- Joined
- Aug 11, 2020
- Messages
- 634
- Reaction score
- 214
- Points
- 43
- Age
- 39
- Location
- Mid Atlantic
- Model
- Chase
Not Grady specific, but figured id share...
For years, i have been fascinated by the Colombia River Bar. For those of you unfamiliar with it, it is globally renowned as one of the worst inlets/bars in the world. It can have 30ft breaking waves under the right conditions. its not uncommon for the bar to have 10-15' waves. it is the location where the USCG does rough water seamanship training. its a pretty cool and intense place.
last week, my job took me to Astoria, OR to test a new prototype vessel. the boat is just over 120 ft. early last week a storm rolled in and the bar had 16" breakers and we were not able to cross. i did get to walk out on the north jetty and to say that i was amazed would be an understatement. it was my first time being that close to waves that big. being 30 ft above the water and seeing the large waves that close and taking salt spray to the face in 30-40 mph winds was very cool. as the week went on, the storm system moved out and the weather improved. we eventually got to cross late in the week with 6-7 footers in the bar with the occasional 8 footer. as someone that boats on the upper chesapeake where a normal bad day is 3' at 3 seconds, it was cool to experience the larger waves with a long period. it was also intense and humbling to cross where so many mariners have lost their boats and/or lives trying to make a living. the area is called the graveyard of the pacific for a reason.
one thing crossed off my bucket list
(oh, and to keep it a bit grady based, i saw a marlin, islander, and chase or bimini on the way back in)
For years, i have been fascinated by the Colombia River Bar. For those of you unfamiliar with it, it is globally renowned as one of the worst inlets/bars in the world. It can have 30ft breaking waves under the right conditions. its not uncommon for the bar to have 10-15' waves. it is the location where the USCG does rough water seamanship training. its a pretty cool and intense place.
last week, my job took me to Astoria, OR to test a new prototype vessel. the boat is just over 120 ft. early last week a storm rolled in and the bar had 16" breakers and we were not able to cross. i did get to walk out on the north jetty and to say that i was amazed would be an understatement. it was my first time being that close to waves that big. being 30 ft above the water and seeing the large waves that close and taking salt spray to the face in 30-40 mph winds was very cool. as the week went on, the storm system moved out and the weather improved. we eventually got to cross late in the week with 6-7 footers in the bar with the occasional 8 footer. as someone that boats on the upper chesapeake where a normal bad day is 3' at 3 seconds, it was cool to experience the larger waves with a long period. it was also intense and humbling to cross where so many mariners have lost their boats and/or lives trying to make a living. the area is called the graveyard of the pacific for a reason.
one thing crossed off my bucket list
(oh, and to keep it a bit grady based, i saw a marlin, islander, and chase or bimini on the way back in)
