Gone to the Beach

From: Dan
Activity_Date: 02/14/01
Remote Name: 24.8.188.224

Comments

I launched after Zvi and before Casey. Lift at launch was poor so I headed directly to the AF/RH. As Bob H. mentioned on the radio it was some of the most interesting "air" on the way to the AF I have ever encountered. At times if felt like you were entering a thermal and then you would be blown west by the east wing and then your wing felt like it had no pressure requiring brake input to pressurize the wing. That happened about two or three times. I flew well under the RH towards the spine below the AF and did figure 8's until I had enough altitude to make 360's. There was a big east component early on. After getting enough alt to make 360's I was able to climb above launch's starting alt but not much else was happening. There was about 500'/min lift but very spotty and very small cores. I was just about ready to throw in the towel after 30+ min of thermaling when I found the best thermal so far. It was big enough to stay in the core and it took me to cloud base. I positioned my gps to make sure I could read the compass and I continued in the core for a couple more turns. I was at 3800' and I decided to take the height and go to the beach. I noticed there was a 5/8 mph head wind and I put the speed bar on the tip of my boots and gave it all it had. I came over the freeway with 1100' and was 850+ over the beach. There was a good onshore breeze coming in at 140/160 degrees. It made for a great landing on East Beach very near the corner going around to the Biltmore. Thanks to Zvi for picking me up and to Kevin Dumain for taking my truck back to Parma.