Wind NNW_NNE at 15-23, sky High clouds
Max Alt: 800 over
| New years day, getting a good start on the year. Met Dave Norwood and some other PGs, but only Dave & one other flew as conditions blew them out. A little chilly but a warm truck was ready on top for warm ups. The tower is gone now and made for easy top landing on the point. The K3 flew great and gave me a one foot stand up landing on the last flight. |
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Wind SE at 8-14, sky Cu/cirrus
Max Alt: 5800 ASL
Wind SSW at 3-5, sky Blue
Max Alt: 100 over
Wind WSW at 5-7, sky Blue
Max Alt: launch
| Sledder |
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Wind S at 15, sky Cu
Max Alt: 3600'
| Launched into nice long thermal cycle on S launch, turned left and pointed it between Blanchard and Colony and climbed above launch. Started working thermals but too strong and blown apart so headed toward LZ. Nice lift betwen Blanchard and Colony so got up there then went back and got up over launch. Up and down, etc, went to LZ 4 times and got up in same spot each time. The last time took me to cloudbase with help from TJ. Flew to Edison again to burn it off. Had to core some sink out over the mud flats west of the duck club field to get down. Crappy landing that I'm blaming on all the lift in the LZ that made it hard to get down and not overshoot. |
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Wind S at 3-5, sky Blue
Max Alt: Launch
| 1st flight an BJ. Horrible launch. Cleared the stump with a good 5 feet. Lift was in bubbles and short with sink in between. Wasn't familiar with site/LZ and with such a long way to the LZ I just headed out without trying real hard. Good landing. Big LZ. |
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Wind SSW at 5-25, sky Blue/Cu/Wave clouds
Max Alt: 3250
| Picture is of the top Jeff's sail (don't see that too often!). Took off west launch in nice air that had been building while setting up, climbed immediately to 600 over then climb slowed to about 50 fpm and stayed that way through the whole flight with slow, steady climbs to about 2200'. Nothing in the back (except for Joel's one and only thermal). Getting up out front, saw paragliders over at Chuckanut so crabbed that way, gained all the way there but started loosing when over Chuckanut so started back and started gaining again. About 1/3 way back I entered steady up, slightly better than before and no holes like before; just steady up. So stayed there and crept forward, out over the water and kept climbing. There started to be wisps of smoke all across the sound; seemed to be coming from around Oak Harbor. It eventually completely obscured Erie and surrounding islands. Very sureal. Started getting cold over 3K' so by the time I got to 3250 I decided to head for the LZ. I pulled in until the vario stayed at zero and pointed it to the LZ, about 2.5 miles away. When I got there I had only lost 90'! I pulled in the bar and flew past, nearly to Edison; slow going up wind but finally started descending with the bar pulled in, resting my elbows on it. Around 1700' it got bumpy and stayed that wall to the ground in the LZ. Thanks, Joel, for the ride back up! More pics HERE. |
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Wind SSW at 5-10, sky Ptly cloudy
Max Alt: 2000
| Unexpected soaring in light air. Set up on the west expecting it to turn, carried over to the south, then finally back to the west to launch in light air. Lift was out front. Landed short, out in the muck. Refreshingly less crouwded than the last few Blanchard flights. |
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Wind W at 10-15, sky overcast, then clearing by 5pm
Max Alt: 2000
Wind SW at 5-10, sky filtered sun
Max Alt: 500 over
| Too much traffic. Thermals at first, then convection mixed with bubbles with too many people getting in the way of being able to core them. Frustratingly fun! Good launch off west and landed straight west in the swamp as the field was tall elsewhere. |
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Wind W at 15, sky Clear
Max Alt: 45 ft
| A marginally soarable day at Marina and this first time pilot tried 5 times but couldn't quite get it. The first 3 got better and longer (resulting in longer carry-back distances) but then on the 4th try I clipped the sign with my wingtip, resulting in a blown launch. No damage so I tried one more time, but it was pooping out and that was the shortest of all. Fun day on the beach and my first time on a training hill since 1983! |
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Wind WSW at 15, sky Clear
Max Alt: 45 ft
| Just flew off the ramp to say I had flown Marina. Direction was not good for soaring but good for playing in the sand. |
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Wind SW at 10-15, sky Blue
Max Alt: 2000ish
| Should have launched sooner (again!) but was intimidated by the rock wall. Turned out to be easy and well worth getting over it. Launch was interesting as I yawed left 90, slipped a bit sideways, then yawed back straight and started climbing. Lift was big and all over. Went to Happy Camp and back and when I got back it seemed much more crowded around launch. Turns out it was pooping out and I headed for the beach. Landed way down the beach, away from crowds and carried my glider up the steps to our motel. Another awesome day! |
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Wind NW at 15ish, sky Blue
Max Alt: 800 over launch
| Really should have gotten there earlier. Climbed until I had to start getting down before the beach got too small. Beautiful site, beautiful day. Did the old down-wind leg stall and didn't get it turned back into the wind soon enough to get it on the spot and had to take off my shoes and kite it around the outcropping to the breakdown area. Short but awesome flight. |
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Wind W at 5-10, sky Blue/Cu
Max Alt: launch
| West launch into straight-in air again, then scratched for a while but thermals were too small and short. Curt said he ad to work low and far back to the North to work his way up over the hill. Unfortunately I lack the cahonies, skill strength and tenacity. Over-shot the spot and landed in the swampiest part of the field. Still fun, though! Good to see lots of familiar faces. Thanks Jeff! |
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Wind W at 10, sky cloud/cu/some sun
Max Alt: 1500
| 1st day of the Blanchard fly-in. Wow! Lots-O-bags! Great launch off west, just after it turned and the hoards started the mass migration. Air was big and spacious, at first, but got pretty crowded as the lift lightened. Good landing at the duck club. More pictures HERE. |
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Wind W at 3-8, sky Cloud/sun/cu
Max Alt: 450 over
| Had trouble getting control on launch but thanks to both wire men it finally felt neutral and had good launch. Best climb was in thermal that went up over launch then pooped. Dove down with plan of working my way back up. NOT! Ok landing in first circle. Picture is of Dave Schy. |
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Wind S to SE at 10-15, sky Overcast
Max Alt: 2100
Wind S/SE at 6mpg, sky Blue/cirrus/cu
Max Alt: launch
Wind WSW at 12 -5, sky Clouds, mist, sun
Max Alt: appx 2200