SCPA & SBSA Discussion Board

Flight Reports
http://paraglide.net/log/12/12_02-17/3_flight_articles.htm
_________________
Pre-Dawn Synopsis for Friday. My kids are out of school. Not sure if this qualifies as a holiday, but it feels like a Saturday.

Unlike last weekend when we had slowly changing persistent conditions from day to day, the weather this extended weekend is in transition from dry high pressure offshore flow to an onshore Catalina Eddy with associated marine layer accompanied by low clouds, to prefrontal ahead of a dry cold front passing through late in the weekend. So… If you don’t like the weather, just wait a few hours and it will change.

Friday (today) may be the better opportunity if you prefer blue skies. The north wind has backed off and the flow is already trending on-shore, wafting in from the south at the Peak before dawn. The forecast is for the wind to build from the west this afternoon. There is an inversion this morning, about 10°F warmer at the Peak than the beach, so we need the inversion to break, but don’t wait too long or you may have to contend with some west wind in the afternoon. The lapse rate may actually be better at noon than 2 PM because the 6K temp is trending warmer and the onshore flow will moderate the surface heating. There is also the issue of thermal trajectory in the afternoon, and the weak thermals may be better organized ahead of the onshore flow. It may be a chore to work past Carpinteria, but if we can get to Noon Peak, the lapse rate should be getting better with more protection from the ocean. Ojai is forecasted to be 4 or 5 degrees warmer than the coast.

The Nuthouse may offer an opportunity to connect with a sea breeze front over Fillmore, but if we can get past Carp ahead of the onshore flow then launching behind SB may present a longer course.

In summary, expect it to be blowing in early, but we still need the inversion to break. If you see wind dummies going up, don’t wait for it to get better. Hopefully, we can climb and go by 10:30 or 11. It should get stronger toward noonish, but will likely lean over and get torn in the afternoon.
____________________________
8:30 am update / High clouds have arrive earlier than expected, but hopefully they won’t thicken and moderate the heating too much. Might have to bump down the expectations a notch from an already mediocre lapse rate. The wind picked up a bit from the north over the past few hours, so won’t likely launch before 11ish.

No reports of anyone hiking the Nuthouse, although it may offer an easier course with more potential if we can’t get past Carpinteria from Santa Barbara. The Eagle Van is scheduled for 10, and Ventura Pilots are meeting at Pedro (Santa Clause Lane) about 9:30. No update from the Fly Above All site yet.

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.

Glad you're ok CP.

Too bad about the van though, I ran retrieve in it a few months ago and at first I didn't think much of it but I quickly realized what a great cruiser it was and really enjoyed driving it. Vans don't do well in head-on collisions so I imagine it will be totaled.

I'm so glad that you are ok Chris! What a story.

It was fun watching you and the guys work the lift near the fishbowl. Nice climbs over Thermal Factory, wish I could have chased.

i was hoping for an all around better day! oh well, we tried... i snapped a line leading to two trailing edge points launching. doubted i could top and tie -so made the best of it. good lift @ RR and TF where the snap didnt matter much- fun thermalling up to @ 38-39. couldnt really scratch effectively/safely at below mont pk with the snap effecting low turns and collecting. exc job making padaro for retrieve chris- and glad u survived the mean streets of the eastside.