Named for the nearby fish Hatchery, the Hatchery is the most popular bump and jump spot on the Gorge - very much like Swell City further to the west, but with more parking and limited space on the water when the wind is up. It is easy to catch loops and other bump and jump aerobatics here. Collisions, both in air and on the water, have been known to happen frequently on big wind days. Advanced sailors should be able to handle it no problem on most days, just be aware of other sailors and kiters. This is the best place to witness, photograph, or film extreme windsurfing action.
The most popular spot for bump and jump with a super flat inside edge. This is ‘Kodak point’ with the river side rocks giving a perfect vantage point from which your adoring partner can click away to his/hers hearts content. The launch can be tricky off the slippery rocks but you can launch further downwind over slightly smaller, slippery rocks! The beach is next door to Swell City and you have to pay to park.
Maggio - Settembre - Westerly wind blowing against the flow of the river 20knots. 4m weather on a good day, 5.8m weather on a bad day. 17-22 degrees, wear a summer suit
Info relevant to all sailing spots Best wind direction: Westerly, blowing from left to right when stood looking out to the river from Hood River Town. Worst wind direction: A light easterly wind going the other way (with the flow). Tide: The River is a quick jim and runs between 4-8 knots depending on the width of the bank. What’s on the bottom?: The river goes deep fairly quickly off the shoreline and it’s sand, pebbles or slippy rocks at the water’s edge. Any hazards: Bloody great big barges that stop for no one. Stay out of their way. Also watch out for huge logs that occasionally drift down the river. Other water users: Kitesurfers and the odd shore-side fisherman. Suitability/levels: All levels from beginner to winner. Wipeout factor: If you break something, you will gently drift downstream, but it’s not too strong to prevent you from swimming in (and remember you will be taken back UPWIND). Plus there are always sailors out on the water who seem to enjoy rescuing hapless foreigners. For a real laugh, hang out at the Hood River Event site and watch the odd kitesurfer get his kite entangled in the huge drawbridge that links Oregon with Washington .
It is a very localized, thermal wind based on hot desert land and a cold Pacific sea. It comes up the river from the coast (starting around Stevenson) and stops as the river meets the desert. The river runs the other way back to the sea giving perfect cross-shore conditions on a gentle, upwind conveyor belt! Sometimes it blows the other way (east) especially in the winter, as the desert is so cold and the Pacific sea is still relatively warm. It can really blow hard in the winter because of this, but boy is it cold! Watch out for really hot days in the summer where it is too hot everywhere and there is not enough pressure difference to create the thermal wind. However, the windiest month still tends to be August with the average sail size around a 4.5m. On a bad day (according to the locals) you will still be planing on a 6m. It’s just that the locals don’t buy that big!