Astoria
From CruisersWiki
Astoria
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Overview
As you come over the Columbia bank make your way up river, a beautiful and functional town comes into view. Its lights dot the south shore, you can see cars on their busy hectic way over the bay to your south and on the bridge spanning the Columbia. In front of you are large freighters, some anchored and some making their way to the ocean. There are piers and docks everywhere, most old and rotting away while the dark green ferns smother them. Some piers are completely gone, just rotting posts in the water. If it isn't foggy and raining, it may be soon. This is Astoria, the end of the Oregon trail and home to sailors and adventurers. It is the town that never grew up, having the same charm I imagine it having a hundred years ago. Here you will find everything a sailor needs for re-provisioning, boat repair and relaxing before you challenge the Pacific again, and at prices that are reasonable too.
Where else can you shop for sushi at Safeway (from a sushi chef making it on the spot) at listen to the seals outside on the docks? That you can ride a real railroad through town from the dock to your boat yard, chancellery or a supermaket? A place were cruisers are not though of as weirdos, but are part of the local scene. That's because sailors have been coming to Astoria for hundreds of years now....
Cruising the region
Cruising the Columbia requires some patience and a lot of sea sense, but can be very rewarding and beautiful. You are the mouth of a great river, which has a strong seaward current 70 percent of the time. Use the currents and the wind, and you will get to your destination quickly. Fight them, or try to work around them, and you will spend your time passing the same navigation aids, again and again. Its good to have a well equipped yacht, a decent axillary, good sails and working ground tackle will not only make the journey more pleasant around here, they can save your life. I get the sense from becoming acquainted with the sailors around Astoria, that this is not a beginning ground for cruisers. The tireless NOB, with his breaking down sailboat and endless optimism just doesn't seem to be present. Instead there are a number of very practical, very experienced sailors who live on their boats and work their lives in quiet humility and strength. As you enter the region by passing over the bank, you have a number of ports available. Port side there is Ilwaco and the tiny port of Chinook. On your starboard, there is the shallow bay of Hammond, the quiet industrial port of Warrenton, and two boat fields in Astoria, appropriately named West dock and East dock. Eastward under the Astoria bridge there is a commercial anchorage, some islands and a very quiet cruising anchorage as the Columbia slowly narrows and becomes more a river and less a bay. Charts and or chart plotters are essential for this area, as the Desdemona sands split the river before Hammond, and the the shipping channel is very busy (ie you need to know when you are in it, because the freighters will not be able to avoid you). A depth sounder is important as the sands are constantly changing and may differ markedly from the charts. A working VHF is very useful, the freighters use channel 13 and general hail is channel 16.
Charts
Submit the chart details that are required for safe navigation.
Radio Nets
Submit details of local radio Nets.
Approach
Navigation Details? Permissions for entry?
Check-in facilities
Submit details about facilities for checking in - where to berth - anchor.
Weather
Local weather details?
Sources for weather forecasts.
Health and Security
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Marinas & Yacht Clubs
Submit Marina details.
Anchorages
List details of all safe anchorages in the area.
Offshore Islands
List Islands
Routes to/from
Popular routes, timing, etc.
Tourism & things to do ashore
List places of interest, tours, eateries, etc.
Marine stores
Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.
References & Publications
Publications, Guides, etc.
Cruiser's Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forum Discussions
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
External Links
Links to relevant websites.
Personal Notes
Personal experiences?
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| | HOMEPAGE | Wiki Contents | Northern America | United States | Astoria | |
