{"id":39566,"date":"2022-01-14T17:04:16","date_gmt":"2022-01-14T17:04:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=39566"},"modified":"2022-01-14T17:10:16","modified_gmt":"2022-01-14T17:10:16","slug":"rocking-the-skies-at-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/rocking-the-skies-at-night\/","title":{"rendered":"Rocking the Night Skies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BLACK SKIES at NIGHT – Skydivers’ Delight \ud83d\ude0e<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Moonlighters ready for the challenge
Photo by Andrey Veselov<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A NEW Night Sequential World Record with FULL Break is in the books…<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The attempts for the new Sequential World Record Night Formations took place in November 2021, organized by the \u201cPrince of Darkness\u201d South African Steve Woodford with the help of his lovely sidekick Maria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kevin Gibson knighted Steve with the dark title after his many years of experience encouraging skydivers to build formations in the Dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a glorious clear \u201cBlue Skies\u201d day 28 jumpers arrived at Skydive Elsinore to begin the process of creating a team. Some of them traveled from far away places like Russia, Argentina, Lithuania, Ukraine and Mexico. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some were first timers to Steve\u2019s \u201cMoonlighter\u201d experience. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PLAN<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Steve developed the ever evolving plan years ago on the heels of famous organizers like Jerry Bird and Steve Fielding. The Plan includes an impressive list of night attempts and official world records, the first taking place at Skydive Elsinore in 1973.  His personal favorite was the Night World Record 64-way that took place at Skydive Arizona in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year the plan was a 30-way Full Break Sequential Record but ultimately had to be trimmed down.  Participants received the detailed information months in advance so each person could prepare to dress for success as to mitigate the potential risks involved with building the sequential formation, tracking and landing in the dark. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contrary to what most people believe, the most impressive statistic is that there have been \u201cZero Fatalities, Zero Canopy Collisions and only one minor injury\u201d during the years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most impressive statistic is that there have been \u201cZero Fatalities, Zero Canopy Collisions and only one minor injury\u201d during the years <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Steve Woodford offering last minute encouragement in the plane
Photo by Andrey Veselov <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Lights, Camera, Action <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

16 skydives were scheduled for the 4 day\/ night event, the second day including a twilight jump to test the oxygen system, camera equipment, LED sector lights and landing practice. Not one, but two world class camera flyers were enlisted to capture the record.  Andrey Veselov and Craig O’Brien (who was a first-time Moonlighter).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They arrived with the latest in lighting technology and quickly began collaborating on a plan in which they lit the formation in a way that would illuminate the jumpers from different angles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Moonlighters were one of the first to use \u201cLED\u201d technology versus Chem lights to guide the participants to their sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rough Skies at Night<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On Day 1<\/strong> Woodford had a major challenge to deal with – three of his \u201cSolid Base\u201d jumpers for various reasons could not make it to the event which left him scrambling to fill the difficult slots. The formation included the full break moving into a six way donut for the second point, and this would prove to be a bigger challenge than anticipated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Day time training was crucial for the success of the event
Photo by Andrey Veselov<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The BUILD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Day 2<\/strong> included a twilight skydive and one night jump that didn\u2019t quite go as planned. Due to a mechanical concern on the lead aircraft jumpers bailed out while the trail plane landed with all on board. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was decided to cancel the night load until the issue was resolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day 3<\/strong> was a long day, and night, for the newly formed team. Three jumpers made the decision not to continue and three new participants joined the load. A total of seven skydives were made including a twilight jump and two record attempts that proved to be unsuccessful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dirt diving for the night attempts
Photo by Andrey Veselov<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Day 4<\/strong> began with anticipation and determination as this day\/ night would be the last opportunity to accomplish the challenging record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the participants made changes to their travel arrangements so they could stay for a second night attempt if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two of the jumpers that had pulled off the load joined the ground crew efforts by lighting the landing area and encouraging their teammates. Scott Macario from Cross Keys who participated on four previous night world records remained calm and collected stating he \u201cloves the challenge and it\u2019s just different at night\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With three full break formations during the day elevating the team’s confidence, the debrief and dirt dive of the last attempt felt energetic. The team was prepared to get it done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve\u2019s uplifting speech about records \u201calways happening on the last day\u201d encouraged the 26 jumpers to dress for success and carefully prepare the personal lighting needed to safely fly their canopies in the moonlit skies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Records are always happening on the last day<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The magic of night jumps
Photo by Andrey Veselov<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Success <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first point built with quiet precision, while the complete break in the dark was noisy and levels were changing in the base. The team quickly regrouped and the formation built the second point from the center out with seconds to spare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cheers were heard in the landing area as jumpers came back from what hopefully would be a completion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Videographer Craig O\u2019Brien provided the on-site Chief Judge Judy Celaya with images and video from both formations. As the Moonlighters waited apprehensively outside the judges room, Steve and Maria emerged with Corona Beers in hand signaling the New World Record! \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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