Ben, Dave and I turned up at this site a couple months ago and missed the launch window (
Ben's entry). The cliff launch can be pretty nasty and full of rotor as you approach the cliff's edge. Dave's glider is visible in the setup area above. This day was much better. Dave and I got off when conditions were just right and soared back and forth along the ridge (maybe a 2-3 mile section?). Scott and Kurt, skilled Sonoma area pilots, were out with their rigids as well. Wire crews are necessary on launch.
above: looking back toward launch from the West, Dave's Sport is visible above the ridge. (
click on all photos to enlarge)
above: the view heading out toward the point, you can see that the cliffs begin to bend South. I wonder what a convergence would offer up here?
Nice beach LZ and well manicured breakdown area.. So nice to be in lift again, it's been a long winter.
Ben, Dave and I turned up at this site a couple months ago and missed the launch window (Ben's entry). The cliff launch can be pretty nasty and full of rotor as you approach the cliff's edge. Dave's glider is visible in the setup area above. This day was much better. Dave and I got off when conditions were just right and soared back and forth along the ridge (maybe a 2-3 mile section?). Scott and Kurt, skilled Sonoma area pilots, were out with their rigids as well. Wire crews are necessary on launch.
above: looking back toward launch from the West, Dave's Sport is visible above the ridge. (click on all photos to enlarge)
above: the view heading out toward the point, you can see that the cliffs begin to bend South. I wonder what a convergence would offer up here?
Nice beach LZ and well manicured breakdown area.. So nice to be in lift again, it's been a long winter.
3 comments:
Nicely Done :)
what did you do differently ?
Launch spot,
wind direction, strength.
Same launch, just picked a better launch window (light), same direction, slower progression. So light in fact that soon after Dave and I were up Kurt launched and ended up beached in his rigid a mile down the ridge:o
I flew Drakes back in '77 or '78 with Rene Angelot. It was threatening to rain and we had a nice south wind. We flew for about an hour then the rain started. The parking lot made a great LZ when it is raining because there weren't any tourists.
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