Sail Plane
Flight Crew Glider; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 725; Flight Crew Type 5.5
Distraction; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Workload
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport; Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related
While returning to 0W3 to land in a glider I noticed that parachutists were maneuvering directly over and west of Runway 01/19 which the majority of traffic was using.  It is my understanding that the agreement with the parachute operation on the field is that parachutists will maneuver east of 01/19 and land on a target which is east of that runway.  The wind favored 01.  I was at an altitude of approximately 1200' AGL but in heavy; (600'/minute); sink.  I orbited approximately 1/2 mile west of the airport in the hope that the parachutists would be able to clear the runway environment; and that I would be able to land.  After 2 turns in that area my altitude was approximately 800' AGL; and I had to turn for the runway.  I attempted to stay as high as possible and displace left of the centerline of Runway 01 by about 100' in order to stay as clear of the parachutists as possible.  At that time I transmitted on 122.8 that I was on a left downwind leg for 01 attempting to steer clear of the canopies that I could see; but that they were maneuvering west of the runway; and I didn't have enough altitude to modify my pattern and land downwind.  I understand that parachutists don't have radios; but I hoped someone on the ground might be able to wave them back to the east side of the runway; or otherwise communicate with them.  Someone; presumably a jump pilot; retorted on frequency that I didn't need to avoid any canopies and everything would be ok.  As I crossed Aldino Rd south of the runway at approximately 200' AGL; a tandem parachutist slightly below me; and over Runway 01; turned west and directly into my flight path.  The parachute pilot was wearing a black; or very dark; jumpsuit and a black helmet.  He flew along and over the hangars west of the runway then turned back to the east and toward the drop zone.  I continued left of centerline toward a point where I hoped I would be able to 'sidestep' right with my remaining altitude and land on the last part of 01.  The parachutist; (who must have seen me on his first turn due to the close proximity of my glider with his parachute); then turned sharply back to the west and into my flight path again.  I turned left to avoid him and my right wing tip passed within 40 feet of his shrouds at about 100 feet AGL.  After passing the parachutist I deployed full air brakes and slipped aggressively to get the glider on the ground on the very northern part of Runway 01.
A glider pilot landing at 0W3 reported taking evasive action at 100 feet to avoid a parachutist by 40 feet on final to Runway 1.