Hi Tom, I have to admit to not having sailed on the Columbia at Tri-cities, however, I have been on the water down stream at Wallullu Junction, ( Port Kelley where the Walla Walla Yacht Club is,) and up above the confluence of the Snake and Columbia at a place called Charbenau which is just up river from Ice Harbor Dam, ( which, I believe is where the Tri-cities club sails.) The dam below Tri-cities on the Columbia is McNary Dam and is at Hermiston, Oregon. From there up to Port Kelly is about 20 miles of generally westerly running river with high hills on both banks. The river width varies but is close to a mile wide for the full run. The wind is generally out of the west, variable from 0 to 20ish. The current varies from 1-2 up to about 5k and is running to the west, which can make for some pretty wavy sailing due to the long fetch. The launch facilities at Hat Rock are in a state park and are OK for Montgomery sizes, however it would be cramped for anything much over 20 feet. The park closes at dusk, so parking there for over night is not available since it is a day use only park, however there is a nice RV park about a mile up the road that is willing to work with you for over night parking if you wanted to park there for an overnight sail upriver. I don't believe that over night moorage is possible at the park, which is sad because it is a nice park. At Port Kelly, the river turns NNW, towards Tri-cities, and the confluence with the Snake. The westward bank of high hills continue. On the east side, the Walla Walla river runs into the big river washing considerable silt into it and forcing the navigable channel to the western half of the river. The westerly winds coming over the Horse Heaven Hills and mixing with the wind being funneled up the river before the bend, mix to make sailing the bend a bit of a challenge due to the puffy, fickle nature of the breeze and the currents generated as the river narrows and turns. I have not been on the Columbia between Wallulu Junction and up to Tri-cities but I know there are multiple small islands, and shallows on the eastern side of the river for the whole distance, some 18-20 miles. There are marshy areas and a Wildlife ( Bird ) Refuge there below the confluence with the Snake. I have rarely seen boating activity in the area except the rare fishing boat. To the west, the hills lay down and the winds should be more consistent than down in the bed though. The Tri-cities Sailing Club, as far as I know, do most of there activities at Charbenou, a very nice park, just above the Ice Harbor Dam, about 8 miles up the Snake River from the Columbia. I have only sailed there once, but again it is a mostly east-west oriented course. The river width varies 1/4 mile to maybe a mile wide. The banks are much lower, so the winds are much less affected, the scenery is more bland here, but you have about 30 mile to go up river before you come to the next dam. The launch site is superb, back into the water, turn 180 degrees, and sail out on a beam reach. There is a small marina there, and overnight camping facilities and mooring available. I don't know much about the river in Tri-cities itself, except that they do the Thunder boat races there every summer, so I hope what I have given you is of some help. the Tri-cities sailing club does have a web site however I do not have the address here. At one time I did run the river maps from McNary to above Charbenau on Mapquest I believe. Also, West marine has a chart book of the Columbia/Snake system for around $40, which will need to become part of my library aboard, but hasn't made it there yet. Come on up, over or around and lets do some sailing. Harvey & Deena H M-15 #348 PELICAN Walla Walla, WA