Woodstock Sunday June 12th

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XCanytime
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Woodstock Sunday June 12th

Post by XCanytime »

Early flight and late day flight have great potential. Bacil
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markc
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Re: Woodstock Sunday June 12th

Post by markc »

Hmmmm.... Hadn't thought about a crack-o-dawn flight, that could potentially work out. Get high, land somewhere out front (if not looking for an XC). And there's a crazy 34 degree temp/dp spread at 6pm??? Think I will start watching things a bit more closely.
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markc
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Re: Woodstock Sunday June 12th

Post by markc »

That is: Hit the road at 6am, at launch by 8am, set-up by 9am.... And if things are still OK, launch before the strong stuff comes in, and then land somewhere with lots of room, before noon. If it's too strong, bail to a vineyard or brewery, not a bad backup plan!
XCanytime
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Re: Woodstock Sunday June 12th

Post by XCanytime »

My plan exactly Mark. I plan to get there by 9:30A. Launch by 10:30A with you and Charley. Bacil
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markc
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Re: Woodstock Sunday June 12th

Post by markc »

Glider on truck, head on pillow ;-)
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markc
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Re: Woodstock Sunday June 12th

Post by markc »

Interesting day..... Largely as anticipated, but didn't stick to my ETA and arrived at launch late, 8:50. Sigh.

Conditions were 10-ish, occasionally gusting 15, cross west. Set a threshold : If gusting to 20 after setting up, would not fly.

Charley F arrived while I was rigging, and Bacil was not far behind. I was set to go at 10am, and Bacil offered to chase. I think he realized that the ramp up was imminent... Very kind offer, thanks Bacil, really opened up the options for me given the forecast.

Launched in a 10-ish cycle , pulled in and got set to zoom away from launch.... And *blam*, nasty hit from the west. I was well out into the slot, and it apparently didn't look as bad as it felt, but still. Shouldn't have been taken by surprise like that.

Conditions in the air were sporty: tight cores, had to chase them *way* downwind, wire slaps, etc. Topped out at 2k over launch a couple times, but to be honest I was mostly planning/analyzing, watching clouds and drift, looking at LZ scenarios, and watching the clock. I had looked at the front and the trough just prior to launch, so I knew that time was tight. With a wall of clouds approaching and some point-and-shoot at half-VG on a T2C, I knew it was time to deck it.

I had flown a few river loops to the north and punched out toward Mauertown : Conditions that way seemed a bit better, with clouds and wispies separating from the incoming wall. My thought was that there would be some lift lines that could be worked so that I could get further into the valley. That plan worked out ok : I had one really good backup field, but in (just planted) crop, a second field but it was narrow and near the river, and my primary field about halfway to Route 11, the furthest out.

Pulled 3/4 vg and headed out, slowing up in occasional lift or zero sink, until it was clear I could make the furthest field. Then I realized that it wasn't corn 'stubble' after all, it was tall enough that it was swirling with the wind. Oh crap, WTF? Luckily there was a cow pasture field on the left, which I'd also been eyeing, and I did not have to use the other options. No DBF : It was a matter of positioning near the downwind edge and then pulling in for a 'helicopter' final all the way to the ground. Smooth and strong, worked out well, but would not have wanted to be doing the same an hour later. The field on the right was winter wheat, probably not an issue to land in after all, but would have damaged the crop hauling the glider out.

Wrestled the glider off the field and through a gate, and started breaking down. Bacil was there within minutes of that, and we headed back up top. Honking. Charley had bagged it. After watching the lack of progress of the front, Bacil decided to do the same. So we ended up at Backyard Brewing and enjoyed a few brews.

Thank you Charlie and Bacil, for the launch help and the retrieve!

MarkC
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markc
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Re: Woodstock Sunday June 12th

Post by markc »

Forgot to mention: Flight was one hour, but if I had been there sooner the fun factor probably would have been higher...
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