Phil Soltysiak catches an after work fall session at Rowena, OR. Photo by Bob Stawicki

 

East winds often blow the strongest at Rooster Rock State Park in Oregon. There can be many days in a row with wind averaging over 40mph, day and night. To sail at Rooster you need to get in your wetsuit and carry your equipment down a long flight of stairs, don't forget anything in your car! Walk through the tall grass to a reasonably sheltered rigging area. At this time of the year the water level is low, so Rooster Rock offers a sandy beach for launching around 500 feet wide and close to 2 miles long. The river is narrow so you do feel a bit of the current, but common gale force winds and the long beach make this a minor concern. 

Phil Soltysiak at Rooster Rock. Photo by Andie Trosper DeRoux.
 

Summer Gorge visitors know that Stevenson, WA, is a good destination for East winds, but the fall days at Stevenson are a whole other ball game. Rumors have it that Phil Soltysiak was out testing the 3.2m Revolution sail last week (in 38°F) doing big backloops on starboard tack in front of the beach. Although Stevenson is often not as strong as Rooster Rock, it benefits from being at a wide point of the river and so the current pulling you downwind is insignificant. The parking and rigging area at Stevenson is sheltered from the wind, grassy, and close to the launch, so you have easy access to your car.

Phil Soltysiak sails east winds at Home Valley, WA. Photo by Bob Stawicki.
 

The summer Home Valley, WA, launch can be mucky, and the swim beach has a "no windsurfing" sign on it. However, come fall, nobody uses the swim beach but windsurfers. The Home Valley swim beach can become the most pleasant east wind windsurfing spot in the Gorge. Enter Home Valley Park and don't follow the windsurfing signs, keep left at the fork and park at the swim beach. Use the grassy area next to the parking lot to rig, and walk down a wide path around 100 feet to a sandy gradual launch. The east winds are always lighter here than at Stevenson or Rooster Rock, but if it's unreasonably nuking at other spots you can get a reasonable fun day on the water at Home Valley. 

Phil Soltysiak with a willy skipper in front of Wind Mountain near Home Valley, WA. 

Viento

Viento State Park in Oregon is a summer camping spot for visiting windsurfers, and a popular launch to catch strong gusty west winds. In the fall months this is the Hood River local's foiling destination for east winds. The fall east winds at Viento are the steadiest winds you'll ever find in the Gorge. Drive down to the day use area, park and rig on the grass next to the parking lot, and walk 100 feet to a rocky launch. 

Dale Cook foils a steady breeze at Viento State Park. Photo by Bob Stawicki.

Arlington/Roosevelt

When things start to blow from the westerly direction in the fall it can often be gusty and unreliable in the Hood River area. If you're looking for a good day on the water, it's better to invest the time and drive to Arlington, OR or Roosevelt, WA, or even further east. If things are setting up right for these spots you will score an epic day on the water, and it will be warmer and sunnier than in further west.There is a good chance you'll return to a cold and rainy Hood River in the evening. 

A few fall sailing tips

"A bad day in the fall, is warmer than a good day in the winter" - Dale Cook, circa winter 2019