The Oregon Coast Spring 2023

Cruising to Brookings Oregon

The Oregon coast is a challenge. There are some great destinations and difficult bar crossings. Aquila has made every possible stop on the coast except where she is too big to land. The bridge at Depot Bay is too low and Gold Beach is too shallow.

We sailed non-stop from the Columbia River to Brookings. Corby, Duy and I made a three crew watch with 4 hours up and 8 hours down. This is an easy schedule that offers plenty of sleep and time to enjoy the sail. This only works when there are experienced crew that can manage the boat alone. A two-crew watch is a much harder schedule and I never get enough rest when double-handed.

Aquila is a good looking boat. I like a long, low coach roof and that sloping deck. The Yamaha 36 is a fast, relatively light racer-cruiser with a hint of IOR influence. The Peter Norlin inspired design reminds me of other Scandinavian boats like Swans of this era.

I think she takes a pretty good picture.

This is some great speed for Aquila. I've seen over 10 knots on the meter, but that was sliding down a wave. 8.6 is as fast as the boat will honestly go.

Aquila is a joy to steer. Her fin keel makes her agile but she is not a boat that steers herself. The wheel needs lots of attention running off of the wind.

Sure, we could turn her over to the autopilot, but where's the joy in that?

Duy steering us South

Oh, sure, Jim should be wearing a lifejacket. We're inshore in flat water, but still, he should have been in a pfd

We were boarded and inspected for safety equipment in Florence. They found no discrepancies. Aquila is over-equipped and exceeds every requirement.

Jim says I shouldn't have peed off the bow as we passed the Coast Guard station. He thought it caught their attention.

This is the Chetco River in Brookings. This river is the clearest water I've ever seen. It's really beautiful upstream

I really enjoy the art we find in these coastal destinations. Most of these are in Bandon.

Terry made us some very special spaghetti that inspired enthusiasm and joy. The crew share their approval!

Views of the Coos Bay entrance with Jim and Corby

The crew confirm a good, proper and seamanlike tie-up. They'll take care of that tail.

After our landing, Florence had a parade for us. They also celebrated their Rhododendron Festival.

The Siuslaw River bridge in Florence needs a two hour notice to open. They send an operator from Eugene to lift the bridge. I have the phone number somewhere in my cruise notes.

Florence has a great guest dock located just a few steps from old town. There are lots of shops, dining and things to do. We enjoyed the museum there.

The Triangle at Reedsport

We always visit museums, cultural centers and light houses on our trips. I like to really explore a new place. Arriving by boat makes me feel differently about a destination. The voyage makes each stop important - somehow it can't be compared to just driving a car there.

This was a haunted lighthouse on the coast. The guide told a scary story about some kids lost here. I was really taken in. At the end of the tour, they revealed the truth.