Interesting conditions at Bates Saturday. Pulled up at @1130. Matt and I watched it go from Victory at Sea too strong to No Caps too light in about 30 minutes. But u could see the next round way out there. So I waited. As it began to rebuild, Matt and Springshoe Dave were up nicely in the lighter lift. Soon the pelicans began circling in the encroaching gust front as it converged with the shoreline. Conditions at launch were now W at @ 16 on the front side of this next pulse. I figured I could make Emma Wood beach in these conditions and Washington Mike graciously agreed to retrieve… Tanked up to @ 450 over the ridge while OJ flew his mini-wing underneath. I shot the gap, cruising smoothly past La Conchita at mid-level alt. There was no S component- so my traverse was fairly low in stretches. I’ve flown this way before, but I forgot how ridiculous the network of power lines feeding the oil wells is along some of the passages! Imo, u really have to keep your eyes on your ridge lift pressure and scan for non-lethal lzs in some of these sections! Crossed 100ft over the Pitus launch and connected Solimar about ½ way up. Escalated the spine backwards with a little brake. Added a couple 360s and had at least 1K over.
Crabbed over and past Taylors, got into the laminar flow and set my sights on Ventura Harbor. Flew a lazy arc on the outside of Ventura pier and wasted some alt testing my penetration. Landed with no trouble just past Seaward Road on a wide beach in a not-so-bad 20-24mph. My longest flight from Bates.
Thanks Mike for the retrieve!
- @ taylors
- @vta pier
