[Flight Articles for Presidents Weekend 2012]   Weather Archive for [Friday 2/17/12] & [Monday 2/20/12]

Chris Paul
Friday, 2/17/12

Skyport To Padaro (Santa Clause Lane)
Straight Line Distance from Launch to Landing 9+ miles.

Article Copied from http://scpa.info/bb/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2430#p7409

by Paul_Chris » Posted Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:32 pm

The forecast predicted clear weather, but high clouds began moving through early in the morning. Andy, Brendan, SD and I were optimistic, though, so we left cars at Padaro then joined the Eagle van. It was blowing down when we arrived, but soon switched and we were off. I topped out at 3500 over the R&R and TF, then headed East. Didn't get a good glide, but got a weak thermal at Shadow peak that helped. At Montecito it felt like the thermal were pulsing and it took a long time to connect with something solid and get back to 35. Andy and Brendan topped up higher (3850) at TF, while SD did a westbound leg. After an hour, though, a band of high clouds passed over and shut everything down. I made it out to Padaro, Brendan to the polo fields and SD and Andy to Cold Springs school. Ran retrieve with SD's van, then returned to Skyport for Round 2. SD forward launched in light to no wind with everything shaded in, and made a play for the beach, ending up at Ortega park. I followed in the van. Coming in to town, a driver in the opposite lane got distracted and veered across the road. I saw him coming and stopped, but he didn't see the van until it was too late. Smacked in at 25-30mph. We were both OK, but the van didn't do as well and had to be towed.