Hayfield

• Wind directionNNW (340°) → NNE (20°)
• Ideal speed4–12 mph
• Upper limits≤ 15 mph base · gusts ≤ 18

FLATLAND TOW SITE (not a foot-launch ridge). Listed by the Minnesota Free Flight USHPA chapter as "Hayfield N/S" under the Flat Land category, min rating P2/H2; site intro/directions required from club contacts (Doyle 612-220-8032, Steve 612-787-6440) before flying. This is open prairie farmland south of Rochester, MN; flying is by static-line/payout winch or scooter/truck tow, so the "wind window" is really the usable tow-line axis rather than a ridge soaring arc. The "N/S" designation and the field's setup make a NORTH wind the prime direction (tow north into the wind); a SOUTH wind works on the reciprocal pass, which is why the paraglidingEarth octants include both N and S (plus the diagonal NE/SE/SW/NW for crossed tows) but exclude due E/W. Ideal is a steady wind roughly aligned with the N-S tow axis at light speed. Tow launching paragliders demands LIGHT, smooth wind: ~4-12 mph ideal, hard cap around 15 mph base and ~18 mph gusts — above that PG tow is unsafe (lockout/overflight risk on launch). Best flown early morning or evening when the prairie air is smooth; midday thermic/gusty conditions and any significant cross/gust component make towing hazardous. Main hazards are typical flatland-tow issues: lockout, weak-link/release management, power lines, fences, and crops/standing corn in the LZ, plus turbulence off tree lines or buildings if wind is cross to the field. No terrain rotor (flat). Elevation tag of 2789 ft MSL looks erroneous for Hayfield, MN (true ground is ~1250 ft) but does not affect the wind window. Speed/gust figures and the exact ideal arc are inferred from the N/S axis + general PG flatland-tow practice, not an explicit published numeric guide, hence medium confidence.