The Lower Columbia River estuary has miles of back channels, broad expanses of shallow, wildlife-rich waters, a handful of charming, lightly touristed towns, and anchorages a-plenty for shallow-draft boats. When Frank and his wife, Julie—wide-ranging trailer-sailors from California—contacted me last spring, seeking advice about cruising in the Northwest, I signed on as their unofficial guide.We rendezvoused at the Elochoman Slough Marina, in Cathlamet, Washington, a town of just 600 on the north bank of the Columbia River. Frank and Julie arrived in their little Subaru wagon with their Core Sound 20, WREN, in tow. The boat dwarfed the car and as they stepped the leg-o’-mutton cat-ketch rig at the top of the ramp, I felt a twinge of envy. With a sail area of 155 square feet, WREN might beat the pants off ROW BIRD, my 18′ Arctic Tern, a lug yawl carrying just 111 square feet of sail. And when I looked over WREN’s roomy cockpit and cabin, I suspected my new friends would not only be faster but also more comfortable to boot. .
Roger Siebert
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Good story, Bruce. I always enjoy your writing and the pictures of ROW BIRD.
Thanks
A nicely written, very pleasant story. I sail the Chesapeake but was almost envious of the trip and the waters.
Thanks,
John
Beautiful! I am inspired to carve out the time needed to follow in your path.
This is the first of Bruce’s articles that I have read, but I greatly enjoyed his eloquent writing that efficiently captures the mood of his scenes. Great work, and I think a very enjoyable and satisfying 4-day journey was had!
As a kid I sailed the Missisippi river above Alton Dam. We also had a lot of shallow islands and the article made me think of all the mosquitoes that would inhabit that type of terrain on the Mississippi.
Richard Simon