bates on friday

[andy dainsberg]

No one (usually) posts about ridge flying- unless we go downrange-but wtf, it’s a forum, some people like reading/sharing and this is just communicating in a fun/easy way. So - here’s my mundane post cuz I gives a damn, lol!

It was SRO at bates today, 15 cars and lots of pilots hoping for some A.T. Several pilots enjoyed the light straight-in for awhile, especially Matt who made it to the buildings and back, and Chris seemed to hang up high too. I don’t mind light ridge, but I really like stronger conditions and start getting happy-face when the caps show up. Caps came in, although they had that off-shore shine to them that made me distrust the direction a little. Soon, it was about 15+ wsw. I had a lot of fun, going from the main ridge down to the buildings 3-4 times a good couple hundy over. I was in a reg pg, one I am at the top in- while a few others were flying speed/mini wings below me-. (I usually visit bates with a light rig, a medium rig and my firefly.) It was really a superb ½+ hour session- by typical bates standards. But I could see the big flag drooping occasionally and the waves looked suspect, so I set up and top landed. Soon, it blew hard enough offshore to drag a wing over launch; even bates commands a little respect occasionally. Every time I get one of these little sessions it makes me feel like the luckiest person (in my family at least)…

[NMERider]

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[BobA]

Looking at the models - It is suppose to be cold tonight and colder tomorrow night! Tomorrow could be epic if winds slack and thermal block occurs early - hopefully before afternoon (models show reduced north wind in the afternoon!). Sunday will be super fun soarable no matter what, just some east wind down the road, like by Ojai. Monday is Santa Annas! (fly Nordoth to SB conditions)

[Southside]

I'm curious how Saturday and Sunday compare regarding thermal "blockage." According to NAM the wind velocity through the boundary layer is about the same (a tad more wind at the top today), but for today the direction is N NE compared to tomorrow which is NW. Both have it below 10 knots below 5k give or take. A bit stronger lapse rate today. Even though the lift should be stronger today I wonder if there might be a better block tomorrow due to the wind direction? I've been knocked out of the sky a few times near Romero Saddle when the winds have been more north than NW even though I was able to get off the hill at the Eliminator.

John

[BobA]

Super fun, hang on, kind of day. Flew around locally under big clouds mostly. Upslope winds were 8-12 at first but back down to 5-8 when I launched Skyport. It was a cold day! It was a strong day! Found 1500'/min up a couple of times. Big clouds forming and streaming from the north to out front of the Riviera. Clouds arc'd from La Cumbre out to the Mission and down the Riveria. Large ones set up RnR to back of Thermal Factory and separately Montecito peak. Seemed like the over the back thermal bounce spots were happening - Tea Gardens, and the front of Parkers. And found lift at Lower Parma, the town side of Riveria, and Jon and Dave over the beach. Cloudbase was 6200' at Montecito Peak with north wind pushing offshore to 15 mph at that altitude. Below 4200' it was largely SE to SW...not more than 10 mph. The local thermal draws were strong. Shooting the pass looked like a rodeo ride thru a gantlet of northly waterfalls. Kevin and Jon both got worked in sink spots around Romero but clawed their way back to town. Clouds looked better later to the east but appeared to set up on the South Side of Ojai valley. We'll have to hear from the people that went thru the pass, Chris Paul, Hammer, and Little John, I believe.

[NMERider]

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[Paul_Chris]

Good report Bob. I had the same perception...strong lift, with north wind above 4500. It was also really cold. Usually my fleece gloves keep me warm, but 10 minutes after launching today, I couldn't feel my fingers. Didn't want to lose the day, though, so decided to try for Ojai and not go further. Left the thermal factory with ~5k. With my hands freezing, and the north wind up high, I was motivated to keep moving and not get higher than necessary. Didn't bump into much over Montecito, and didn't stop to look. Back to 5k at Romero, then skipped along castle and power line ridges with only a couple of turns. Left the power lines with 4500. I expected to intercept the noon peak trapezoid, but the draw from the peak sucked me in and up to 6k. Flew straight towards white ledge, getting to 6k over west divide...without single turn. Passed over White ledge without hitting anything. I got pretty low in the canyon before working one up enough to get out to the high school. Total flight time was 1hr 25min. The strong lift made for a fast flying, but it would have been more enjoyable with thicker gloves!