bit too far to starboard and fouled the
First Trip on the River
prop in the weeds. While Jeff worked
on clearing the prop, the wind was
setting us across the channel toward a
by Keith Nasman
set of nasty looking pilings. I quickly
hoisted the jib and rounded us just
in time. The breeze took us under the
bridge for an absolutely beautiful reach
up the channel. Jeff and I were grinning
ear to ear and Kyle couldn’t figure out
what the big deal was and went below
for a nap.
We were again motoring in the
main river channel. We had learned
from the previous night tied up
to pilings that we should find our
anchorage early and not be forced into
hasty decisions. We decided to duck
An extended weekend on the Columbia.
in behind an unnamed sandy island
with a weir at its head. We were careful
to go on the safe side of a submerged
Sailing gripped me with a passion took us down to Lord Island across shoal and continued to the upstream
when I was a kid and Dad bought a from Longview, WA for a night tied up side of the island. We reasoned that
Sunfish. For two summers I sailed to pilings. our backup plan would be to explore
nearly every day, honing skills, goofing On Saturday we pressed on down the entrance to the Clatskanie River
around, just being on (and occasionally to the beautiful little town of Cathlamet, that was behind nearby Wallace Island.
in) the water. Despite building a day Washington. As we came down the The chart showed a long piling weir
sailer, it wasn’t until a few years ago channel, there were 50 foot cliffs on extending off the top of the island
that I gained some experience with our starboard side as we glided under sheltering the slough side. On coming
boats that are large enough to have the elegant bridge that connects with around the bend we saw a cabin cruiser
accommodations. My good friend Puget Island. Turning into Elochoman at anchor near our chosen spot. That
Jeff bought a Venture 21 and voiced a Slough we slowly motored into the was definitely a good omen. The cruiser
desire to take my son Kyle, age 12, and marina and tied up to the public was quite a ways out in the slough so
I on a trip down the Columbia River. I dock while I admired the cluster of we slowly made our way along the
jumped at the idea and we set aside a little rental cabins watching over the island.
three day weekend in August. marina. Having not been off the boat With the shifting sands of the river,
The plan was to put the boat in at in 24 hours, we were looking forward our chart couldn’t give us any real
St. Helens, Oregon and go downriver to stretching our legs and eating a meal assistance, but the Venture, being a
as far as we dared, while ensuring out of the sun. We soaked down sodas trailer sailer, has such a shallow draft
a Sunday afternoon return. With with our sandwiches at the Riverview with the board up, that we would see
the winds coming upriver on our Restaurant before getting more propane bottom well before grounding. I took
outbound leg and the current against and stopping at the fuel dock. my position up on the bow, eager to
us on the way back, we were going to As we headed out of the little use my leadline seriously for the first
be motoring most of the way. Friday channel from the marina we went a time. Kyle passed the anchor and
rode up to me while Jeff maneuvered
us into the current and away from
the island. Accounting for the tide
changes overnight, I was shooting for
a minimum of ten feet of depth. I called
back to Jeff, “Six feet, eight feet, ten feet.
Let’s go past here by 50 feet to allow
for minimal scope. Okay, hold us in
position. Anchor’s away!” Jeff put the
engine in neutral as the current pulled
us away from the anchor. I tied off the
Kyle Nasman keeps an eye on the river
traffic. “Some ships make the mighty
Columbia feel small.”
48° No r t h , No v e m b e r 2009 Pa g e 34
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