Sunday 1st May 2011

There are those who study the form books, and those who say ‘What the hell, that’ll do me!’ With an Easterly wind at 20kts and more, the going was firm to good for wave, but punters who passed an educated view over the atmospheric cross section saw that the profile for wave was not good and hence chose to keep their launch fee in their back pockets.

And so it proved. The wind, straight up and down the runway from the East, should have produced wave, but didn’t; however those who flew had ‘character building’ launches into an instant 75-80kts indicated, leading to intriguingly smooth air off the wire, with some (was it ridge or was it wave..?) lift around the easterly facing slope of the site, followed by challenging descents at not less 65kts through the turbulence to land in a surprisingly smooth lee close to the ground.

So what? So, lots of close attention to the gliders when on the ground, longest flight 16 minutes (Marta and Don) and best height 1,970ft (see photos) achieved by Matt Mackay and Don on a flight in which the launch must have taken at least 2 minutes! (They were trying to break to 2,000ft barrier - but sadly robbed…)

Matt Mackay and Don ready to go

Less than 2 minutes later approaching 1970 feet still on the wire

Many thanks to Martin Smith, Simon Tree, Chris Morton, Hugh Thompson and the Sunday Crew (you know who you are) for turning up and putting some confidence building and safely handled flights under your belts in conditions in which others would not even have bothered betting on.

Seeing the branches bend and leaves shake on the journey home I think we can safely say we’re current in flying in high wind conditions!

Martin Cropper