Our best flying season correlates with Cruise Ship mania in Juneau. From Mt. Roberts, it's a real kick to fly over them but there are also several significant critical precautions of which you need be aware. Seriously!
1. You MUST give 500 feet clearance above cruise ships or run the risk of Homeland Security officers accosting you upon your landing. Yes, it's cool to wing-over above their top deck swimming pools but, believe me, wrestling with the "do-right boys", not to mention inhaling the nasty cruise ship smoke stack exhaust fumes is NOT worth the GoPro shot. Besides, our local experience confirms "there ain't no lift there!" If you have read this warning, ignorance is no excuse.
2. If you are lower than 500 feet above the cruise ships, you have severely limited your LZ options, and a water landing in the harbor is NOT one of them. (This happened once and the rescuing Coast Guard team hook-knifed all of the paraglider lines to drag out the floundering pilot!)
3. Perhaps most noteworthy!- the advent of new super-tall cruise ships (like 14 decks!- 250' steel walls) 4000-5000 crew and passengers means to paraglider pilots : a WIND SHADOW, TURBULENCE and ROTOR that may extend nearly a quarter mile which is potentially ALL of our LZ options.
Sadly, one of our most highly-skilled pilots experienced that shadow/turbulence/rotor this week and has the hospital records to prove it.
Bottom line- GIVE CRUISE SHIPS A SUPER WIDE BERTH!
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