December 1, 2011 Northeast Wind Wave

Serious winds -- low level jet


With regards to primary, secondary wave etc., with this event and looking at the forecast wave being propagated off the sierra crest (‘backward Sierra Wave’), the period was likely initiated well upwind of the SC mtns with the SC Mtns simply augmenting the wave. This couple with high winds tended to produce a long period wave. This might be a case of appropriate model scale estimates, on the influence of larger versus smaller scale. Usually it is lack of resolution at microscale that creates uncertainty. I wonder if this is a case of the RASP not taking into account the breadth of the event on influencing local triggers.



-Matt



From: hgcgroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:hgcgroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Matt Gillis

Sent: Friday, December 02, 2011 3:26 PM

To: hgcgroup@yahoogroups.com

Subject: RE: [hgcgroup] Re: Serious winds

The wave was much further downwind than ‘normal’, probably due to the long period from the higher winds, particularly at low level. I was using the RASP VV and referenced them for initially finding the wave. The lee of the SC Mtns was indicating the best entry spot between Aptos and Loma Prieta. Nada, the RASP was not accurate in the wave position and possibly period there, other areas such as the Salinas Valley later were further downwind also. The period in the RASP was showing about 10 nm when it appear to me that it was probably more like ~15 nm. Because of very strong conditions, I considered this comparable to towsurfing into big waves but not being able to see where the wave is. Subsequently, [which is the source of Quests comment] I stayed on tow to search it out when it wasn’t where advertised. My intuition said it was downwind, but my standard approach is to exhaust upwind advantages first. When that proved unfruitful we went downwind and found it right, ironically, over First Peak" at Pleasure Point. I was being somewhat convservative, since we were otherwise committed to Watsonville. This was further augmented by the fact that it was a “two hands on the stick” tow down lower, the sink and strong winds down in the mix could leave little margin if in the wrong spot…or major pucker for a sucker. Nevertheless, when I found it, it was good, elevator to 17.9K. The line was close to the coast near Santa Cruz but went out over the ocean. ER tried to push up and find a bar closer to the crest of the SC Mtns, but found sink. When I turned near Pescadero, I was going to try and push upwind and find an upwind bar, but progress was so slow and with Class B in front, decided to explore the options south. Soaring in conditions this strong made even slight errors costly time wise to get back into position. That is to say, the wave can giveth and taketh away not just quickly, but can put one in a stationary hard spot with limited options, until it giveth again. Although the sweet spots were 6-8 knots at best glide, this usually meant going backwards at a noticeable clip. Needless to say, it took 2.5 hours out of the afternoon exploring the SC Mtn Wave, which didn’t leave much daylight left for exploration south. I had downloaded the RASP VVs onto my Droid to compare relative position of the wave and used this to compare target spots. ER and us in 1CH headed south toward Salinas, ER following a track further east. Right ov

er Salinas there was really good bounce and a nice bar running down the valley. Above 17K I was able to covert lift to speed and fly at 90-100 knots in a more productive manner. I turned near Soledad since we needed to get back before dark. We topped out at 17.9K near Salinas and burned off 13K getting back to just north of the airport at 5K; I maintained a notch above the required glide of about 6:1 with emphasis on speed. Had a nice smooth x-wind landing in spite of the wind shear.



From that position, it would have been easy to have tested the forecast Arroyo Seco bounce and if that was happening, the Big Sur bounce would have been easily reached. The Big Sur/Santa Lucia Range had the hottest forecast VV of all and it was even marked by a ’haze bar. Strategy would have been to push quartering downwind (perp. thru strong sink) from 17.9 and then dogleg if it was elusive, using San Simeon as an alternate. Launching earlier with electric socks and some hot tea would have made it doable and bearable. And yes, with the winds yesterday I probably would have been having dinner in SLO with Morgan Although Carmel Valley or Arroyo Seco may have had a short enough frequency bounce to get back upwind into the Gabilan Wave.



https://picasaweb.google.com/111461517128275850244/20111201KCVHSCMtnAndGabilanWave1CH?authuser=0&feat=directlink