Woodstock was light. Dead calm at times. Got there at 1:30. Hugh launched first for a PG extendo. We went and retrieved him and dropped off a car. Ellis launched in the interim. She got up and then got sucked down to the LZ. We returned to launch, sans Ellis, and it was blowing in nicely at about 5. Hugh observed David Churchill in his HG. He got above launch for a bit and then eeked out some additional time on the way down. Good launch, approach and landing.
Nelson Lewis (HG) followed and had no problems staying up.
Hugh launched next and got up in his PG. I followed in my bagwing. It was moslty thermals bumping in to the ridge. Hugh succummed to gravity and then Charlie Givens launched. Charlie got up for about 15-20 minutes and sunk out as I continued to work the small burbles. Just about the time Charlie landed, it really turned on. Got up to 1700 over. The thermals went straight up. However, Karen and Gary reported dead calm at launch.
It eventually started coming in at launch and Karen and Gary launched, both easily getting up in HGs. Hugh returned and also joined us in the sky. The air was great, no penetration problems and big wide thermals-- lift everywhere and spectacular scnery!!! Ellis relighted in her bag just as the winds picked up unexpectedly. It was like someone had thrown a switch. Hugh, Ellis and I all had to use full speedbar to keep from going backwards. At about 1300 agl, while on almost full speedbar, I hit some huge turbulence and had a full collapse. I released the speedbar and the canopy immediately re-inflated. I still had to use speedbar to make my way out front and landed in the primary after an hour and forty minute flight. It was active flying all the way to the ground. But calm in the LZ once on the ground. Ellis made it upwind of the LZ and landed in another field (almost on a shed). Karen came in next, followed by Hugh and then Gary-- all in the primary. Nelson also landed in a field further away from the ridge.
Fun day despite the excitement at the end-- but weird. Don't know if wave hit us at the end of the day or what. Maybe wave was suppressing winds at launch before shifting positions. Winchester showed NW 12-14 with gusts to 20+ all day when it was calm at launch.
Matthew
WS Saturday
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Well, the point is that with a PG you can risk a sled or extendo and still get in another shot if it turns on. With the altitude I had when the wind picked up, it would have been acceptable to turn tail and go over the back. Nor is speed bar the only standard technique for getting down if you are pinned. Big ears will get you down faster. B-line stall, too. Not saying there wasn't some concern or that maneuvers other than flying at trim are my favorites, but it wasn't like it wasn't worth it that we had to work a little to get down... - Hugh