HotRocks above the inversion?
Well the overnight Tephi indicated the strongest, shallowest inversion I have ever seen - nearly 18 degrees C in 1400ft. And it was clearly visible at 08h30 with fires below it having no impact. A little depressing, actually, given all the other wonderful indicators of a great day. The thermals thought so too and there was not a breath of wind.
Since I was already in Worcester and had arranged a 10h00 launch with Mark S (who was ferrying MIV to Stellenbosch) I had to take a launch or abandon the day. It was petty clear to me that it wouldn't be working but some stubborn streak (which goes right alongside my many-dented ego) urged me to launch anyway, these opportunities for mid-week days don't come along so often. Ed, stalwart that he is, ran the wing and checked my wildly optimistic declaration (a 1000km triangle).
The aerotow was smooth - horribly smooth. But at Jan du Toit's we go a big kick - the vario was indicating nearly 6m and I pulled off and after some scrabbling climbed to 4800 by getting in close to the rocks. I pushed to Waaihoek, but had not yet sussed it that only the hotrocks were working and it took me a few passes to figure it out - it was also very early on the day and there was some inconsistency about the lift on the ridge.
You could have blown me over with a feather that there was such good lift clearly above the inversion - helped by the fact that the airmass above the inversion was almost super-adiabatic, but it is worth remembering.
I flew out to Botha and through the start gate and set course for Nieuwoudtville - the Waaihoek run was ridiculously buoyant now and I was able to jump Mitchell's saddle at 5400ft and head straight for the Witzenberg. Fortunately I did not 'change gear' to the sort of energy Waaihoek was demonstrating and X32 trickled at a minimum acceptable airspeed along the Witzenberg never making it to the top and down to 4000ft by the top of the Tulbagh valley.
Rob Manzoni had reported and inversion also in the Porterville valley and not much wind, but in for a penny in for a pound, so I jumped the Saron gap and joined the Porterville ridge at 3200ft (I am guessing you are seeing the height trend here). The Porterville ridge was only just not carrying - from past experience I suspect the long-wings would have been just fine but I was down to 2800 abeam Porterville and it frankly looked like more of the same to the North.
I turned, thinking that will a little bit of luck I could make it home and was able to climb back to 3000 at the Southern end of the Porterville ridge. A jump to Saron berg saw me down to 2400ft and it did not work until the southern tip just before the Gouda gap, but it was clearly no a good position to be in - with not enough height to jump to the Witzenberg, I tried anyway - overflying Tulbagh in the process but to no avail. Plop - a great field right next to the road.
Mr Spargo did the honours and came to get me after I initially tried to hitch back, but like some thermals, the traffic just wasn't lifting! See John arriving at the field in the picture - and if you look very closely, you'll see a cloud at 8000ft over Mitchell's Pass laughing quietly. Thanks Big J!
If I had this condition again (Hotrocks above an inversion), I would run east and stick with the high ridges. And although it wasn't that successful, it was a great day out! And thanks again to Mark, John and Ed who made it all possible!
Since I was already in Worcester and had arranged a 10h00 launch with Mark S (who was ferrying MIV to Stellenbosch) I had to take a launch or abandon the day. It was petty clear to me that it wouldn't be working but some stubborn streak (which goes right alongside my many-dented ego) urged me to launch anyway, these opportunities for mid-week days don't come along so often. Ed, stalwart that he is, ran the wing and checked my wildly optimistic declaration (a 1000km triangle).
The aerotow was smooth - horribly smooth. But at Jan du Toit's we go a big kick - the vario was indicating nearly 6m and I pulled off and after some scrabbling climbed to 4800 by getting in close to the rocks. I pushed to Waaihoek, but had not yet sussed it that only the hotrocks were working and it took me a few passes to figure it out - it was also very early on the day and there was some inconsistency about the lift on the ridge.
You could have blown me over with a feather that there was such good lift clearly above the inversion - helped by the fact that the airmass above the inversion was almost super-adiabatic, but it is worth remembering.
I flew out to Botha and through the start gate and set course for Nieuwoudtville - the Waaihoek run was ridiculously buoyant now and I was able to jump Mitchell's saddle at 5400ft and head straight for the Witzenberg. Fortunately I did not 'change gear' to the sort of energy Waaihoek was demonstrating and X32 trickled at a minimum acceptable airspeed along the Witzenberg never making it to the top and down to 4000ft by the top of the Tulbagh valley.
Rob Manzoni had reported and inversion also in the Porterville valley and not much wind, but in for a penny in for a pound, so I jumped the Saron gap and joined the Porterville ridge at 3200ft (I am guessing you are seeing the height trend here). The Porterville ridge was only just not carrying - from past experience I suspect the long-wings would have been just fine but I was down to 2800 abeam Porterville and it frankly looked like more of the same to the North.
I turned, thinking that will a little bit of luck I could make it home and was able to climb back to 3000 at the Southern end of the Porterville ridge. A jump to Saron berg saw me down to 2400ft and it did not work until the southern tip just before the Gouda gap, but it was clearly no a good position to be in - with not enough height to jump to the Witzenberg, I tried anyway - overflying Tulbagh in the process but to no avail. Plop - a great field right next to the road.Mr Spargo did the honours and came to get me after I initially tried to hitch back, but like some thermals, the traffic just wasn't lifting! See John arriving at the field in the picture - and if you look very closely, you'll see a cloud at 8000ft over Mitchell's Pass laughing quietly. Thanks Big J!
If I had this condition again (Hotrocks above an inversion), I would run east and stick with the high ridges. And although it wasn't that successful, it was a great day out! And thanks again to Mark, John and Ed who made it all possible!
posted by CGC Reporter at 7.3.06
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