Woodstock Fri11Nov ?
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Woodstock Fri11Nov ?
It's a federal holiday on Friday, so I have an eye on Woodstock. Anyone else able to get away that day?
Re: Woodstock Fri11Nov ?
15G25 sfc is definitely on the high side, would prefer G20. But still, sometimes that forecast works. Also, the ADDS 3k backs down from crazy strong at 18Z . So maybe worth the 'WS effect' gamble, interested in what others think...
Re: Woodstock Fri11Nov ?
Looking at XC Skies, top of usable lift looks to be between 2-4k at 1300 hrs dropping to 1-2k at 1600 hrs. Thermal updraft velocity at 1300 hrs is 300-500 fpm then dropping to like 100 fpm around 1600 hrs. Wind speed at top of usable lift at 1300 hrs is 30-35 mph dropping to anywhere from 10-20 mph at 1600 hrs. Direction looks good. It looks like there could be a brief, H2-friendly window in the afternoon, but the top of usable lift and the drop in updraft velocity make me nervous. But what do I know? I'm just learning here...
New H2, AT, FL
Re: Woodstock Fri11Nov ?
All the numbers are helpful, but I suspect that we're still in an era of "don't know unless you go" for sites like WS. It comes down to whether you think that a marginally too-strong forecast is worth gambling on. I'm about 50% on 15G25 days : Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Not thrilled about what I see for Sat/Sun, so gambling on tomorrow has some appeal, at the moment at least....
Re: Woodstock Fri11Nov ?
Whoops, the fcast for the Pulpit has improved for Saturday, hmmmm.... Decisions, decisions!
Re: Woodstock Fri11Nov ?
I am planning on the pulpit for Saturday. Tom McGowan
Re: Woodstock Fri11Nov ?
The 3k forecasts have backed off a bit compared to Wednesday. If things are still looking 50%/maybe/sorta/kinda tomorrow, I'll probably head out in the hopes of a good day.
Backup plan : The new Woodstock BrewHouse
Backup plan : The new Woodstock BrewHouse
Re: Woodstock Fri11Nov ?
The hourly sfc 'cast has G22 until sunset... But it now doesn't extend for hours *past* sunset, like it did yesterday.
ADDS 3k calling for solid 20-30 all afternoon. Wave clearly visible on the satellite. But OTOH, the winds aloft are forecast to drop from 30-40 by 15Z.
Last few hours of obs at KMRB/KOKV/KFRR aren't screaming "blown out!".
So: Gonna take the gamble. Maybe we fly, maybe we don't. Gary is planning to go, and might be able to convince Steve to give it a try too. My ETA is about noon.
ADDS 3k calling for solid 20-30 all afternoon. Wave clearly visible on the satellite. But OTOH, the winds aloft are forecast to drop from 30-40 by 15Z.
Last few hours of obs at KMRB/KOKV/KFRR aren't screaming "blown out!".
So: Gonna take the gamble. Maybe we fly, maybe we don't. Gary is planning to go, and might be able to convince Steve to give it a try too. My ETA is about noon.
Re: Woodstock Fri11Nov ?
Well, the 50-50 gamble paid off about 50%
Gary and myself, plus Chris T, who has been away from the area for several years. Hoping to fly before his next deployment in March, but he was just out today to help. Thanks Chris!
We knew it would be strong, so didnt even commit to a complete setup until about 3:00, when some true lulls started to appear. They lasted til we were done, then there was a bit of a ramp up, of course. But even so, definite launchable cycles still rolling through... So Gary gave it a try, launching into about 12, and was immediately up. Not one of those crazy elevators though, so that seemed encouraging.
But I wanted to see a trend toward lightening, and decided to wait a while. Plenty of cycles, but the gusts remained at 20+ . And then it seemed that they gusts were picking up, so I watched Gary for a while and saw that he was in point-and-shoot mode quite a bit... Ultimately decided that I just didn't want one of those strong and gusty flights, funfactor not high enough. Told Chris I was pulling the plug and he headed out; I started breaking down at 4:15.
And whoa! It went crazy on launch, gusting 30+ and trying to knock my glider over several times. Tossed the jacket and gloves because I was plenty warm, just trying to manage a good pack-up.
Was glad to see Gary safely down, and he drove my vehicle back up top for the glider shuffle. Then on to the new brewhouse, where we had a 10.2 IPA with 130 IBU. We liked!
Pretty day, glad to have gone.
Gary and myself, plus Chris T, who has been away from the area for several years. Hoping to fly before his next deployment in March, but he was just out today to help. Thanks Chris!
We knew it would be strong, so didnt even commit to a complete setup until about 3:00, when some true lulls started to appear. They lasted til we were done, then there was a bit of a ramp up, of course. But even so, definite launchable cycles still rolling through... So Gary gave it a try, launching into about 12, and was immediately up. Not one of those crazy elevators though, so that seemed encouraging.
But I wanted to see a trend toward lightening, and decided to wait a while. Plenty of cycles, but the gusts remained at 20+ . And then it seemed that they gusts were picking up, so I watched Gary for a while and saw that he was in point-and-shoot mode quite a bit... Ultimately decided that I just didn't want one of those strong and gusty flights, funfactor not high enough. Told Chris I was pulling the plug and he headed out; I started breaking down at 4:15.
And whoa! It went crazy on launch, gusting 30+ and trying to knock my glider over several times. Tossed the jacket and gloves because I was plenty warm, just trying to manage a good pack-up.
Was glad to see Gary safely down, and he drove my vehicle back up top for the glider shuffle. Then on to the new brewhouse, where we had a 10.2 IPA with 130 IBU. We liked!
Pretty day, glad to have gone.