Typical Sailing on the Columbia River in the Portland Area:

Close-Hauled into a Typical Summer Afternoon Northwest Wind. (The "close-haul" point of sail is sailing as close into the wind as possible. This is the most exciting point of sail with the maximum heeling.)

Close-Hauled into a December East Wind, cold and gusty conditions. For a higher-quality (640x480) version of this video, CLICK HERE.

Tacking--my crew tacks the June Bug in a nice wind ("Tacking" refers to turning the boat so the wind comes from the other side.)

Broad-Reaching, View Looking Down-River. (A "broad-reach" is sailing with the wind coming from somewhat off of the stern. It is a fast, but easy, point of sail.)

Broad-Reaching, Another View.

June Bug meets the Queen of the West at sunset (animated gif).

Sailing in Strong Conditions:

Crossing the Columbia River Bar in boisterous conditions.

Crossing the Columbia River Bar, cameraman gets knocked down.

Motorsailing into 30 knot winds off the Washington coast.

Hamming it Up, Single-Handling with a Reefed Main, east of Astoria.

A Bouncy, Wet Ride, Beating Into Strong Wind and Chop, Approaching the Cathlamet Channel.

Winsurfers Surround Us, Apparent Wind Gusting to 35, Running under Storm Jib west of Hood River.

A Barge Pounding into the Waves Passes us on the starboard.

Sailing in high winds with my "Little Brother" Cody, accompanied by my friend Howard (also a Big Brother) with his Little Brother Travon.

VHF radio bar warning, waiting off the Columbia River Bar entrance for the ebb tide to slacken.

Approaching the Columbia River Bar after a tiring offshore passage and an electrical storm off the bar entrance.

Waves, some breaking, on the Columbia River Bar.

Miscellaneous Sailing Video:

The "Butt Check" Method of Holding the Tiller when Single-Handling.

Crew and Captain Laugh about Getting Wet, after beating into a cold December east wind.

A Big Container Ship Instills Fear in the June Bug's Crew.

Broad-Reaching, View Looking Down from the Bow.