2 flights 2 hrs Oceanside 2/28/17

It was raining and snowing heavily on Hwy 6 on the way to Tillamook this morning but plenty of sunshine at Oceanside. I arrived parking lot at 9:15. There was plenty of beach for landing and the winds were on and off blowing 10mph between straight west to NW. At launch, it was almost zero winds with some NE (blowing down) cycles. See photos yourself. 

 9:30am updated

Video 

https://youtu.be/7Gzd4zxts60

Another great day at Oceanside! This morning we cruised around between Oceanside , Cape Lookout and Terrie Del Mark before deciding to settle at Oceanside. We arrived at the launch around 12:30 and first to punch off was Eric Miller, followed with: Mike C, myself, John B, Gregg and Dave B. All of us had nice flights between 30 mins to an hour. It was easy to stay up with straight west 5- 8 mph winds at launch.  We all got a couple hundred feet above launch without much effort and landed around 2pm because beach was disappearing due to high tides. 

We went for round two in the afternoon and I launched at 3pm when the tide was going down.  The winds were stronger and I was able to reach 900 ft AGL. Steve S  launched at 4pm and I think he landed around 5:00pm.  So two hangs and six bags flew on this beautiful sunny warm day; special thanks to Laren for the retrieve and rides up. 

Hour and 45 mins flight at Cape Lookout 2/21/17

Video Link: 

https://youtu.be/9NL2vRA1iNA

 

Footage of Edwin first flight at Cape Lookout 2/21/17

https://youtu.be/DbBGVEhpOeM

The wind was really light (0-3mph) when Edwin launched as you can see from the movement of the streamers in this video. Edwin said he didn't even use his speedbar during the whole flight.

After couple hrs of hang waiting.  I decided to be the wind dummy.

There was plenty of lift from launch all the way to the end of the Cape. My max altitude gain was 2200 ft MSL . Flight time: 3:11pm to 4:50pm

The winds was kind of cross NNW pretty light at launch.

Congrats to Edwin C on his first flight at Cape Lookout.

There was definitely a wind gradient effect at  launch yesterday because the trees were singing , birds were soaring and Steve S RC plane also indicated very soarable..... etc. However there was very light cross NNW wind at launch (see the launch streamers on my video)  so we waited for almost 3 hrs to launch.  I felt an abundance of smooth ridge lifts immediately once I took off.  

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Report from Ray Berger: 

Everybody who showed up soared, we just started a little late. Rick, myself, Johnathon, Neil on his newer wing, Steve and paragliders Edwin and Mike Canifax. Here is my flight vario highlights. Really smooth lift everywhere going west point to North point easily. 3200 ft +  and 1 hour 45. No squall to deal with and plenty beach. Ray

Hour and 15mins / Oceanside Oregon 2/18/17

Shorter video version link:

 https://youtu.be/Sc8h1Hje5hY

Longer version link:
https://vimeo.com/204817940

https://youtu.be/VXt8O5lscbM

This video is including my blew launch footage and Kory landing and the end.  

Hope other pilots can learn from my mistake. 

Earlier today (around noon) I busted a downtube due to launching into too cross North winds. I launched with a right crosswind in result the left wing lift over.   Fortunately , I didn't got air born and it wasn't a cliff launch otherwise could have been much worse. It's time for me to review of my judgment and decision making.  Do not attempt to launch if the streamer is showing too cross. Be patience wait for the wind to turn more straight or fly next time.

Other than that, I had over an hour great flight at Oceanside with max altitude of about 1700 ft MSL. Paragliders Steve C , Ryan W , Benny and myself launched around 2pm in approx 10 mph WNW winds enjoying a great time soaring between Happy Camp to Oceanside.  Kory, Gabe and my Pg friend Edwin all launched later with nice soaring flights as well.

Cliffside hike and fly 2/17/17

Approx six paras and one hangs (myself) flew Cliffside today (2/17/17)  Edwin and I arrived Cliffside around 11am.  Edwin took a sledder (launched in SW direction at 0-3mph wind) landed by the river and I drove for him.  Other paras arrived in the afternoon.  Since there wasn't much wind so I hiked up to the upper launch with Edwin and Rick Ely.  The wind remained calm  (0-3mph) and cross from the northwest so we all had a sledders. 

Video: 

https://youtu.be/RulO-E5Vsmg