Club News
North Barrule 1
Ballaugh Landing
Ballaugh Take-off
Annecy 2005
November flying
Don’t know if anyone else flew the windy weekend but Watty and Martin got 5.5 hours between us so not a bad start to November.
On Saturday west or slightly south of 18-20mph on Slieu Curn South takeoff. Watty and me had checked out Curn and Staarvy. Watty obviously opting for Staarvy but I was more worried about the smallish slopy landing than the excess of windspeed on Sl Curn, so we went our separate ways. Watty did really well both days with over 3 hours and got an imprewssive 140 metres on Sunday, (twice the height of the hill). On both days we suspected there may have been a wave effect which seemed borne out by the silky smooth lift, despite at higher level at Sl Curn around 20mph wind.
Both days I had to contend with low level orographic cloud, on Saturday 300/400 ft ATO. I got to 660 ft but was able to stay out front weaving in and out of cloud and along to Sartfell and back in very smooth pleasant air. Landed normal Orrisdale field and Watty very kindly retrieved me after his 2 hour Staarvy flight.
Sartfell 3rd November 2006
Dan, Chris and myself arrived early at Sartfell on Friday afternoon (03/11/2006). With enough wind to ground handle at the bottom lander we headed up and were ready to launch around 14.30 in around 10 mph WSW.
Didn’t seem strong enough to stay up long but weak thermals coming through topped up the lift sufficiently and we were away. Dan and I top landed after about 20 mins and Chris headed off. Wind picked up a bit and it got really smooth prompting me to get out the camera for some hands off videoing – see the link here if you’ve got broadband.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyWuaJwNQ4U
Had another 40 mins and then headed off towards the lander taking some photos on the way down.
Autumn flying
Sunday dawned with a strong wind warning which seemed weird as there was no wind at all. It was forecast to increase however so it seemed to be a good plan to get flying sooner than later. Keith , Si and Chris Miss were first to hit the hills climbing up Snaefell and finding no wind they eventually top to bottomed with K and S landing down in the fields next to the Reservoir.
We then regrouped and decided to fly according to the SE forecast off Mount Stupid and try and get to Hibernia. By this time a large group of pilots found themselves on Stupid. Myself, K, S, Bill, Swalesey, Chris Miss and Gold were on the summit-again becalmed ..Plenty of time to catch up on the gossip and compare how long it had been since we had all flown .the wind then strengthened to 14mph perfect and then disappeared! This was to be repeated again and again as we waited on the top for some sort of steady breeze to materialize. Watty then appeared on North Barrule .took off and sort off stayed up. This seemed to spur everyone on as the next breeze to come along had everyone taking off and going up. Not willing to mess about on Stupid a flock of manxparagliders was soon floating along towards North Barrule praying for the breeze to stay switched on .It did not and switched off just as everyone arrived slope landings all over the hill. Some walked back up a little and took off again to get to Hibernia some walked.
Nice to get out after what has been a very poor spell of weather.
I have just received a copy of the Steve Lamson’s DVD featuring our paragliding competition. Nice film with a bit of everything for anyone who has an interest in the IOM. The paragliding is limited to the top of Snaifell, but you certainly get a feel for what’s going on.
There is a meeting this Thursday at the QB. I seem to inherited a few harness’s and bits and bobs. So if you missing a harness please come along.
Slieu Curn 1300 ft/min sink
Dont know if anyone else was desperate enough to fly today. Stiff WSW winds dying to South by evening. Base 50ft below top of Sartfell.
Wasn’t sure if it may have been too SW for Sl Curn (South side). But nice take off into SW 18mph strangely dying to 10-15mph at 230ft max at cloudbase. Although cloud no problem here as very thin and patchy, unlike at Sartfell where more solid looking. Well stayupable and very pleasant.
Thought that I would fly over onto SW spur to South which would be more into wind. I lost a bit of valuable height getting across but it was soon regained there on one beat (to one third the length of the ridge running into the westerly "Big Bowl"). However on the second beat into the bowl I must have lost my marbles! Flying in nice bouyant lift slightly downwind I got "mesmerized" by this bit of hill in front which faced more into wind thinking that should lift better and flying further along than I intended.
Then I suddenly realised, you IDIOT you shouldn’t be this far along, you are probably in the rotor from the spur of Froghane. TURN NOW!!!
Bulgham Bay
Monday 16th October 06
Flew yesterday (Sunday) at Bulgham Bay. Today wind at Ramsey again the same fresh SE with biggish white horses, but at Bulgham again much more East. 15 degrees south of East 17-19 mph, similar strength to yesterday but much smoother. The forecast said it would be murky and it certainly was and completely overcast. It was an orrible unfriendly looking hang gliding day. But– the the wind was on the hill so had to go—straight up to just under a grand in 10 minutes in magic silky smooth lift. Yesterday I got higher and although not rough it had been a bit choppy. However now I was scared that I wouldn’t have much of a chance if there should be any traffic flying down the coast. I would see/ hear him but he would be unlikely to see me in time. But no worries, this fitted into my little plan to try to fly the Dog Mills as well as Bulgham on the same day! Should be fairly straightforward with my trusty old Atos.