San Francisco to Astoria, Oregon

[SVRovia]

I am in the process of buying a Morgan 41 in SFO and thinking of taking her to Astoria in the early spring -- March? If I can work around the California sales tax rules. I would rather sail than truck her.

Any advice on the trip North would be appreciated. Especialy typical weather and good places to stop. I have made the uphill climb in a 61' power boat from LA to Friday Harbour but that was in the summer and we only stopped twice.

[dabnis]

SV,

March can present some pretty rough weather and ports are far apart.
If you can keep your legs as short as possible you can minimize your
exposure to sudden weather changes. You might be interested in
these links:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/genera...ce-needed.html

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/boat-r...t-sailing.html

As mentioned earlier, not a trip to be taken lightly, especially going uphill.
If you go let us know how it went. One can always learn from other's experiences.

Dabnis

[SVRovia]

Thanks for the links.

Sounds like you have been up and down the coast and are familiar with the typical weather patterns. If you were picking a time of year to go North in a 41 ft sail boat when would you go? Have you gone up as early as March?

[dabnis]

SV,

We go crabbing out of Fort Bragg from now to the middle of June but
always wait for a calm, not more than 6 to 8 foot seas, weather window.
Generally speaking, from November to mid May or so is the roughest
time except for a few calm days every once in a while. However, It can be rough any time of year. Yes, I have spent many years up the coast from
San Francisco north. Not even close to being an expert on anything but
have been out there and learned from my mistakes, lucky to still be here.

Dabnis

[SVRovia]

Thanks for your input. Still not sure what I will do.

I am going to California tomorrow for the surveys and will have to make a decision soon. California tax issues may have a big part in my decision. Even tought I am an Oregon resident they want to charge the tax if I don't get the boat out of CA.

[dabnis]

SV,

You are welcome. Here are some links that show what is happening
now and what is supposed to happen. We have used them for a
number of years and find the forecast to be very accurate.

Northern California NOAA/CDIP Buoy Data

Marine Forecast : Weather Underground

Not sure about the tax issue, Oregon may want a "fee" or some
sort of tax if it was not paid in California? Hard to beat the system.

Dabnis

[SVRovia]

No sales tax in Oregon just a $128 registration fee.

Thanks for the links.

[dabnis]

That's nice. In California you are taxed on the money you earned,
taxed when you buy a boat, or whatever, then taxed for owning it,
the equivalent of property tax, end of rant. Let us know how it all
comes out.

Good luck, Dabnis

[Izzy1414]

Rovia,

I have no personal experience with the passage but the Oregon coast is a particularly treacherous stretch of water. Pick your weather windows carefully and be prepared to sit tight in port for long periods to wait for favorable ones. And one of the nastier bars on the planet awaits you at your destination. My grandfather capsized his small boat there and the crew spent some serious time in the water. All four of them were luckily rescued, but Grandma was never the same afterward.

[trish196]

If you plan to sail north in spring start getting familiar with NOAA. If you live in or around Astoria, listen to NOAA daily and get familiar with their accuracy. Listen to bar reports and get familiar with crossing times (flood tides). If you enter the Columbia river at the entrance buoy it can take hours to cross the bar so enter her early in the flood so you do not get caught in the ebb.

You will be making night runs and all ports will be bar crossings so time your departure and arrival around flood tides. Do not cross at night unless you are real familiar with them. If possible get familiar with the bars you intend to cross (they all have their own little quirks) and the alternate bars. Talk to local fisherman. Local knowledge is best.

If you run close to shore, 10-50 miles, and you probably will that time of year,
Beware of cape Mendocino, Point St. George and Cape Blonco. They can all be rough.

I have made the trip a number of times and will tell you weather and bar crossings are critical. Give yourself a good weather window. Say if you need 24 hrs. to get to a destination have a 2-3 day window. Storms do "speed up" and will catch you off guard.

Good sailing