We were doing night jumps over Perdido Key, AL and landing on the beach in front of the FloraBama Beach Bar. The wind was forecasted out of the south less than10 kt’s and we exited at 14,000ft just past the surf line. Going through 9,000ft. I felt the wind shift to the north and began pushing me out towards the Gulf.
I turned and tracked into the wind to try and stay over the beach but was making little progress. I normally pull at 4000 on night jumps but was afraid if I pulled high I would end up in the water at 2230 at night. So I waited until I was over the highway and pulled at 2200 and decided to turn in tight on the beach side of a condo and use it to block the wind. I turned in real tight and fast on the west side of the building and just as I went by the top floor I caught a glimpse of two people sitting on the end balcony and a spilt second later heard glass breaking and a guy yelling “what the **** was that!”
I landed on the beach with no problems and always wondered what they thought I was or the story they tell. On a side note we had two other jumpers end up in the drink. Getting salt water out of skydiving gear is pain.
I turned and tracked into the wind to try and stay over the beach but was making little progress. I normally pull at 4000 on night jumps but was afraid if I pulled high I would end up in the water at 2230 at night. So I waited until I was over the highway and pulled at 2200 and decided to turn in tight on the beach side of a condo and use it to block the wind. I turned in real tight and fast on the west side of the building and just as I went by the top floor I caught a glimpse of two people sitting on the end balcony and a spilt second later heard glass breaking and a guy yelling “what the **** was that!”
I landed on the beach with no problems and always wondered what they thought I was or the story they tell. On a side note we had two other jumpers end up in the drink. Getting salt water out of skydiving gear is pain.