Calvert Cliffs Sunday ?

[garys]

Did you guys soar the cliffs today? Cast looks stronger and more easterly for Sun at the Bay. Any interest.

Gary
540-686-0351

[mcgowantk]

I am interested. I heard that today it was not quite strong enough.

Tom McGowan

[garys]

Still looking good for tomorrow. Heading out of Berryville at 7:00 am. ETA at launch 9:30 am.

Gary

[stevek]

Yes, you heard right. Not quite strong enough. Did a couple of PG hops. iwindsurf promises tomorrow will be perfect. Gonna blow all day. I will be there again.

[markc]

yeah, we went, we set-up, we looked at each other.... but it just didn't feel right (Saturday). I was set-up a bit before 10:00am and the winds were *almost* enough to tempt me off..... But it was missing an ooomph-factor that I've felt on previous days, plus it was a bit north. From there, conditions slowly lightened, and there was no HG flying to be had. Almost/maybe/coulda/shoulda. If I was flying a Falcon or similar I probably would have given it a go.

Regarding Sunday : I'm debating between Bill's (near-straight-in at 9 to 10 at the peak is currently forecast) vs a return trip to the cliffs. One concern about the cliffs is that this weather site:

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/ofs/cb ... cast.shtml

is claiming conditions will be fairly cross until noon. From my limited experience with the site, earlier is better. So I'm worried it will be too cross when conditions are best, and then the winds will back off. Is anyone seeing any forecast maps that are calling for a better direction than the above?

MarkC

[Pete Schumann]

If the cast holds I'm up for Clavert again... Lets get going earlier though.

Pete

[Matthew]

We went sailing on the bay today with the forecast of 10-15 gusts to 20. We expected to be healed over-- it was not to be. We had a light breeze for a while-- then it went dead calm--- then a couple of puffs-- and then calm again.


Heard it was OK at Highland.

Heading to Bill's on Sunday!!!

Matthew

[mcgowantk]

I am off to Calvert Cliffs. See you there.

Tom McGowan

[markc]

Giving the cliffs a second try, on the road at 7:30.

[markc]

It was awesome! Flew for two hours, playing with osprey and
eagles. Just a couple hundred over, because the winds were
fairly cross from the north. Was simply too fun whistling at
the birds and chasing them around the sky, bay-gazing, and
watching the waves on the beach. There was some aluminum
carnage on the day, but no injuries. Gary, Tom, Pete, Steve,
and myself. Based on the wind that's been picking up in the
last hour, maybe things were good at Bill's too?

FYI : Stony's at Broomes Island is an awesome hangout!!!

[Pete Schumann]

I had a bad launch but good luck as I went into the trees of south of the launch. It was cranking with a slight North cross ( should have waited for a keel man) anyway my left wing cranked up hard right after I launched and and my nose was high too. I tried to get it down but there no room for a mistake and I went in with my trusty 16 year old WW Sport American. It took the brunt of a 25-30+ - mph impact into some small trees in a hard to get to section of the cliffs.

Thanks to Mark, Steve, gary & Tom who helped me get the glider. It wasn't too hard as I climbed up and cut all the flying wires. I was going to stop flying that glider this year so it was sad to take it over to the West Ox Road trash dump today as it served me very well.

Also god was watching out for me because I just got a few scratches on my legs and a bruse on my right arm.

Pete

[mcgowantk]

It was an awesome day. I have never flown so close to so many birds. Lots of eagles (both mature and immature), ospreys and even a close encounter with a black vulture. I would have great video of oslo that but forgot to turn my go pro on. Oh well. 2 hours max 500 over.

I'm glad your ok pete.

Thanks to Gary, mark, and pete for the launch help.

Tom McGowan

[markc]

Forgot to thank Gary and his family for the opportunity to
fly a fantastic site!

Hang in there Pete, and don't beat yourself up about the
launch too much. Sorry about the loss of a trusty glider.

[XCanytime]

Based on the wind that's been picking up in the
last hour, maybe things were good at Bill's too?

Bills was awesome too. I'll let the pilots tell their stories. Max of 3900' over? and soarable till sunset. Larry estimated base at at least 3K' higher! Sorry to hear about the blown launch Pete. Glad to hear you're OK. Bacil

[theflyingdude]

Hey Pete,

Was the WW Sport American 167 the one you bought from Mark Fink, i.e. the one he bought from me (red and orange)? If so, it's older than 16 years.

JR

[Pete Schumann]

No, JR it was not. It too was a great glider. I can't even remember the guy I bought this one from in 97 or so. He quit HG'ing and I bought it since I really liked your old Sport . However, I did keep the nose cone from it and still have it.

Thanks Bacil...

Pete

[garys]

I am very thankfull that you were not hurt and only gave blood to the locust trees, green briars and ticks Pete. Good excuse to buy a new glider. Great to have you guys there to enjoy the flying. It was very enjoyable to look up (after I landed) at Mark and Steve chasing birds all over the sky with Mark screaming at the eagles and visa versa. Mark you were so good at the eagle screams I could not tell if it was you or the eagles. I am surprised that you were not attacked after probably screaming something inappropriate at them like "yo mamma's a sparrow/starling/pidgeon/rat with wings" ......fill in the blank here, not knowing what you were saying. Gary

[markc]

Kinda embarrassing in retrospect, but I think a loose translation would be:

You pathetic wing-flapper, your mother was the illegitimate offspring of a flying marmoset and a pterodactyl, have at you!

But that was only when they were out-climbing me.... Otherwise we were best-buds!