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Saturday, 9/4/04, Labor Day Weekend Stopped by the North launch around noon and it was blowing in about 5-8 mph. We were there for a picnic so we kept going, but checked the South launch and it was coming up about 3-5. Back at the South launch at 2:30. Still coming in light. No wind on the ridgeline, but when I kicked dust it went straight up. Launched a little before 3:00. Hooked one in front of the main ridgeline (the big slide area) that took me from 6200 to 10300 fairly quickly. Then over the campground got up to 11500 before it petered out. I should have left for the high school with what I had, but for some reason I had 12K as my desired leaving altitude, so I went searching for more and found myself back in the 9s. Got beat up pretty good at Reyes with strong Northerly gusts, so I bailed with 10.3. I was quite optimistic with a 45 mph ground speed, and mostly double digit glide ratio. I became even more optimistic when I saw my needed glide ratio transition from 7/1 to 6/1 and then 5/1. At 8400 crossing Rose Valley I figured it was in the bag, but just before Nordhoff Ridge, my ground speed started dropping fast and my glide ratio went to 3/1 and then 2/1. When I couldn't get my speed above 12 mph, I bailed. 32 mph back toward Rose Valley. Started to set up at the excavation site by the intersection, but got way too much lee side scare. Had a fine landing at the Rose Valley Airport instead. |
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