June.
  It's already sailable this morning, so were up to 5 out of 5 this month.
• 6-3   Monday was pretty windy at Doug's and Arlington in the afternoon, but
  I wasn't able to make it out.  Yesterday I sailed a 4.7 at the Hatchery.
  Good swells, and ripping current.
• 5-31 I had a great 5.2 session at the Coast (Oceanside) on Sunday.
  Shoulder to head high, but really clean waves.  Really good down the line
  conditions.
• 5-27 Yesterday I went to Doug's at 3:00 expecting nothing more than 5.2 and
  small chop.  The wind quickly picked up to really powered 4.2, and the
  swells were really great.  When I left at 7:45, there were still 20+
  sailors still out ripping it up. (Spencer)
• 5-24 Saturday, I couldn't make it out, but Dana sailed a 4.2 at Roosevelt
  all day.  Sunday was miserably rainy and cold - no wind.  Monday I sailed a
  5.2 at the Hatchery.  I think we're at 21 out of 25 days for the month of
  May - and many of them truly epic. (Spencer)
• 5-23 Friday was one of the windiest days I've seen in many years.  I sailed
  a 3.2 & 3.7 at Doug's all afternoon.  Really big swells, but choppy in
  between - the dam was cranked wide open.  May 1998 has had some really
  extreme days! (Spencer)
• 5-22 I sailed 5 hours yesterday on a 4.2 at Doug's.   Probably should have
  been on a 3.7.  Kind of gusty, and a little choppy, but very windy!  I saw
  broken masts, boards, and helped carry out one person with a possible
  broken ankle.  It's already gusting to 45 at Doug's this morning - looks
  like an epic day is in store. (Spencer)
• 5-18 I sailed 4 or 5 hours yesterday on a 4.2 at 3-Mile.   Great swells.  It
  looked moderately windy at Doug's & Maryhill, but the long drive to 3-mile
  definitely paid off.  It was unseasonably cold for May. (Spencer)
• 5-17 Light wind and cloudy again, looks like wet and cold moving in.
• 5-16  Very windy at Doug's!!!!!  Jeremy was at three mile with Spencer....great 4.2  (TaylorMade) conditions!!  Jeremy is getting good jumps but has yet to nail down a jibe in 98.  Spencer was his normal looping self.
• 5-15 The start of the Canadian holiday is Ok with the wind out east again ...nothing great but sailable on slalom gear...especially for the die hard Canadians who have had a long, cold ,wet  winter.
• 5-14 Good wind but a little sporadic because of the cloudiness a little chasing was required.
• 5-13 Very good wind out in the desert...steady 4.0 to 5.0 ,still kinda cold and cloudy
• 5-11 I don't know if it's El Nino or what, but something is making the
  Gorge extra windy this spring.  Today is the 10th very good day in a row.
  Friday I was too busy at work to make it out, but one friend of mine sailed
  a 3.7 at the Wall in the afternoon, and other friends were on 4.2's at
  Roosevelt.  Saturday I sailed a 4.7 at the Hatchery.  I pulled a muscle in
  my neck over-rotating a forward so I took the day off on Sunday.  Looked
  like 3.7 to 4.2 at Doug's all day Sunday.  I think we should continue to
  see lots of wind most of this coming week.  Wow! (Spencer)
• 5-8 Well, yesterday was the windiest yet.  From 11:00 am to 2:00 PM it was
  about as big as it gets in the gorge.  I sailed a 3.7 (the last time I
  sailed a 3.7 on Westerlies was more than a year ago) from noon till 2:30.
  Some of the all time best swells I've ever seen at the Hatchery.  The wind
  got kind of fluky in the afternoon, but anyone who was there mid-day got
  one the best Hatchery sessions ever.
  It's blowing 33-40 at Arlington this morning.  I'm sure it's insane at
  3-mile, but I don't think I'll be able to make it today.  This makes seven
  good days in a row! (Spencer)
• 5-7 Today's report is pretty much the same as yesterday's.   I sailed a 4.2
  very powered up at the Hatchery all afternoon yesterday.  Huge swells
  again.  After five good days in a row, it's getting painful just rigging
  up!  Once again, there are reports of sailors out on 3.7's at Swell City
  already this morning.  Looks like continuing big wind for Friday and
  Saturday, too!  (Spencer)
• 5-6 Wow, the Gorge is really going off this year!  Even at night, it's so
  windy that it's hard to sleep.  Yesterday was another wound up 4.2 day at
  the Hatchery.  Swells the size of school busses.  Lots of very talented
  sailors out putting on a good show.  Kor Harrison was throwing some big
  push loops, Dave Henderson was sticking huge back loops, and Mark
  Williamson was throwing some mighty tall forwards.  Pretty much everyone
  was ripping.  The Swell City windwatcher report at 9:30 am this morning
  said that people are already out on 3.7's at Swell City.  This makes five
  good days in a row.  Looks like another full on Gorge day! (Spencer)
• 5-5 Yesterday was good 4.2 at the Hatchery.  Really big swells, and good
  current.  Everyone was getting HUGE air!  I'm a complete basket case after
  the last three days of sailing, but it's already 4.2 - 4.7 at 9:30 this
  morning - and it looks like it's going to continue to be very windy for the
  next four days! (Spencer)
• 5-4 Good wind both days this weekend.  Saturday, I sailed a 4.7 at the
  Hatchery all day.  Good wind mid day, followed by a little lull, then a
  meltdown from 5:00 to almost sunset.  Sunday I sailed a 5.2 at the
  Hatchery.  Most people were on 4.7's at both the Hatchery and Doug's all
  day.  Very warm.  A few hearty people out in short sleeve suits both days.
• 4-27 I sailed 5 hours at 3-mile on Friday.  Started out on a 4.7, and
  eventually rigged down to a 4.2.  Great swells!
  I was busy on Saturday, but I talked to people who sailed 4.7's at
  both the Hatchery and Doug's on Saturday.  (Spencer)
• 4-22 It was sailable in the Gorge both days this past weekend.  A big swap
  meet, blossom fest, and good weather brought tons of people to the gorge
  last weekend.  I sailed a 5.7 at the Hatchery for a few hours on Sunday.
  Yesterday I sailed a 5.7 at Lincoln City on the Oregon Coast.  It was
  over mast high, fluky wind, and psycho confused chop on the wave faces.
  Probably the biggest ugliest waves I've ever sailed.  One of the most
  respected big wave surfers (and surfing video producer) on the Oregon
  Coast, John Forse, was chomped in the leg by a 15 foot great white
  yesterday morning just 7 miles from where I was sailing!  The worst part is
  that we heard about it right before we went out sailing, so it was hard to
  think about anything else out there.  Every sea lion I saw caused extreme
  panic! (Spencer)
• 4-16 It was extremely powered 4.7 yesterday afternoon at the Hatchery.
  Really big swells, with good ramps on both port and starboard.  According
  to the Windsight meter, the gusts were consistently in the 35-40 knot range
  all afternoon!  It's already whitecapping a little bit this morning, but
  probably won't be as windy as yesterday. (Spencer)
• 4-15 I sailed a 5.7 at the Hatchery yesterday afternoon.  Today it's
  already very windy at 9:00 am.  Should be great.  Also looks like some
  potential for the weekend! (Spencer)
• 4-13 I sailed a 4.7 at Roosevelt on Saturday afternoon.   A little gusty at
  times, but pretty good most of the time.  Cool air temps, but still tons of
  people out.  On the drive out, I saw lots of people out at Rowena, Doug's,
  Avery, Maryhill, the Wall, and Rufus. (Spencer)
• 4-8 Great 4.7 at the Wall all day yesterday!   Lots of people out at every
  sailing site from Rowena on out.  The air temp was a little chilly, but
  plenty of sunshine and lots of stoked sailors.  It's looking like another
  good setup for the weekend. (Spencer)
• 4-6 The last time I e-mailed you, I mentioned that it was glassy, but a
  few hours later, it was good 5.2 at the Hatchery!  Yesterday made 10 days
  in a row of sailable wind in the Gorge.  I sailed at the Hatchery this
  weekend on a 5.7, but I heard it was quite a bit windier at Doug's.
  There's a strong cold front approaching today.  Possibly some good wind
  this afternoon (it's almost sailable right now at the Hatchery), and looks
  like some good clearing wind out east tomorrow.  Spring is going off in the
  Gorge! (Spencer)
• 4-5 Chris Kelly tried to catch an early session to take advantage of time leap (hr ahead) but had to leave Doug's for the afternoon crowd as the wind got better as the day progressed.  25 knots by late afternoon.
• 4-4 Alyce Pearce skied morning with Bill Irving and gang...Bill smashed his face into the turf in Superbowl during a whiteout. Slightly dazed (no more than normal though)....upon return to Hood River the wind was up so sailing was in order..Alyce sailed good 4.7 with Jeff Blackman at the hatch while the Dutchman (Rinse) sailed wound up 4.5 at Doug's! (Chris)
• 4-3 Unfortunately, I couldn't make it out sailing yesterday, but I thought
  I should let you know that yesterday was the 6th day in a row of good wind
  at the Hatchery!  It's pretty glassy today, but after 6 days, I'm sure
  everyone could use a rest. (Spencer)
• 4-2 Chris Eubanks skied morning and sailed some dying breezes on a 5.0 for 1 1/2 hrs at the hatch.
• 4-1 I sailed a 4.7 yesterday afternoon at the Hatchery.   Biggest turnout
  yet this spring - there were tons of people out ripping it up!
• 3-30 It was sailable both Saturday and Sunday at the Hatchery.  Saturday I
  was tied up with my 3 year old birthday party, and Sunday I sailed at
  Agate beach on the coast.  It was marginal 5.7 and mast high.  I was having
  a great time until I got munched by a XXL wave.  Broke my base, and
  shredded my 5.7.  Later in the afternoon, the wind picked up a little, and
  the swell dropped a little, so I went back out on  my 5.2.  Only did a
  little damage to my 5.2, and had a great time.  (Spencer)
• 3-26 I sailed a 4.7 at the Wall yesterday.  Did a down-winder to Rufus, and
  sailed with Chris Kelly for a while, then it got a little light so I headed
  back to the Wall.  I should have gone all the way to 3-mile.  The current
  and swells, however, are really good in the Maryhill corridor this spring.  (Spencer)
• 3-25  Yours truly planning to sail anticipated winds at the Wall this afternoon  a return to winter weather is expected with lowering snow levels and the white stuff piling up.  Also a strong westerly gradient......POWDER/WAVE day is a possibility! (Chris Kelly)
• 3-15 Ben Dale on a 4.5 world all by himself for 2 hrs at Celilo excellent conditions!
• 3-13  Dan Mayer sailed a 6.2 at the Hatch  Frozen toes and the dreaded finger melt down....also a dying wind as the day progressed but luckily no swimmmmmming!
• 3-4 I sailed a 5.2 at the Hatchery today. Steady wind, sunny, and relatively warm.

  Feb.

• 2-26 Wow! Today is the third day in a row with sailable west wind. It's really starting to feel like spring in the Gorge!
• 2-24 Today was Opening Day at the Hatchery. The first really good day there this year. Classic spring conditions. Very sunny, cloud bank to the west, good swells, and really powered 4.7 all day (most people were on 4.0-4.2, and lighter guys on 3.5's!). There was a pretty good crowd out.Not just the usual winter sailors. There were Portland people out, and even some Canadian license plates in the parkingl ot. Spring in the Gorge is great - sunny, windy, and still tons of fresh powder on the Mountain.
• 2-17 I worked for a few hours yesterday morning, then did my patriotic duty and celebrated Presidents Day with about 15 other people on 4.2's at Stevenson. The morning session was the best, then it gradually got lighter in the afternoon. I think the warm spring-like weather is getting more people excited about windsurfing early this season.  Spencer
• 2 - 1 It was very windy in the Gorge this weekend. Saturday was the warmest and windiest, but I was tied up all day. The people I talked to said it was actually crowded at Stevenson! Sunday wasn't quite as good, but I sailed for a few hours on a 4.2 and had a good time. I talked to a woman from Seattle, who was down for the weekend to do some windsurfing. She had a pretty old wetsuit, she was camping out, and still working on her jibes. That sounds like a pretty chilly weekend to me, but she was all smiles, and said she was having a great time. Wow, what a great attitude! Looks like a chance for some more wind later in the week. (Spencer reports)

• 1- 28 I had a great day sailing yesterday. I sailed 3 1/2 hours at Stevenson on a 4.2, but should have been on a 3.7. Very sunny and warm. The water is a little colder after that big snow storm, but no colder than a typical spring day. After a several weeks of rain and gray skies, it sure is good for the mental health to go get a dose of sunshine and wind on the river. (Spencer reports)
• 1-18  Sunday, it was gusting to 53 at Multnomah falls, so I headed to Rooster. It was extremely windy. I rigged up a 3.7, and was about to get my suit on when it started raining. Then the wind died! The gradient went from .30 to .17 in an hour. Oh well, only another month or so, and very reliable spring wind will be here. (Spencer reports)
• 1-17 Saturday, it was ripping out east. Sunny, warm and windy from Maryhill on out. It was blowing spray at Maryhill, so I stopped to sail there. Rigged up a 4.2, and got my suit on, then the wind died. Took off my suit, derigged, and drove out to 3-mile. Then it died there, too. Somebody was sailing at Rufus when I went by, but it looked like a 4.7 or 5.2, and pretty gusty.
• 1-14 Ahh the great Northwest, 1/2" of rain/ice on top of all that snow in Hood River.  Chains are required to travel I-84.  (Still dumping on the mountain however.)
• 1-13  It snowed all night, Meadows got 60" the last couple of days. Here is a shot of the shop van buried in Hood River.
• 1-12  It's still dumping and cold.  Check out this shot of the shop after the plows came by.  This is downtown, up on the heights there is quite a bit more.  I-84 closed and PDX closed too.
• 1-11  About 14" or more of the light fluffy stuff fell to day, I was getting face shots driving my truck about town.  Gusting over 50mph at Rooster.
• 1-9   Strong east winds reported at Rooster Rock today.
• 1-7   I had a great 4.7m session at Doug's yesterday afternoon. It was sunny and warm everywhere east of Hood River yesterday. (Spencer reports)