NOTE: These comments are unverified and presented as information only.

From the FORUM by Westcoaster on August 25, 2008
Beginning at Beacon Rock it is POSSIBLE that the wind will be from the east and reaching and running will happen but unlikely. My experience in forty years of sailing the river, ten years of that wind and tide only, no motor, suggests the wind will be fairly nil in the morning, on the nose for the most part every afternoon but not all afternoons. The tide affects the river up to Bonneville and raises the river about two feet in Portland. In August current will be much less noticeable to unnoticeable at those high tide times. Edges of the river will be most influenced for counter current (upstream current) with the channel mid river being more likely to show downstream current. Once past Portland and heading northwest on the river the wind will be on the nose typically with the prevailing summer NW wind blowing. It is safe to assume that this trip is the opposite of the Texas 200 reaching and running. This will be downstream both with and against the tide and current, beating all the way. As the river turns there will be areas of reaching but very few. Passing such areas as Cape Horn by Cathlamet the winds and waves will be typically 25-35 mph and cho-o-oppy, short, and many. Also, I have seen swells off of St. Helens just below Portland for example, of three to four feet at those rare afternoon times and other areas of the river will produce those and more as we traverse downstream. Off of Tongue Point it's not uncommon of an afternoon to see five foot swells, short and nasty. However, it's a short hop from a great anchorage behind Tongue Point to Astoria in a morning. Past Astoria it's a wide open river four to five miles wide, mostly shallow however except in the channel(s), and by the time you're getting to Ilwaco long ocean swells typically are coming up the river far enough to feel them before you turn into the Ilwaco channel. If one proceeded to Waikiki Beach, it is around the corner of Cape Disappointment to the very head of the north jetty and may be too rough on a given day to reach. And then there's the cargo ships occasionally running up or down the river at 12 knts.

However, for experienced sailors and capable kayakers and canoers, the river is generally safe to run and fun to see, a great place for smaller boats down to Bradley Point, with some cautions in a few areas, and below that best run in the mornings even down the Prairie Channel where I've seen 20 mph winds due upriver, though smaller wave action, on many days. The scenery will be tame and rugged to match the river. It's a great ride!! I have sailed from Portland near the airport to St. Helens in my El Toro and been up and down the river under sail only many times....although once it took 6 1/2 days from Astoria to Portland which is around 96 miles. Not a lot of wind that year

From an email by Joe N on Aug 20, 2008:
One comment has to do with the estuary portion of the race...the last day. Have you spent much time in that area? Afternoon winds are the rule and big upriver wind waves are common. Lots of river traffic and the buoy 10 fishery that time of year puts lots of fishermen on the river. The pleasure boats get the water churned up real good so the slop is coming from everywhere. I am a bit concerned about the smaller boats making this leg of the journey. Current along the edges of the jetties on the washington side can exceed 8 knots on an outgoing tide. Combine this with opposing wind direction and you get some BIG waves. It would be my suggestion to shorten the last leg if possible and finish around noon. Wind builds in the afternoon. Depends on the tides.