[Home] to paraglide.net [SD Log] [Amigo] [Activity] [Photo] [Comments] [Incidents] [Weather] [SBSA] [SCPA]

[Amigo] > [Willy Dydo flight index] see also [http://www.flyawayhanggliding.com]

Wednesday, 3/22/2017 [Weather] and [Flight Articles] by [Willy] & [Sundowner]
Photos from various camera's posted off-site on Google Drive at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B_eSD5bXyOT4VHY0UUNFOUZnN1E?usp=sharing

Willy Dydo
Wednesday, 3/22/2017

Reference: [IGC Text Data File] and [Google Earth KMZ File] or [Ayvri Web Animation] and [Google Drive Photos]

Rincon Roll Cloud Flight, Bates to Pitas Point, then return to Bates, and SE again to the Ventura River and back to landing at Bates Beach below launch

Narrative below by Willy via emial on 3/27

Jeff and I headed down to Bates with our goal being to fly at La Conchita, and land back at bates as we didn’t have a chase driver set up.  On the way down we had wishful thinking that today might be the day that the roll cloud sets up again.  He and I had experienced it once before when it formed above bates getting us to over 2k.  On that day we didn’t follow it downwind as it extended far out over the ocean all the way towards Ventura.

I was loosing hope on the day when we were only getting 300 to 400 ft at bates for the first hour or so.  As the wind eventually picked up and we were able to get high enough to head to La Conchita joining Tom who was now climbing quickly above the clouds.  I remember reaching for my camera and hearing my music stop playing.  Dropping my I-Pod didn’t seem to bother me the least bit as this was already such an amazing flight!

After a while Jeff and I headed downwind towards Faria after Tom.  Most of the clouds had dissipated at this point, but there was plenty of lift.  No sign of Tom, so I assumed he continued downwind.  We soon turned back and flew upwind to Bates.

At that point it was easy to climb back up at Bates, so we made the jump again to La Conchita where clouds were forming again.  There was now a distinct roll cloud extending down towards Ventura that we couldn’t resist.  It was a surreal experience flying up to 4300 ft over this cloud in such smooth air.  Lift above the cloud continued far out over ocean.  We hit the end of the line where the cloud stopped near Seaside Park in Ventura and turned around.

Flying back was a bit slower going with the winds now 25 mph.  We were able to fly fast while still getting plenty of lift above the cloud. I remember doing over 70 mph airspeed at times and how smooth it was.  It’s amazing what these gliders can do!

We made it back to Faria and the return flight was now seeming more realistic with so much lift.  From here I was able to make the flight back to Bates without making a single turn.  After just over 5 hrs in the air I landed at bates with Jeff and we both couldn’t believe what had just happened.  What an amazing day!

 

 

 [Top of Page]  [Home]