Flygirl at Koringberg

I have added a 'foot note' from Flygirl regarding Craig's comments on the launch, plus Leonardo links to three of the flights this day.  Viewing the tracklogs gives one a clearer picture on what actually happened which I think is AWESOME for learning purposes:

 

I was also waiting for Bernie to launch his Aircross U3 so I could judge the arrival of the gusts with more accuracy as he headed up wind.  Whatever was coming down wind to me was going past Bernie first.   Bernies U3 is a whole lot faster than my intermediate Aerodyne Shaolin and would be able to penetrate better, but at least I would be able to watch his glider pitch, altitude and speed for further 'do-I-really-want-to-launch' analysis.

 

Click on read more and scroll down to the bottom of the page if you have already read Craigs and Gregs words, other wise, read on: 

 

 

 

 

Greg Hamerton - 89km Leonardo OLC distance
Ross Hofmeyr - 87km Leonardo OLC distance
Ian de Vries is not on Leonardo but flew a kim or two further than Greg

 

Here are snippits from those who watched them go:

Frustration! 

Launched into a steady 30km/h on the more western launch site with Mark Marshall. Got a few good climbs of 2m/s, but aborted each at about 250 m above ridge height as I was being blown over the back.

Watched Bernie and Gaynor on the SW launch fly straight out into wind under a cloud (could not get there fast enough as at this stage I was going backwards at 4km/h every now and again)  … climbing steadily with no need to turn until they got high enough to go over the back at more than 1000m ASL. [Flygirl foot note bottom of page] Greg and co had left in lighter conditions earlier getting under a cloud which took them to 1560 ASL Aaargh! Stupid sport!

Got another good climb and again was forced to abort as I did not want to go over the ridge lower than 300 m ATO in 40 km/h of breeze. Mark has been flying aluminum to long and reckons rotor is a myth, so over the back he goes with 300m ATO or less. Looks like he could be right as although he gets low for a while just past the farm there was no noticeable rotor!

PhillipK and I are left battling the increasing wind and by now the wind talker has gusts of up to 50 km/h. Realizing I have blown it I finally leave at 750m ASL and blast round the SW corner angling slightly away from the hill so that I miss the nonexistent rotor. The thermals are also nonexistent though and I have consistent sink of 2 m/s the whole way to the deck. A small bubble at 50m, but with the wind doing 40km/h it makes trying to hold onto it a bit too exciting. Now gusting to 56km/h on top of KB.

So I learnt this about Koringberg in a strong WSW… It was still possible to get away (the others did). If you have a solid thermal (2m/s+) and have 200m over the top then go with it. The hill does not seem to generate much rotor due to its shape.

The SW (SW to Westerly winds) corner is effectively a venturi as the wind wraps around the point. Venturi’s are bad for thermals and for at least 10km downwind every thermal was shredded. If you do go around this corner, angle back into the lee of KB as soon as possible. The lee is the key; the rotor would appear to be minor or nonexistent. The wind is slower here and the thermals have a chance to form a bit better.

My luck has to change. I have been over the back of KB 5 times this season. Between the heights of 1200m and 50m AGL I have not had a single thermal after leaving the mountain and I have the track logs to prove it! I think I still know what a thermal is since I cored a few at Porterville two weeks ago, so it’s probably not that ;>)

With the wind averaging 40km/h WSW at KB the three musketeers still decide to go over the back into Citrusdal. Ross finds strong convergence just to the North of Sneeuberg behind Citrusdal. Sure he has the pictures (new underwear) and story for Wednesday night’s club meeting.

FLYGIRL
 

 

 

 

 

Flygirl - 41km Leonardo OLC distance.
Mark Marshal is not on Leonardo but flew a few kms further than me 43kms.

 

Later Ross told me about the convergence he hit over Citrusdal which was threatening to push him into the Cederberg Mountains.   He was taking collapses on Big Ears and Speed Bar and so pulled B -Line, only to find his vario telling him he was still going up.  Doing 'acro' to get down because you have to is a bit stressing, but like Hammer says, that is why we practice acro through the winter, so when we need our bag of tricks, they come naturally to our aid.

 

Suddenly I don't feel so envious anymore of their flight, although I certainly believe I got spooked too soon by the strengthening wind and could have landed safely 20+kms further on, still in the Flats.  I definitely would not have crossed over the mountains into the Citrusdal Valley for fear of rotor in the strong WSW. I simply don't like putting myself in anxious situations.

Assessing the conditions and the situation clearly whilst still in flight and making correct decisions based on that analysis is something I have to work on.  At present I go directly to 'Safe Option', by-passing the analysis stage entirely.

 

Regarding my launch:  I kitted up believing that if there was a window in which I could re-launch in the strong wind, it was going to be small and I should be ready for it.  I was standing with fellow Leonaronite Gene Lohrentz, counting the seconds of the lulls and monitoring the gust cycles between those lulls.  I felt no pressure to launch and was fully prepared to stand down if I felt I could not recognise a safe window.  

 

I was also waiting for Bernie to launch his U3 so I could judge the arrival of the gusts with more accuracy as he headed up wind.  Whatever was coming down wind to me was going past Bernie first.   Bernies U3 is a whole lot faster than my intermediate Aerodyne Shaolin and would be able to penetrate better, but at least I would be able to watch his pitch, altitude and speed for further 'do-I-really-want-to-launch' analysis.

The cloud:  I actually waited for the cloud to blow over and for a small blue hole to appear upfront and overhead.  My thoughts were that the clouds were sucking strongly today, adding to the already strong wind.  The blue appeared overhead and the wind eased off a few kilometres and Bernie launched.  I did not launch immediately, but watched his progress upwind.  Dutton (Wallend Air instructor) had walked down the steep slope a little to watch for signs of a lull and called that it was good to go. (Thanks Dutton!) The wind had eased off significantly, Bernies glider was stable - this was my window.

I flew slowly up wind, ensuring that my speedbar was ready if necessary.  Bernie had a really good climb out front to my right, far off the hill.  I decided not to go over to where he was however, because it would take me away from the south end of the ridge and my safe landing option out of the lee of the hill.  Although we have never really encountered rotor at Koringberg, I have no intention of putting that theory to the test myself.

My climb was steady.  I did a turn, flew slowly back up wind, did another turn, was about 200m ATO, judged that I had let enough bouyant air go over the back for me to glide over with, then I turned for the last time and went over the back at about 660m (200m ATO) There is a sense of 'knowing' that the time is right.  Never-the-less, like in this case, I was skimming the south side of the hill just in case.  I have 'almost' no fear of encountering rotor at Koringberg and have been over the back at 70m ATO before.  Most of the time I will find my leeside thermals, but if in doubt, I know I can fly to the South side where the hill ends and land out of the lee.  Understanding that I have these two 'get-out-of-danger' options allows me to get on with flying the 'over-the-back' thermal to the best of my ability.  As soon as I know that I am well centred in the thermal, I will track back into the lee with it and head for the N7 and the usual thermal trigger points from there, which is where I get my height.  Unlike the Hammer and Tickbird action plan, Koringberg is only a launch pad for me to get me into the Flats, not a place where I look to gain maximum height.

 

I have no attachment to the hill.  I see it only as a launchpad that happens to be shaped like a hill.  I probably liken my mindset more to the way I approach winching.  I launch (release) when I feel there is likely to be lift and I stay with that easy lift on the hill at first whilst I settle myself into the harness and the flight ahead.  But because we are on a hill and not releasing from a winch, I will leave that lift and generally fly upwind looking for the 'get-away' lift. If I don't find it, I can always run back to the hill, top up and go out again.  I will fly anywhere I think it will trigger for the conditions of that day and Koringberg has some beaut trigger points all around it.  My thoughts are that I have 200m AGL to get up.  If I don't get up, I will have to do the launch all over again which is a waste of time and I might miss the window. So from the moment I decide to launch, my concentration is focused and I become a little like a radar, picking up on all the tell-tale signs available, telling me what the air is doing and how I can use it.  I don't always get up and away - but I do most flights.

For the new comers, getting away from Koringberg can be frustrating..until you have worked out what the key is.  Because the hill is only 200mAGL, you don't have the luxury of wasting your altitude.  That is like winching.  Get ready, but take a few moments to assess the situation before you launch. You must be 'on-it' from the moment you decide to launch.  Let the regulars launch first. Let them be your 'wind technicians'.  Watch where they fly and HOW they fly.  They are Regulars because they love flying Koringberg and are getting the results they want i.e. flying distance in relative safety.  They have worked out what the key is, where the thermal trigger points are and when to go over the back.  Let them know you want to tag along.  Be on radio.  They will be only to happy for you to get away with them.

 

As Hammer says: '....make space for as many chickens in one gaggle as possible. No, I don't mind you in my thermal, I WANT you there. Then leave together.'

 

Once you have discovered the secrets of Koringberg and the Flatlands - You will be one of the Regulars.