Category: News

Well the course finished on Friday with everyone doing really well. should be some new faces on the hill now. Saturday dawned light and bright and the old hands decided to give it a go on Ballaugh. The Swales brothers were first off, with Phil getting a very nice climb which took him back to the sheep pens. It made me drive a bit faster to the hill as I watched him from Snaefell……without a vario too, very nice.

Keith, Si , Jamie and Phillip also had a go and bombed it.

After we regrouped we headed to Slui Curn where the Swales brothers were again first off. Phil and Mike seemed to find good lift and headed towards

Freogane eventually landing out front. The others then had a go. It was

buoyant but too far off to the south really and eventually everyone ended up going down. Nice flying though.

The ever keen Swales brothers then headed off to Sartfell where they flew the westerly and southerly faces.

Forecast for the week looking grim……maybe later.

Checked out the new students at Slui Curn last night. They are all now nearly soaring, quite an achievement in five days. Took off myself and went straight down……well I have not flown in a few days!

Quick reminder that its Judy’s big talk/video show about flying with Condors tonight. 7pm at the Manx flyers club, Derbyhaven. Pass this around as its only 3 quid and that’s going to charity. (kids free)

See you there.

As most of us landed back from France on Sunday it was nice to get out on the Manx hills again and watch how the new EPC course was going.  Amazingly 8 of the new guys were jumping off Snaifell for a 1000 foot top to bottom, on only the 3rd day of their course!  I do not think have heard as many cheers and Yahoo’s down in the landing field…amazing stuff.  Everyone was having a great time enjoying this great  weather.

Dave Oldfield and Noel flew with the motors both last night and night before.

20km out and return last night from St Judes to Ballaugh. Very nice! – Good to see more flying going on over the Island.

Forecast to increase today……NW force 2-3 so should be soarable somewhere.

Judy’s talk is now advertised in the paper and looks like it could  be very good.  Thursday night 7pm at the Manx flyers, Derbyhaven.  Its only 3 quid and kids are free,  with all proceeds going to charity…so make the effort and spread the word.

See you tonight on the hill or see you there.

Myself, Jami and Si flew off a very sinky North Barrule on the Sat..   Si had the best of it-  soaring the northern end.  I had the worst,  sinking straight down.  There was a blue hole over us with cloud over Snaifell,  so we went there next.  It was very Northerly to NE.  Managed to climb to about 50m above take off,  but then lost it….we all went down.  Should have been here an hour earlier.  Lesson learned-  follow the clouds.

Sunday saw a very fickle wind,we were looking everywhere to fly till we settled on Ballaugh.  Although quite westerly it was relatively easy to stay up in quite relieable therm als.  Noel and Bill joined us along with Watty.
Noel gave a very impressive thermaling display.  Easily out climbing everyone and then heading out to the village and back.  A few thought he had his motor on at one point!!  Ballaugh eventually died down so a few went off to Slui Curn where it was light.  Myself , Watty , Noel and Phillip went to Snaifell where it was strong,  up to 25mph but averaging 18mph.   Noel bravely tried it and found it was easy to fly in with great thermals.  With that we were all off thermaling to about 400 foot ato.  The lift seemed
everywhere,  especially over the landing field.

Good day.

Looks good for the next few days for anyone wanting practice before we go to France.

Lovely night last night,  even if it was forcast for thunder.
Swales, Tony, Si and Chris (from Ausi) took off from a windless snaifell to find a suprising 18mph headwind from the south and lots of zero’s.  They all had very smooth bouyant flights.  So good in fact they all yomped up
again , joined by self and Jamie, for another go.   The wind was lighter but still it was pretty bouyant and as always a lovely flight.  Clouds of midgies in the lz soon had everyone packed away…..ug.

Julean also made a fly past on his yellow action.  Looked nice and high
and very impressive.  Must try that some time.

Looking good for tonight and the weekend.  Got a feeling we will get lots done.

Swales, Keith Si and Mike flew Slui Curn with limited success. There was maybe too much south in it. Then Myself, Tony , Bill and Stu flew Sartfell. Toni found some nice lift near the lz, but the rest of us bombed out…..some quite spectacularly!

Looking good for the rest of the week.

Good day on Sat, BBC seems the better forecast of late with all the others a bit pessimistic. Noel was first out on Slui Lewaige, staying up a bit but eventually succumbing to a dying breeze from the N.E. He then met up with myself, Gold, Keith, Si and Jamie and we all yomped up N.Barrule where Noel was first off again into a NW wind of about 10-12mph.

Continue reading Paragliding 11/06/05

A couple of short video clips from Saturday 11th June on North Barrule.

 

 

 

 

 

Flying with Simon Atherton

Flying with Noel Humphreys

 

Myself and Keith managed to get up Sartfell last night. We climbed up under quite a promising sky, with birds circling. I took off and had a quick soar about eventually slope landing to let Keith have a go. By this time however a large patch of cloud had come in killing the breeze and any hope of thermals. Keith flew and slope landed a little lower. We both then flew down to the bottom, encountering some very weak patches of lift over the newly burnt heather. Cannot help think these will work well with a bit of sun on them. Flew the whole time in just a tee shirt so I guess summers here now. Must hunt out the “lucky” shorts.

Forecast for the weekend looks good to very good…………..Sat NW 10 mph on BBC, nnw- n on xcweather.

See you soon.

You may not believe it, but I am not a 2005 paragliding virgin anymore! Had a top flight on South Barrule yesterday afternoon.  After contacting ATC and Met decided to go and have a yomp up the hill, as the wind was SE ish (120) 8knots at Airport.

Wind varied from about 6mph to a thermic 16mph. Took a while to set up, as everything had been disconnected for the parachute repack, by which time it was much calmer.

Took of on South side at 3pm, and went straight up, lift was easy to find, even well out in front of the hill.  Got to 540ft ATO really easily so decided to big ears (a few times) to get down to the height restriction I had set with ATC. Flew out over the plantation, left over to the Ballamodha and right over the car park too.  Perfect day for a cross country, but still happy with a 51 minute first flight of the year!

At work tomorrow night, so will not be able to make the farmers, but now my enthusiasm has been boosted for Manx flying, might see you on the hill soon.