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Young's Bay Overview
Sailing at Young's Bay is best on northwesterlies created by warm low pressure inland.
Winds are typically 18-22 mph in the afternoons. Generally, the winds are best in summer, but a
few good days can be found as early as March/April and as late as October/November. On south wind days Young's Bay can be sailed from the Astoria side. There is a hotel at the Astoria end of the bridge that is usually friendly to windsurfers and allows use of their beach if we stay out of the way of customer parking. As the wind approaches 20 MPH there will be nice knee high port side chop-hopping. If the wind picks up and the tide is running out, swells have been known to reach 3-4 feet in the main river channel. The best sailing is inside the bay itself and out of the shipping lane. Those venturing into the shipping lane will find higher waves but less predictable wind. The bay is about 2 miles wide and offers the opportunity for long reaches, so if you don't have your jibes down solid, you won't need them often. Young's Bay is a central area for several other good sailing sites as well. Less than an hour's drive to the east is Jones Beach. About 20 minutes to the west is the South Jetty at Astoria, known for it's clean waves with minimal cross chop. Great wave sailing on northwest winds, you will often find conditions about 5 mph stronger at the jetty than on the bay itself. Located about an hour south of Young's Bay is Manzanita. The waves there are generally very user friendly (when swells are under 8 ft.) and the wind is usually a little better than Astoria or at Young's Bay. Anybody who wants an onsite wind report for Young's Bay can call the Pacific Wave Kayak shop as they are located right at the launch site.
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Regional Directory
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| Season: |
Best conditions June through August |
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| Water: |
tidal, sm-med swells |
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| Ability Level: |
intermediate/jibes |
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| Familiness: |
nice beach, grass rigging, food, alternate activities |
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| Parking: |
large parking area |
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| Launch: |
grassy |
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Maps & Directions
To reach Young's Bay from Portland, head briefly north on I-5 and then take I-405 West until you see the signs for HWY 30 towards Astoria / Oregon Beaches. Once on I-405, take exit #3 which will steer you onto HWY 30 heading west. Also known as Yeon Rd., HWY 30 will parallel the Willamette River northwestward as you drive out towards the coast. Staying on HWY 30, you will pass Sauvie's Island, St. Helen's and Clatskanie before turning true west. Total driving distance from Portland to Young's Bay is about 90 miles. As you approach Astoria on HWY 30, avoid turning north on HWY 101 and stay on HWY 30 instead. Drive west from Astoria to Warrenton across the "New Young's Bay Bridge". After you cross the bay, turn right at the driveway into the shopping center. Park near the grassy rigging area next to the kayak shop. Most people like to rig right there on the grass, but some prefer to carry their gear to the water first.
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Sensor Notes
Sensor at Young's Bay is located on the roof of the Pacific Wave Surf shop approximately 400 feet from the water. Readings here are generally a little lighter than conditions on the water as the wind line usually sits slightly offshore. This spot is best sailed on NW winds with typical summer days blowing in the15-25 mph range, pay attention to the tide charts as you need at least 3 feet of tide to have a sailable depth. You will also find this site useful for watching sudden increases in the westerly onshore flow before it pushes into the western and central Gorge.
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