Pacific Northwest-style wind indicator

We do things differently up here in the Pacific Northwest, where men are men, and sailors are...what??? This sailboat is obviously rigged for crossing the intimidating Columbia River Bar - the area called the 'Graveyard of the Pacific' - and for rugged offshore racing. They drive to Astoria, Oregon's West Basin marina (where this shot was taken) in a beat up pickup with a gun rack in the back window. No wusses these guys!