Let's Go (Armchair) Boating!

[Sea Wolf]

Bored setting around the house because it's too wet, too cold, or just plain out of season to go boating in your C-Dory?

Try this on for size from your armchair helm seat:

This video is of commercial fishing boats returning from fishing off the coast of Washington and Oregon . They are crossing the Columbia Bar, which is where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean .
This is designated as one of the most dangerous ports of entry anywhere in the world. There are at least eight to 10 deaths per year with people trying to get in or out in boats that are not made for this kind of severe beating – the kind you see these boats going through.
These boats are self-righting, have a super low center of gravity, sealed engine compartments, basically bullet proof glass windows, double steel hulls. Well, you get the idea.
They are commercial shrimp and fishing boats. The Coast Guard has closed it due to waves of 35 to 45 feet. It is quite a sight to see. Watch the U-tube video and tell me if you would like to have been a crew member on either of these two vessels.

The Columbia River bar – let’s go fishing. !

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ByGSMmenPDM?rel=0

Enjoy!

Joe. :teeth :thup

 

[Chuckpacific]

Joe,

I believe that video was taken in NZ.

Here's one for docking practice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOlI0gp8zGU

 

[nordicstallion]

Lions, tigers, bears,piece of cake! Columbia river bar, OH MY!!!! Those are some very large testicles!

 

[El and Bill]

For some armchair 'cruising' on a wet or windy winter day, you might enjoy a tale we put together at the end of our long cruise (over a thousand miles) down the Columbia River on a CD-22, from the mountains to the bar (ocean).

There's geology, history, photos -- so grab a mug and nestle into your armchair.

El and Bill

http://cruisingamerica-halcyondays.com/colrivmid.htm

 

[thataway]

The first Video was:
Uploaded on Jan 19, 2011
2 fishing vessels brave the Grey River bar in full flood. Greymouth New Zealand HD Video by Geoff Mackley and Bradley Ambrose.

 

[bridma]

Reminds me of when I was on the wheel of a small minesweeper caught up in a hurricane, or something similar, in the Indian Ocean. The captain's order to me was, "forget our course, watch the water and keep us afloat". We would roll over to port so far I could see the water rushing past the port door window. Then we would roll over to stbd and I could see the water rushing past that window. I was only supposed to be on the wheel for 30 mins because it was so strenuous, but ended up doing nearly 2 hours. The three other kids with me had collapsed with sea sickness, and the floor and the wheel were covered in barf. It stank to high heaven and I had other peoples barf running down my hands and arms.
When it was all over (3 days) the captain made sure I got an extra can of beer. The rum ration had been cancelled by then, 31st August 1970. The English "day of infamy".

Martin.