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OT: Hawaii vs. Oregon - Big Wave Access

 
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flipper

Since 17 Oct 2011
320 Posts

Obsessed



PostMon Mar 14, 22 3:50 pm    OT: Hawaii vs. Oregon - Big Wave Access Reply with quote

The guys in Hawaii go out to Jaws and the outer reefs through the marinas in Hawaii. Even though it is huge and sketchy, they have access.

In Oregon, as soon as it gets around 8 feet all the Jetty's/Bars start to close. First to recreational craft (waverunners), then commercial as it gets bigger.

I don't really understand why this is. Does anyone have some historical insight? They say once it gets to around 20 feet, they aren't allowed to take even their most advanced boats past the tips of the jettys. If a rescue was in order, it's heli time.

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Windian

Since 28 Apr 2008
880 Posts
Newport, OR
NEWPORT OG



PostMon Mar 14, 22 6:53 pm     Reply with quote

All of the Oregon coast harbors from Bandon to Columbia River have entrances that are directly open to the west allowing the full brunt of the North Pacific swell and seas to impact them. All of the entrance channels have relatively shallow sand bottoms so larger waves shoal and break right where boats would be traveling in and out. Plus, on very strong ebbing tides there will be exceptionally steep swells stacking up and sometimes breaking even on medium sized swells. On the biggest days on the Oregon coast with 20 ft plus swells the entrance channels will be completely closing out with huge lines of whitewater moving into the boat channels making it deadly for small and slow moving vessels. Living here in Newport I have seen giant waves breaking a mile or more beyond the tips of the jetties of Yaquina Bay. Even the Coast Guard motor life boats don't seem to venture out of the harbor on the giant days.

The harbors in Hawaii namely Kahului for accessing Jaws and Haleiwa for access to Oahu north shore outer reefs are more protected from the swell and have deeper water channels. They take huge cruise ships into the harbor at Kahului which would never happen in Newport. And the tides in Hawaii are mellow compared to the extreme tides we see here in Oregon. Half Moon Bay harbor which is used to access Mavericks has an entrance which is very protected and faces to the southeast rather than due west like Oregon coast harbors.

Granted a very skilled waverunner pilot can navigate just about anything the ocean can throw at it, but the Coast Guard just sees them as small crafts like sport fishing boats.

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flipper

Since 17 Oct 2011
320 Posts

Obsessed



PostTue Mar 15, 22 11:40 am     Reply with quote

Thanks Windian, this was exactly the background I was looking for.

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Slappysan

Since 13 Jun 2012
308 Posts

Obsessed



PostTue Mar 15, 22 1:41 pm     Reply with quote

Windian wrote:
from Bandon to Columbia River have entrances that are directly open to the west


It looks like the Columbia channel is just as deep if not deeper than Hahului Harbor's entrance.

Seems like you could put in at Hammond boat ramp and make it out and back okay. Not sure if the South Jetty is any good for tow ins though, I doubt you'd want to go much farther in big seas.

I imagine the biggest issue is lack of rescue services.

In Hawaii and Maverics they are out there in beautiful sunny conditions. 20+ foot swell on the Oregon coast usually means nasty ass weather.

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Nak

Since 19 May 2005
4199 Posts
Camas
XTreme Poster

CGKA Member


PostTue Mar 15, 22 3:33 pm     Reply with quote

Slappysan wrote:
Windian wrote:
from Bandon to Columbia River have entrances that are directly open to the west


It looks like the Columbia channel is just as deep if not deeper than Hahului Harbor's entrance.

Seems like you could put in at Hammond boat ramp and make it out and back okay. Not sure if the South Jetty is any good for tow ins though, I doubt you'd want to go much farther in big seas.


The Columbia River Bar is known as "The Graveyard Of The Pacific." I've seen it go from glassy smooth to 30' breakers of death--and I mean death literally--in minutes. Obviously lot's of people traverse the bar safely, but you need to do a lot of research and know what you're doing before you navigate the CRB even on a bluebird day.

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flipper

Since 17 Oct 2011
320 Posts

Obsessed



PostTue Mar 15, 22 4:16 pm     Reply with quote

One of the biggest ebb tides in the world.

I heard Billabond Odyssey stopped at Cape Disappointment. If anyone has that video, I'll give you a six pack of the good stuff if you let me borrow it for a week. Can't seem to find it anywhere online.

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tinyE

Since 21 Jan 2006
2004 Posts
not really an
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PostWed Mar 16, 22 7:59 am     Reply with quote

flipper wrote:
One of the biggest ebb tides in the world.

I heard Billabond Odyssey stopped at Cape Disappointment. If anyone has that video, I'll give you a six pack of the good stuff if you let me borrow it for a week. Can't seem to find it anywhere online.


out of curiousity, and a never ending thirst for beer, i dug a little

i found a link that mentions it, and also talks about the wonderful people of seaside protecting their little surf spot. No videos though, which is odd for something that old. I wonder if the big waves didn't happen while they were here.

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/water-activities/surf-destroy/

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Windian

Since 28 Apr 2008
880 Posts
Newport, OR
NEWPORT OG



PostWed Mar 16, 22 10:22 am     Reply with quote

Here are some photos from this morning with not even that large of swell by Oregon coast winter time standards, it is just 10'@14 seconds. These are live cam screenshots of the harbors entrances at Florence and Bandon which are both closed to all Rec/UPV boats at this time. Notice large waves breaking beyond the tips of the jetties making for very dangerous conditions for crossing the bars.

   Screenshot 2022-03-16 110945.png 
   Screenshot 2022-03-16 111052.png 

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BlowOut

Since 22 Jul 2005
17 Posts

 



PostWed Mar 16, 22 10:48 am     Reply with quote

tinyE wrote:
and also talks about the wonderful people of seaside protecting their little surf spot.


Here is an article with a video link of a different incident at the same break.

A bit too extreme on both sides in my opinion. And after watching the entire video I noticed that I was annoyed by the cameraman's winey, high pitched, voice and thought to myself, that I might had done the same to the dude--not really.

The camera guy just should have left.

https://stabmag.com/news/come-to-oregon-get-choked-out/

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juandesooka

Since 21 Jan 2014
96 Posts

 



PostWed Mar 16, 22 11:55 am     Reply with quote

That's a classic. Deer head's a new one, added to the local lore. We used to surf a lot down there back in the day. I'm low key and never had any static other than stink eye, but more "assertive" buddies had some run-ins.

Hawaii big wave...yes, seems a lot more accessible, both motor assisted and paddling. There's some intensity that comes with that, as it's so easy to get out there, just a quick paddle with the outgoing current in an unbroken channel ... and then are out amongst it. You spend a while wondering how you're going to get back in if you remain too scared to paddle for a wave. Thinking how embarrassing it'll be to paddle in. Then, worse, wondering if you even can paddle back in. And then your Hawaiian buddy paddles out on a beat up 10 foot longboard without a leash and laughs at you catching all the waves. Ah, Hawaii.

Embarassed

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Gman

Since 11 Feb 2006
4907 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped



PostWed Mar 16, 22 3:27 pm     Reply with quote

Windian wrote:

Granted a very skilled waverunner pilot can navigate just about anything the ocean can throw at it, but the Coast Guard just sees them as small crafts like sport fishing boats.


that

Coast Guard is busy with commercial folks fishing, crabbing - tries to keep rec bozos in small boats from certain death - bummer if you know what you are doing but you can always beach launch or find an unregulated inlet - inlet bar crossing can get sketchier than beach launches and the columbia bar is another level

Matt Brandt got this shot last time i was out a few years back


   492DD6DA-A246-4546-8C67-2EA2868E1686.jpeg 

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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eu2pBpQolKE

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Ho-Toe

Since 30 Apr 2014
231 Posts
pissed-off science guy like Bill Nye
CO2 quantifier & upwelling specialist



PostWed Mar 16, 22 5:46 pm    Bar none Reply with quote

A coupla anecdotes:

Decades ago, a research vessel from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute was coming into Newport when they found that the bar was closed. The master said, "pffft, we're from WHOI, we're crossing the bar anyway!" They got pushed by one of the big closeout sets Windian mentions, "surfed" it briefly, got sideways, and hit the South Jetty. It was kind of a big deal. For years after that, no oceanographic vessels besides OSU's would bother with coming into Yaquina Bay. The Corps does a better job of dredging these days, and now oceanographic vessels come & go frequently.

Also, if you get tempted to zip out when the bar is closed, you can rest assured that the USCG will be waiting for you when you return. It happened to one of our local hellman chargers. He plead ignorance (pretty convincingly Laughing ) but he still got in trouble. This is why tow peeps beach launch...

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flipper

Since 17 Oct 2011
320 Posts

Obsessed



PostThu Mar 17, 22 3:10 pm     Reply with quote

Thanks for this story. I loved it! You deserve one for the dig. Wink



tinyE wrote:
flipper wrote:
One of the biggest ebb tides in the world.

I heard Billabond Odyssey stopped at Cape Disappointment. If anyone has that video, I'll give you a six pack of the good stuff if you let me borrow it for a week. Can't seem to find it anywhere online.


out of curiousity, and a never ending thirst for beer, i dug a little

i found a link that mentions it, and also talks about the wonderful people of seaside protecting their little surf spot. No videos though, which is odd for something that old. I wonder if the big waves didn't happen while they were here.

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/water-activities/surf-destroy/

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ezryder111

Since 24 Dec 2012
131 Posts
SE Portland
Stoked



PostFri Apr 01, 22 8:48 am     Reply with quote

flipper wrote:
One of the biggest ebb tides in the world.

I heard Billabond Odyssey stopped at Cape Disappointment. If anyone has that video, I'll give you a six pack of the good stuff if you let me borrow it for a week. Can't seem to find it anywhere online.


I think I still have this DVD kicking around my place. I'll try to find it and will PM you.

From what I recall, the Cape Disappointment segment was their "training" session so no surfing there. But it is pretty interesting stuff and a nice throwback to when tow-in was fairly new.

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ezryder111

Since 24 Dec 2012
131 Posts
SE Portland
Stoked



PostFri Apr 01, 22 9:01 am     Reply with quote

Did anyone see the Ben Gravy videos from 2021 where he was towing in with a crew around Lincoln City? I think they were accessing the ocean from Siletz Bay.

Maybe not quite 20 feet but definitely big surf.

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