The last time at Port Washington, I found a good launch site (behind a house foundation). At this location, you can see the wind move thru the top of the grass. Most other places have rotor and no wind or west wind at ground level. I climbed down the hill and back up–Not easy, but possible.
Today, there was a crew framing the house that was previously a foundation and they had parked the area up. We had Ken’s trailer, so we parked on the north end. Instead of walking to the better launch site I hoped the wind would be different and allow a launch from this north end. This area had smaller (3 ft) trees downwind and left about 4 ft to back up and inflate before sliding down the hill. 1st attempt I did inflate without hooking in. I was picked up so the wing came down on the back side of the small trees. After untangling from the trees, I hooked in but could not get the wing to come up–several failed attempts. No wind or 180 degree opposite wind. Once I was so close to the cells grabbing the moving air that I thought about jumping off the 3’ ledge–But then I would have been kiting on a steep slope, surrounded by shrubs and at the bottom of a 3’ drop. We moved south to the launch site I discovered the last time.
As before, same wind in the grass and a much longer runway. With 6-8 mph winds, my intent was just to kite on the ledge and feel it out. After inflation, the wing slowly was pulling me forward toward the crest 15’ away. Being pulled forward seemed strange. I kited to a peak and found myself on my tippy toes on the crest still being pulled slowly forward. As I leaned over the ledge, I thought, pull hard brake and the wing will stall pulling me backwards or go for it. Having scouted this site several times, I pushed with all my might from one good big toe (think the other one is broken) and I was off.
I then did progressively deeper S-turns inland to feel out the rotor and see what it would take to land. After a few passes, I felt confident and brought it in for a nice landing. Now, still kiting, I was not being pulled forward and could not get back to where I started. Ken was standing near so I asked, can you pull me back to the edge like you did to the Chicago guy on Sunday? I went into reverse and Ken pulled me like a little kid flying his kite. He set me down near the crest, I flipped around and I was off.
NW of this launch site, there are power lines. Since strong winds were not forecast till later and the risk of being blown back into the power line was low, I ventured north first. There seems to be another grassy area with a concrete launch pad (ready to slide down) that could be used in the future if the subdivision becomes an issue. Anybody looking to buy a house? It might slide into the lake in 20 years but it is a risk I am willing for “you” to take so we have a nice fly spot. 😊
Flying to the south was great. Met a Bald Eagle. Few houses but from one of those a family come running out, hooting and waving (in a good way). Unfortunately, they were from one of the houses that did not have a good LZ/launch site, otherwise I might have landed and introduced myself.
During the flight south, the wind seemed to gradually pick up (10-12) and then died down suddenly (6-8). A couple times now I have noticed wind does this about an hour before it gets really strong. The forecast had predicted strong winds and I started seeing a few snowflakes. I really wanted to explore farther south but I turned back.
When I got back by Ken, the wind was picking up again. I headed straight out over the lake. I was amazed how far out I was out over the lake before I started to come down and then suddenly, I got shot up a short distance. When I was even in altitude with Ken, I did not test for any more lift and turned back.
The landing was smooth and light. Once again, I misjudged how the wing would pull as I set it down and I dropped it just over the sill fence. I thought about reinflating and pulling it onto my side of the fence but saw that a cell would likely hook the post. I set it down on the back side, out of the wind, no trees, and on nice cut hay that was freshly laid to protect grass seed (Yeah, I meant to do that 😉).
My nemesis PW is conquered! I would like to think it welcomed me by pulling me to the edge and into the air. It is my new favorite.
