One of the best days on Ballaugh I’ve experienced- probably THE best. Now I know what all the ‘old timers’ have been talking about (you know who you are…) describing Ballaugh as the best site on the Island. There were about 9 or 10 paragliders out this day and we still maintained good separation and plenty of room. Lift everywhere and great to practice top landings, have a bite to eat out of Swales picnic (while he was flying of course), and take-off again. I had 3 separate flights with the last being the best in conditions that were getting stronger. I just managed to take-off on final flight- probably needed to move out front of the hill out of compression but once off I gained my highest altitude (290m ATO). With Martin flying on his hangy and Simon and I flying either side allowing plenty of room for him to manouver, it wasn’t long before I was in the wisps of clouds. Si had cleared off north to XC before I decided to do the same. First time off the hill here, I lost some height and was at about take-off height around Sulby village where some weak lift appeared. Saw Si’s landing field and thought I’ll land there just before I managed lift which took me past Glen Duff Depot for a PB of 5.3km. Well done to all pilots who, I think would have achieved and learnt something on this day.
Club News
Ballaugh 10-09-05
Ballaugh on Saturday 10th September was a good day. Got there about 1 p.m, Swalesy picked us up and took us to the top, thanks matey. He had already had a nice little flight. Watty was flying when we got to the top staying up nicely probably 150 – 190 metres ato. Keith & I got off into some nice weakish thermals and I tried to head North over the trees under weakish looking cloud. base was not v high so was not looking too good to get anywhere. Headed back to take off arriving lowish but easily able to get above again. After another 20 mins it shut off, Watty and I decked it on the south side. Keith stayed up for a bit longer heading to the north end.
Paragliding 30-08-05
Slui Roy was busy last night. Keith, Tony, Si, Ste, Ean and Chris all did extended top to bottoms. I was late as usual. Hiking up just as Ean took off I could see it was fairly buoyant, but down in the valley the smoke was going straight up. Not a good sign, but after so many nappies I was very reluctant to go down. On take off there was a breeze and a crazy cirrus sky showing things were on the change. Took off and scratched to about 10M where everything changed.
Sartfell XC 27.08.05
Here is the story of my trip to Snaifell landing field from Sartfell on Saturday.
After spending an hour or so soaring out front with plenty of top landings, Keith decided to head east toward Slieu Maggle to try to find lift under a nice cloud street that was developing. Simon and I were eyeing the sky which was looking quite good with more clouds developing closer to Sartfell. After a scruffy take off Si and I headed east also and parked ourselves under what looked like a good cloud, however nothing came from it. Si unfortunately landed the other side of the little gully. I was planning to head back to the ridge when I got some pleasant lift (1.5- 2m/s).
Paramotor World Championships Update
Monday Another early start, this time for a precision take off and landing task. Pilots take off is scored by how many attempts to take off; take-off cleanly first time scores 250 points, each attempt deducting points with more than 4 failed attempts giving a zero score. This was followed by a spot landing with 250 points for a bullseye and points deducted for each metre out. Landing must be on feet, a knee(s)or the paramotor frame touching the ground scores zero. Continue reading Paramotor World Championships Update
Ballaugh 20-08-05
Superb day on Ballaugh on Saturday. Myself, Watty, Keith, Jamie and Tony enjoying great thermals and relatively light winds. Plenty of top landings and thermallling back – but not too far. Ballaugh has not been this good for a while. The airwaves were crackling into life as we watched some other pilots (Chris and Ean) fly off Slieu Curn… Eventually we all packed up and left a perfectly flyable hill – well the practices were starting.
Tried out Keith’s new ‘Who Where?’ WAP system last night – very good.
Congratulations to Stephen on getting his CPC at Daweseys last week. He even got his first 45 minutes on Bradwell and top landed – not bad for a 15 year old. Well done Ste.
Just received the first report from Manx Paragliding Club sponsored pilot Noel Humphreys at the World Paramotor Championships.
Paramotor World Championships
Day 1, Sunday
1st task of the competition is a pilots choice of a selection of turnpoints to be flown in 90 minutes with the most points flown scoring highest. An interseting task requiring the pilot to consider the wings speed and the weather conditions. The window opened at 7am and I was the first pilot into the air, in fact I was the first pilot to take off in the championship!
Air like cotton wool
After the rain cleared Jamie & I headed out for a look. The intention was Ballaugh but the Brandywell hut had a very light westerly breeze so thought Snaefell would be worth a look.
Got to the top about 8 o’clock to be met with a nice steady 10-12 mph, bang on. The sun was starting to set so we got kitted up and ready to take off. The wind picked up a tadge to 14-16mph so staying up was going to be o.k. Both jumped off and went up 10 metres or so. The cloud appeared from nowhere so were force to abort what was looking like a real nice flight. A quick dash to the lander in extremely buoyant air with big ears in was the order of the day. An amusing 8 minute flight!!
Upon landing, a nice lady, (35-38, dark hair, nice personality) and her dog, turned up, jumped out of her car and asked if we were o.k and not lost!!
It must have come as quite as surprise to see two gliders suddenlyappearing from no where? Anyway, Jamie cadged a lift to the top to get his motor so all worked out smashing.
The low cloud clag then moved away as quickly as it came. Great…..
Paragliding 16-08-05
There was a few out on Tuesday night. Jamie flew off Slui Roy with Giles a couple of times making it to the bottom LZ. Giles seemed to find some lift over the cables, but had no vario. Next thing Jamie and Tony went off finding the same lift, Tony went down but Jamie found a little of the lift gaining maybe 100 metres. With a little encouragment on the radio he was off towards the Crosby hotel, landing just outside the TT course for 2.6k.
This is the furthest I have seen anyone get on a straight flight out from the hill. Its safe and very do-able for most pilots.
Watty takes XC lead!
Sunday dawned with a low cloudbase and clouds scudding across the sky at a great rate of knots. I was surprised to get a call from Watty on top of Ballaugh with Martin to say it was light there…but they were going to give it a go. Got a further call about an hour later from Watty to say he had got to Ramsey Grammar School for about 8.2 k…Fantastic flight and I look forward to his write up. This is the longest flight so far this year and beats my best of last year too.. and I think 1st place in the league?…Well done Watty..