This year the Mooreons selected the Columbia River Gorge as one of their three "out of town" counter venues.

Over the weekend of August 7-8, the Columbia Gorge Racing Association conducted eight windward-leeward races out of the Cascade Locks sailing venue. The Moores joined the Fireballs and Lasers on two race courses. Although most of us had ventured to Huntington Lake for our Pacific Coast Championship in late June, 13 Moores traveled to the Gorge (two from San Francisco, four from Santa Cruz, three from Hood River, and four from greater Seattle).

Conditions were typical for Cascade Locks - 18 to 30 knots from the West with a consistent (perennial) Easterly current. The locks provide very civilized conditions compared with 20 mile away Hood River where daytime breezes rarely fall below 20 with frequent gusts above 40! Why else would it have the reputation as "the windsurfing and kiteboarding capital of the US"?

After two days of intense racing, Bruzer (Morgan Larson) emerged victorious followed by Adios (Scott Walecka / David Hodges), Banditos (John Kernot), Wet Spot (Mike O'Callahan), and Moorigami. The remaining eight boats were close behind.

The following Saturday (8/14), the Hood River Yacht Club organized the third annual "infamous" Double Damned Race - a 42 mile downwind excursion from Cascade Locks, through Hood River, and finishing at The Dalles. Most of us stayed in the Northwest to partake in this extremely windy survival test.

But Mother Nature had other ideas for 2010. Portland heated up to nearly 100 degrees creating a reverse thermal situation. Instead of the notorious Westerly, the wind switch to a brisk Easterly. So, the race organizers changed the course to a long-distance windward-leeward which had us beating 18 nautical miles to a turning mark off Mitchell's Point, followed by a spinnaker run to the finish back at Cascade Locks.

Instead of the "nuclear" survival test of the typical Double Damned, we were treated to a very civilized 15-20 knot race in warm, flat water. In the end, Morgan and Bruzer once again dominated the racing, winning easily over Ben Braden's "Moore Uff Da" who easily beat Moorigami, Adios, and Electric Mayhem who finished nearly overlapped in 3rd, 4th, and 5th. The remaining six Moores finished within the next hour to round out the race.

For those of you who haven't visited The Gorge, it's an absolutely gorgeous place. For those who haven't raced there, it's hard to beat!

John Siegel, Moorigami