Wilcox Lunch, 12/11

From: K Dumain
Activity_Date: 12/11/01
Remote Name: 172.159.70.198

Comments

Had been doggin the wind data for days lookin to fly the mountains. Tuesday had been the goal. By late morning it wasn't looking pratical, but the airport numbers started lookin promising.

Left work at noon and arrived to see the Coconut, Jeff Parker, Terry Taggert, and Johnny Dressor getting high. Chad and Dan were on the ground having all ready flown.

Had Bob's Skyline Falcon in the truck so I figured I'd give it a spin. The breeze was almost straight in and fairly strong, about 12 knots outside the kelp and a bit more farther out. Flailed a bit on the first pull, so I got Dan to help on the second.

Immediate lift off launch with limited penetration. Did a few switchbacks by the good lift at the hook to climb up to Glenn. It was Fat! By this time Jeff had jumped the gap and was up by the Barking Dogs. About a mile past him was Terry.

Looked promising, so I took some altitude out front and pointed west. With the wind further south than normal it was a fast and easy crossing past Hendry's. Coming in over the first houses I was still high and sinking. As I got lower I found a better lift band. Got to the Barking Dogs with plenty of altitude to turn back. Gained a bit around the corner at the palm trees. Did a few passes here to assess the conditions before pushing on past the double ledges. Chad had passed the Brown Pelican and was in pursuit.

Up the coast Jeff was scratching around after getting low at the double ledges. Terry looked like he had made Moore Mesa and was coming back. He's really quick in that APCO wing.

With conditions looking good, I took the back ledge to the wires and then crabbed out to the front ledge. The lift was surprisingly good here. On my previous downwind flights from Moore Mesa, this stretch has always been the weakest. At the far end of double ledge is my client Johnnie's house. I got there with about 100 feet to spare. Yelled hello, he wanted me to take a picture.

From here to Khasogghi's the bluffs are pretty mushy and a bit irregular. I managed to maintain about 100 feet over the edge of bluff while I took in the view of the mansions. Needed the speed bar at times and the wind was a bit on the nose for this stretch. Really nice new mosaic swimming pool at the point before Khasogghi's.

Around the corner, I was able to get some height back as the coast faces SW here. Passed Terry and Jeff headed the other way. Chad was falling back but carrying more altitude as he worked up the coast. No problem crossing at beach club, another sign that it was a really good day.

Lost a bunch of altitude after the Eucs. The wind was coming in West so I made a Uturn at the middle launch. Connected with Chad in front of Wendy McCaws estate. He was threading an outside lift band, so I turned and checked it out.

Good lift on the way back, but definitely more west than the flight out. Made it back to Wilcox just over the trees. Everybody was trying to land by now. Climbed out at the Hook and cruised down past launch. Could barely penetrate in the bump left of launch so went for the safe beach landing. Got to test Big Ears on the Falcon. Very stable, and easily body steered.

All in all, a very fun flight, and only a 2 1/2 hour lunch. Thanks for the loaner Bob, too bad the "Cox isn't like that all the time.

kd