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June 2003 - Part I
Sunday 15th June 2003
Report from Andy Dawson
There was zero wind forecast so rather than sit on Bell
Gary and I went towing at Middle Wallop (to get in practice for next weekend).
As we had not done it for two years we were a bit rusty. The our first tow
resulted in a quick return to ground and I was dubious about having another go
but in the end I thought why not. The second tow was more active on the way up
and on release I found a large area of lift that took me up to cloud base.
Gary failed to connect to much so couldn't join me. So there I was in the
middle of a MATZ above Middle Wallop at 4800 legally. There was no drift so
the world was my oyster; do I go North to the Chiltons, south to Romsey or go
towards Salisbury then Ringwood hoping to hit the sea breeze front?.
I decided to go to Salisbury and set off towards a really
promising cloud, sinking as I went, and soon realised I was chasing a
sailplane who was also going for it. I should have guessed there was no lift
as he went straight on - I continued on , in sink. When I got to the cloud
there was nothing and there was no other clouds about- just blue. Ahead were
just large fields with crop in and therefore I turned back. I just had enough
height to fly back to the airbase (I now realised that there was now a SW
drift so my return was quite quick). So at best a 8k out and return.
The consolation was I was the only one to get above the tow
and probably the only one in Wessex at cloud base that day.
Towing does have something going for it!.
Report from Alastair Florence
It was probably one of those weekends when you were better
to forget about flying and go and do something else. Never the less with the
family happy to sunbathe in the garden after lunch I thought it was worth a
quick look about.
I had a theory that the gentle Easterly wind should swing
SSE and speed up as the land warmed. Unfortunately the wind gods didn't have
the same idea. The lower cliffs at Ballard had a limp breath of East still
wafting in.
At home, later, it looked more SW - so next stop was
Kimmeridge. 4 or 5 hopefulls were waiting and, although there was a nice
steady breeze, it just wasn't quite enough. (they did get up shortly after I
could see them scratching from Knitson) Also being quite South, I felt it
needed a bit more land in front to add something else to the breeze.
Rus Whyte was off to check White Horse but I couldn't be
bothered to go that far on an off- chance, so headed for Knitson.
At the ridge top a steady 8-11 mph breeze was flowing. Dave
G walked past on his way from Corfe to Swanage (and then back on the train -
he claimed to be working!!). After launching I scratched about for a few
minutes and got chased off Ailwood Down by a Buzzard with an attitude problem
(maybe the lack of wind had stressed him out?). I found the farm and a small
field next door were putting up some powerful lift. With the light wind it was
possible to circle up some way without going back over the ridge. best height
gain was 360 ft ato. Once up you could comfortably cruise out as far as the
Naturist camp and then back to the farm for more lift. A brilliant 30 minutes.
Jacko arrived from a diving trip under Swanage pier and at
that moment the lift seemed to die. Jacko had a prolonged top to bottom and I
just couldn't find the lift again so gave up.
After tea I noticed the washing was moving more on the line
so went up to Kimmeridge. It was almost there, but not quite - so spent a bit
of time ground handling
Beautiful evening though, better than watching TV.
I'm going to miss the Wessex bash due to other commitments so plan to go to Blorenge Party in late July, any one else interested?? Any one else been?? Was it worth it??
Report from Dave Daniels
Some pics - taken by Nicole B - of Sean L and I doing t-t-bs at Durdle Door.
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| Your's T going for (and making!) the beach. | Sean L winging over | YT sinking fast ... to the beach. |
Pic taken by James Childress - DD @ DD ....
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Thursday 12th June 2003
Report from John Funnell
Arrived at Ringstead late morning to see John Blessing
already soaring the ridge. This was a new site for me so I dug out the site
guide as he headed to the cliffs. Russell W arrived and kindly briefed me on
the local hazards – then we took to the air.
After a top landing and several forays towards the sea, I
went for it and crossed to the cliff with plenty of height (avoiding going too
close to “that” house).
In front of the cliff, we were in superb smooth lift up to
470ft ato. After 2h45 of easy soaring in the sunshine, the lift seemed weaker
so we headed back to the take-off ridge.
Also there were Sean L, John Ayling, John Alder and Alan.
(sorry if I got the names wrong!)
Wednesday 11th June 2003
Report from Russell "I'm so retired all I have to do is fly" Whyte
I received a call from John B asking was it flyable? I
explained I was going to Ringstead to check it out. I arrived to a lonesome
ridge with not even a dickie-bird in the sky. I installed the windsocks &
thought it a bit top end, so I decided to observe the conditions for 30mins.
I thought it was still a little strong and was about to
walk down the hill when John B arrived from Southampton and It seemed a tad
lighter. We walked down the slope to a small platform and I inflated and rose
into the sky with good penetration. I worked at it for 30mins before I was
confident to make the cliffs avoiding the first bungalow!!! (A
2 storey bungalow? Sure you have the right house? DD)
John B followed after a short time. I was out over White
Nothe with the vario reading 453M ASL, the views were very good. John was some
distance back & below and I skirted around the encroaching cloud (reminded
me of being in high expansion foam) (Whatever
turns you on!) and maintained height out
over the sea for quite some distance
I realised the cloud was below and encroaching from east
& west so I headed back to t/o after over an hour's enjoyment. I was
amazed that I was still maintaining over 400M height so practiced my "big
ears". John B was 360ing in front of T.O.. I initiated speed-bar and came
down safely in the top field. A short walk back to the vehicle with a student
taking video footage of John B & his amusing landing???
John Alder arrived & I assisted him to launch in his
hang-glider, and after a short lunch went home with a smile on my face.
Monday 9th June 2003
Bournemouth Pics by Simon Herbert
http://members.lycos.co.uk/simon_p_herbert/Bournemouth/
(With the problems at Bournemouth - there may be few chances left to take such pics as these DD)
Report from Alastair Florence
I hoped to make an early start at work and get off early as
the forecast looked promising. However we are due to go on holiday in a week
or two and we just found one of my daughters passports had expired so I
thought I'd better sort that first. Second thoughts it could have saved me
some money leaving one behind, maybe I could have taken the glider in her
place.
Anyway, at lunchtime, I thought I'd nip down to Durdle
Door. I took a no reply from Dave D about the parking at his caravan as
"Yes, go on help yourself and enjoy it!" ( I expect he was being
sick really). (Huh?
I did reply and it contained things like "Of all the bloody
cheek...!")
The wind was quite east and the cliffs weren't lifting that
smoothly so after about 10 mins.
I went back and finished a tender that had to go today (yes
David sometimes I do have to work). Got back to Swanage to see wings over
Ballard so I thought I'd better head up there.
It was a bit easterly - the other 3 wings 2 from TVHGPG and
1 Wessex I believe - were doing ok around the headland.
My first flight on the South face was a bit scratchy as the
wind was not over strong either. On my second flight it was a lot more lifty.
The wind had picked up as well. Only problem was this was probably due to some
light rain coming in so I made an exit to the bottom. Shame because the
showers didn't come to much and the wind seemed to pick up after that.
Still there's always another day.
Report from RW
0800 A quick look out the window & the cloud was moving
towards me from the SW over the Chesil Bank, so gear into jeep & away to
Ringstead. I made a number of calls to other members & on arrival "Coxie"
from Wiltshire was rigging for take off. I inserted the windsock at T.O. &
thought it was due South, confirmed by John A who arrived determined to fly
for an hour between fishing. Phoned Martin F. & Sean L. again to let them
know we were on our way to White Horse.
Spent an unexpected several hours soaring &
thermalling, practicing those top landings.
Adrian C got a short distance - to Broadmayne - and others
flying were John B, Peter B, A Pilot, Sean L & the lovely Nix, Martin
F. Alan C watched with envy from the works van at Whitehorse garage -
sending signals with flashing headlights.
A good day, again!! Did anyone find my black
sunglasses???
Reference Dave F report 2-6-03:- I believe the pilot
concerned did manage to stay "almost dry" but dropped his mobile
phone at the waters' edge. He was, alas or alack, greeted by a female
completely in the buff with the words "Are you alright"? I wonder
what she meant!! He also commented there was a naked man lying on the beach
making a tent pole! He was retrieved by some friends of Jacko, what a bunch of
sports. (Now I want the
report AND the photos! DD)
Sunday 8th June 2003
Report from Dave Daniels
I passed by Ringstead at the beginning of the day and again
at the end when there were 7 paragliders on the ground. The
"forecast" 15/22mph had been 25+ all day - gusting 40 at times. Not
a single hang glider flight had taken place and ZZ was packing to go home.
The "forecast" was to drop to <15mph at about
6pm - but the wind was still hooting when I left the caravan at 7:30.
Saturday 7th June 2003
Report from Dave Daniels
Ringstead was a busy place - once the initial ground level
cloud lifted, and in between cycles of intense orographic
cloud behind which, and in which, there were often several wings.
As far as I can tell, the frequent orographic along this
part of the coast (Ringstead to Lulworth) is due in part to some wave effect
from Portland - although I'm open to other ideas on this one. For sure, in
amongst the haze and against a backdrop of higher stratus, one could see a
line of Cu streaming from Portland, and on other occasions I have seen a
sequence of low static lenticularis wave clouds - with orographic cloud on
White Nothe coming and going.
Anyway - whatever the reason - the damn stuff can appear
from almost nowhere in seconds at Ringstead and even experienced pilots have
been pinned beyond it waiting for it (and praying for it?) to clear. Rarely
does it descend to sea level, so it would be unusual for the beach to be
totally obscured - although one might have to push out to sea in front of the
cloud an un-nerving distance before one could actually see the beach beneath (NOT
to be advised - but better than heading back through it blind!). And -
more significantly for hangies - you end up with a cross-wind landing when you
do get to the beach.
In my experience, if you are up at White Nothe - there is
usually tell-tale patches of orographic along the cost to the east before it
closes in on Ringstead - although I'd not take this as an infallible
prediction of what's going to happen at Ringstead.
On Saturday, once the low cloud (non-orographic) had
cleared, I was riding between our chairman's legs .... on the tandem ...., and
along as far as Bindon and Rings Hills (Behind Lulworth Cove and Warbarrow Bay
respectively) orographic cloud was already evident. Durdle Door vanished from
view a few minutes later as another patch of orographic formed, and then (more
significantly, perhaps) another patch started forming between White Nothe and
Bat's Head (the next headland to the east of White Nothe), but it was forming
at between 50ft and 100ft asl. Now - if the humidity of the air is so high
that it forms that low - it's humid! And if some of the same air arrives below
you at Ringstead you'll be in a white-out before you can get back to land that
you can see! That was about the point at which Stuart and I decided we should
return to t/o.
Actually
- some time between taking off and deciding to leave the cliffs - the wind had
backed some 45+ degrees - so the lift was pretty crap too - and any thought of
"Oooo! We're out at White Nothe in a Southerly means a nice ride along to
Lulworth - or beyond!"- was orographic-ed out! Bugger!
We landed (and thank you whoever it was that decided to
remove those power-lines immediately to the east of t/o that enabled us to commit
to a really low return!), and within a minute White Nothe was totally obscured
and soon after pretty much everything else too as we sat in the stuff on t/o.
On another educational point ....
Leaving the ridge was not easy on Saturday - there never
being significant lift - so at times the ridge was a little busy with
paragliders. Hang Gliders, when taking off here (particularly on days of the
same light lift that is preventing paragliders to leave the ridge), tend to
take off with an instant left turn and fly via the ridge immediately behind
the houses just to the east of launch.
So - if you are a paraglider on the ridge and you see a
hangie preparing to launch - clearing a space in front of their t/o is not
enough, and you need to move to their right.
So - if the aero-modellers are out in force, as they were
on Sat - you have to linger in the small space between t/o and the
aero-modeller half of the ridge. Hopefully the hangie can get off quick enough
that you can still scratch up (well done Adrian B and a couple of others), but
equally you may end up going down - so a quick top landing (thank you Jacko!)
is another easy option, especially on days of little lift since this can be
done in the t/o area and you can be quickly back in the air once the hangie
has gone to the cliffs.
So - ad-hoc training session over - the flying .....
As already mentioned, I hitched a ride with Stuart, and
later Damian S's girlfriend (oops - forgot name - sorry!) had a much enjoyed tandem
ride - landing on the beach along with Alan T when lift just died. Damian S
was there, obviously, as was Russell W, Adrian B, Paul K, Sean L, Dave G,
Keith W and Ali F (who, as I am writing
this on Monday, has had the cheek to text me to ask if he can skip the parking
fee at Durdle Door by parking at my caravan if it's flyable later!).
We had an
"incident" at Ringstead on Saturday, too - one that involved
the owners of the first house on the cliffs and the "invasion of their
privacy". (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=376170&Y=81575&A=Y&Z=3)
This didn't involve any one person on our side - just everybody
that went to the cliffs on a day when the conditions were such that reaching
the cliffs was not a "given" and everybody hooked into the usual
"bowl" by the National Trust hut and then usually took some time to
climb past the first house.
Stuart, Sean and I visited the house at the end of the day
and talked things over with the owners.
There can be few of us that have flown past the house that
haven't thought "If only ....!", it being in a fantastic position
with a great view and very secluded. Standing in their back (higher) garden
one is struck by these attributes - and the terrain is such that their
cliff-top garden is overlooked by no-one other than seagulls .... and US! For
sure, anyone that buys this house buys it for the obvious attributes - not to
be the paragliding equivalent to of Feltham and Heathrow.
We explained why we fly past their house, how we aim
for the lowest suitable part of the cliff and sometimes have the height to cut
left and not fly in front of them, and how Saturday was a day with little lift
and quite busy.
Their obvious preference was that they would prefer that we
didn't fly there, although this was never said in so many words - and on our
side we said that we would pass on their wishes that we would not linger in
front of their house, or nearer to it, than conditions and pilot skills
permitted.
So - if you are approaching the cliff with loads if height
- cut left and hook into the cliffs to their east and annoy that bigger
"grange like" house (Holworth House) - since that's rented for holiday lets (we
believe). Thanks.
PS - Don't miss David Fanklin's 2nd June report, below, that's just been received!
Thursday 5th June 2003
Report from Dave Daniels
The second I turned into into Southbourne for the meeting I
realised it was probably flyable, I - as most others turning up to the monthly
meeting - just hadn't given it a thought and the kit was at home.
The second I turned into Seward Ave - all I could see was
Dave M's wing inflate at the other end of the road and take off.
Damn! The FIRST time it's been flyable right outside the
monthly meeting since we moved to this venue!
Brian M flew off to the BIC and back, several people
borrowed Dave's kit for a quick flight and Dave took Bob D up on the tandem.
Alan B got his wing out and flew too!
A great evening - if only we had ALL brought our kit and
made an impressive sight as 20+ wings took to the sky!
Next month the wing will be in the car!
Tuesday 3rd June 2003
Report from RW
I thought I spied a wing in the sky at White Horse after
tea! Off I scurried to the launch in the bowl.
As I was rigging, along came Dave G all smiles saying
"I have just had an hour at the Horse!"
Conditions were strong but directly on the hill, so off I
went ..... backwards to begin, then forward - with a kestrel hovering just
below t/o.. Penetrated and stayed on the SW arm, practiced big ears and top
landings for 15 mins.
We all went home for a rest hoping Thursday will provide
better conditions.
Report from Alastair Florence
All day I had been toiling in the office ("Toiling"!
Hahahahaha!)
watching cloud move steadily from the SE. I was sure Ballard would be flyable
this evening. During the day I bumped into Dave M stocking up on home
improvement goods who was also hoping for an evening at Ballard.
As I left the office the wind still looked good and the sky
clear. As Nine Barrow down came into view it was obvious that Ballard was
swamped in low cloud and a pathetically weak wind. Not to be defeated I headed
back to Durdle Door where there was a gap in the cloud, wind speed was good,
direction a little Easterly. I launched and flew to the cliffs.
After about 10mins I concluded it was to far east for
comfort (heh! that'll teach
you to play on my site!).
After a safe landing I headed home. Strangely the wind was now a positive SW -
so I went back over Kimmeridge. The sky looked unsettled, so I decided it was
best to come back another day. Soon after, it changed again to a pleasant
bright evening.
Bloody weather!
Monday 2nd June 2003
Report from David Fanklin
Not a position you want to be in to often! I didnt get the splashy bit that came next as I was rather concerned as to whether I was up to running half a mile on shingle. (Would the pilot like to own up and give HIS account? DD)
Monday 2nd June 2003
Report from Simon Herbert
I had the Monday off and woke up to cloudy overcast weather
and didn’t even dare to think it would be a flying day. 1pm came and out
came the sun, checked Wendy and it was on for Ringstead, chucked the gear in
the car and raced from Fareham to the bay.
When I got there at around 3pm I heard that a Hang Glider
and two Paragliders had gone for the cliffs and dropped down out of view -
much to the concern of the other pilots still on the hill. The conditions
looked perfect so I took off, and after gaining 120ft, headed for the cliffs,
half expecting to be dumped on route as usual, but was pleasantly surprised to
find stacks of lift on the way allowing me to bypass the first house and go
straight for the next in line. Once there I expected to need to do a few beats
to get more height as usual, but today not the case, I headed straight for the
cliffs and once there looked down to check out the guys who had landed on the
beach. They all seemed to be OK so onward to Lulworth.
The wind was quite southerly so 100% perfect for the run down to Durdle Door.
I have done the run down to the Door before but not made it back, although the
incentive then was not so great as I had buddies with me who could retrieve
me. This time I didn’t have that luxury which kind of focuses the mind when
you know you could have a 7km trek back!.
Whilst at Durdle Door I had a little play to see if I could
get the neck stretching tourists to do the same as the penguins and fall over
backwards as they starred aloft. Needless to say I had little success so
headed back to take off after taking a few moments to admire the crystal clear
blue sea below. It was at this point I realised I had not put any media in the
camera Doh!.
On the way back I could see the Orographic cloud was
starting to build and so I cut my flight short and headed straight for takeoff
whilst I could still see it. I don’t think anyone else made it to the Door
that day, shame, it was perfect, and with out a doubt the most enjoyable
flight I have had this year.
Sunday 1st June 2003
Report from Martin Beetham
Gentle pressure to take my usual place in a scratch team
for a very informal annual cricket match in Nottingham on Saturday afternoon
followed by a bbq in Derbyshire saw me at Rushup (Derbyshire site) on Sunday
morning.
Light wind but picking up nicely as frequent thermals came
through. 2 gliders in the air quickly became about 20. About 2 hours fun
flying with plenty of thermals to play in, up to about 1000ft ato (no one else
seemed to get any higher so was satisfied with that).
As the morning went on it became rougher, wing pitching
more than I remember it doing before in this country, vario finding its higher
notes in some very tight cores. Then realised my groundspeed away from the
ridge was much lower than it had been so took my place in the line of pilots
heading for the bottom landing field (we walk up before flying in Derbyshire!)
and a chat with various others there. These included another Wessex member,
Fiona D enjoying her first day flying in Britain for 6 months.
Early finish even allowed me time to go climbing in the
afternoon, just to finish off any muscles which weren't already aching from
the cricket.
Report from Sean Staines
Andrea and I took the campervan to Beer head for the
weekend.
An excellent Condors coastal site. Saturday was too light
to gain height above takeoff but Sunday proved to be an excellent day after an
unpromising drizzly start.
Managed two 18km out and returns stopping just before
Sidmouth and one 25km out and return to Big Picket Rock beyond Sidmouth.
Crossing Sidmouth looks an impossible gap requiring about a
2km glide crossing the promenade and hotels on the seafront. Awesome.
Report from Dave Daniels
What I think about weather forecasters is well know - I now
think even less of them.
Every forecast was giving S/SSE 10/12mph for Sunday - so it
was to be a mega Durdle Door day!. Pah!
Hours of waiting and nothing happend - 6mph was the best
the assembled throng of para-waiters had. There was some flying at Ballards
and White Horse - but in the end Sean L, Nicola B, Kris B and I just had to
fly - so it was a couple of beach landings and walk back up for us (well -
Kris claimed he HAD to get back to London and avoided the second flight ....
er, walk!)
Actually - it was great fun! The beaches were quiet
and the wind almost nil on them. To think I've sat at the top in a sulk so
many times! T-t-Bs are now going to be an important part of my early
morning and late evening flying!
Eye in the Sky - May 2003 - Part 2
Eye in the Sky - May 2003 - Part 1
Eye in the Sky - April 2003
Eye in the Sky - March 2003 - II
Eye in the Sky - March 2003 - I
Eye in the Sky - February 2003
Eye in the Sky - January 2003
Eye in the Sky - November/December 2002
Eye in the Sky - October 2002
Eye in the Sky - September 2002
Eye in the Sky - August 2002 - Part 2
Eye in the Sky - August 2002 - Part 1
Eye in the Sky - July 2002 - Part 2
Eye in the Sky - July 2002 - Part 1
Eye in the Sky - June 2002 - Part 3
Eye in the Sky - June 2002 - Part 2
Eye in the Sky - June 2002 - Part 1
Eye in the Sky - May 2002
Eye in the Sky - April 2002 - Part 2
Eye in the Sky - April 2002 - Part 1
Eye in the Sky - March 2002
Eye in the Sky - 2001 and before