WA - The GAP

WA - Wallula Gap and Columbia George. If you like to sail big wind and don't mind colder water come sail the Columbia River. Our favorite spots are Wallula Gap and Three Mile Canyon. The Gap (at Port Kelly) has the most favorable winds for sailing, usually 5 - 25 knots, with many 12-18 knot days and moderate swells (1-4 ft). There is also a small sandy beach/launch area, but no facilities. Three Mile Canyon has a protected inner bay, but tends to blow harder (10 - 30 knots, but at times up to 40 Knots+) and has bigger swells (4 to 10+ feet). Three mile has a boat launch, gravel beach, and Pit toilet. Each area allows for non-hook-up camping.

UPDATE: As of last week Port Kelly is closed to camping. The USACE, has closed Port Kelly to camping due to a complaint from a 'local' resident. I am currently engaged in getting camping re-established and hopefully improved with a pit toilet. Three-mile canyon still offers camping.

I have windsurfed these areas many times....I was in the gorge two weekends ago and it was blowing 20-30. My son ans I kept thinking what we would do with our 21SE. There is no way to depower the 21SE for 30mph winds!

It would be great to be able to sail the river! Good luck with getting camping allowed again at Port Kelly.

Well it is official. Port Kelly will remain closed to camping, the end of an era, bummer. The USACE's regional commander responded with, there are no funds and the area of interest is going to be turned over to Fish & Wildlife (and they have no charter for camping). On the up side there is still camping at 3-mile and day sailing at the Gap.

Port Kelly remains closed to camping, but is still a great day sail destination.

We now do our extended weekend sailing at 3-Mile Canyon. http://home.earthlink.net/~crzybdhd/wind/gorge/threemilecanyon.html

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COcc6E2TgCc&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Update: Port Kelly - while camping right on the river is still out (see sunset picture above). Limited RV camping is now allowed near by next to the road and I can still keep the boats on the beach. Not near as nice as being on the water, but it does allow for multiple days of sailing. Hope to get over 50 sailing days in next season. Sweet

Wind conditions for Wallula Gap http://www.sailflow.com/spot/442

Cool site I use for wind forecasts at the Gap. The place blows and in this case, that's a good thing.

Sailing out from Port Kelly Beach, Wallula Gap
https://www.facebook.com/jeff.creim/videos/vb.100010622173515/126293711068034/?type=2
Well not too much has changed in the last couple years. The Gap is still a great place to sail and kite. Camping is still limited, but now I'm retired and can get out more - week days. 1001 miles last year, averaging 7.58 mph and got above 20 mph a couple times.

Great place to sail with kiters. Drone video does good job showing launch site and I get about 6 seconds of my 15 minutes toward the end.

Thought I better update camping info. Camping is closed to the public. I've been fortunate to have made friends with the North West Grain Growers 'Port Kelly' who allow me and my wife to camp on their property. The beach is open for day use, but has no facilities.

I'm still sailing Port Kelly, but at 66 yrs old, not so much the winds above 20 mph any more. Winds In the mid teens are my favorite. But leisurely breezes are fun too.
https://vimeo.com/showcase/6691943

I have driven through that area for work multiple times and always looked like it would be nice out on the river, but a bit nervous to take the Island out there. How are currents during the summer/fall? Also, looking at google maps, hard to find the launch at Pt. Kelly, is it that small crescent beach just west of the grain depot?

My H17 Sport and a FX one sailing nice wind in the Gap
https://www.facebook.com/merriam.mohamod/videos/2049747958489365/

Port Kelly/Wallula Gap, remains my favorite local sailing venue. Good wind, open water and great views. Public camping remains closed.

Back at the Gap for a week, so far so good https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1476636019367123&id=100010622173515