Steve Watkins Flying Diary

[Steve Watkins]

26/5/07 - Hay Bluff NW

We actually set out to Fan-G as it looked quite light but towards before Sennybridge it started to rain so we headed back to a better looking sky over Hay Bluff. By the time we arrived, a few gliders were already flying.

Enjoyed a total of 1hr 15mins of flying in quite lifty smooth air with thermals coming through but not really gaining much altitude, max 350ft ato. Landed on top for wind to pick up whilst I watched Gareth and another pilot enjoying a hop across Herefords knob and flying amongst sailplanes.

About 3pm, rain started to spot so we landed at bottom and headed home.

Very cold conditions!

[Steve Watkins]

23/5/07 - Fochriw

Headed to Fochriw with Gareth. A few flying on Merthyr Common. After about an hour the wind started dropping and pilots launched. I left it drop further and had a 45 minute soar in quite hard conditions, thermals coming through snappy.

[Steve Watkins]

22/5/07 - Fochriw

Wind coming though quite keen 20mph on arrival. A few pilots had just landed when we arrived and nice to see Paul Paraventure and catch up with him.

Waited about watching Gareth Davies and others flying in smooth air. Helped Paul off with a tandem and decided to do some flying myself!

Anyway, launched and knew something was wrong straight away as wing was pulling left, noticed that the C Risers had caught around the magnetic holder for the brake handle and decided it was too dodgy and pushed out and bottom landed (I HATE WALKING UP HILLS!)

Anyway launched again only for the wind to drop and side landed.

[Steve Watkins]

21/5/07 - Heol Senni

Conditions were looking great on the way to Heol Senni with Gareth after work. Arrived on launch 17:30 approx. Managed two short flights, probably in the lightest conditions yet for me. Thermals dropping off allowed me to side land twice.

Very happy with new harness, just need to sort out flight deck which isn't hanging right.

[Steve Watkins]

5/5/07 - Hay Bluff

Ventured to Hay Bluff on the premise that the wind was switching around to West and we would be ok. A well settled inversion saw the odd cumulus popping through but in the distance.

Conditions were very light, in fact sometimes nothing apart from thermals which some managed to get up on for short periods. 2 pilots got very high ato. Gareth Davies had a few thermic flights, making the most of difficult conditions.

I decided to walk down after much parawaiting after a failed launch. The wind had started coming from behind us and was nearly SW.

Sitting here now with a sunburnt face and a headache and about to go to bed.

[Steve Watkins]

4/5/07 - Heol Senni

On arrival with Gaz, it was nice to see plenty in the air and Paraventure training lower launch.

Launched into smooth conditions, and gained a few hundred feet above op launch. Lots of lift around everywhere. I have tightened my harness strap and the  Sup'Air AltiX was much more stable and it performed excellently and I'm very pleased with it (Thankyou Simon!)

Made a mistake of having a twist in the one set of risers and was wondering whether to land but the wing was stable and conditions good so I continued to fly with no problems.

Thanks to Nick Roberts offering a tandem and shouting down (I was keen to test the new harness Nick)

Top landed after 1hr 15mins when temperatures had plummeted very cold aloft.
Played a bit on top and did a top to bottom (landings need to be brushed up!!!!!!)

[Steve Watkins]

2/5/07 - Heol Senni

Eager to try out my new harness I set out with Gareth Davies to Heol Senni. Wind was coming NE about 16-18mph. Wasn't intending to do anything much as time was pressing 7:30pm pushed out into a never ending lift band and decided to land when Gareth Davies landed. Just a short flight but an important one for me with the new harness. Also pulled big ears in the lift band which I don't do often enough. 40 mins.

[Steve Watkins]

29/4/07 - Pandy

Driving to Pandy with Gareth Davies was a decision made on the basis that we would be dissapointed and it would be blown out. We were glad to see around 10 wings in the air flying the Blorenge.

On arrival at Pandy, there were 2-3 hangliders and 1 paraglider in the air. The carpark was busy with 20 odd vehicles. There were about 12 people on lower launch, waiting for the winds to drop and 1 or 2 got off. The air appeared to be very smooth once off the hill.

We decided to check out the higher launch as we did not want to be sucked over the back, and seeing as lower launch was alread busy.

We waited for a good while before the wind started to calm, and the oppurtunity presented itself to lauch in a lull.
Gareth and I launched together and due to the ENE winds, presented an excellent oppurtunity to do the Pandy run which we proceeded to do.

The conditions were excellent once airborne and we kept out in the valley and return to complete a 22km flight.

My GPS lost battery power half way up the first leg but Gareth Davies can witness my flight.

Approx 1hr 45mins

[Steve Watkins]

19/4/07 - Builth Wells Tremaen

On arrival to the top with Gareth approx 1pm , wind was coming on 35mph. After a 3 hour wait, winds dropped to 15mph launch. Launched into lovely air with lots of thermals in front of hill. Skys had now turned blue all around and no clouds forming above hill. Most of the time we were flying in lift and I managed for a change to get some really nice thermalling in which took me to 1000ft ato. Max height reached 2337ft asl. Restitution kicked in for even smoother flying and lift. Top landed  near car after 2hrs 20mins of flying 

[Steve Watkins]

14/4/07 - Talybont (SE)

45 mins thermal flying

3 gliders in the air convinced me the walk would be worth it. As always my flying partner Gareth reached the summit way ahead of me and launched.

Conditions were not brilliant, very thermic 6 ups/downs and not much prevailing wind despite the 2000ft lauch. Played around in huge thermals (well they were to me!) and gained some good height, sinking out of them rather quickly.

Made a mistake of going into the bowl area into sinking air and came down quickly but landed bouncing off the only rock in sight and slightly tore my harness seat and scraped the back of my legs to enjoy a long walk out.

[Steve Watkins]

9/4/07 - Hay Bluff (NW)

Arrived about 4:30 to see around 10-16 gliders in the air over Hay Bluff and Lord Herefords Knob.

Enjoyed some very smooth ridge lift conditions for 1hr 20mins after some encouragment off the hill from Gareth and Ifor 

[Steve Watkins]

4/4/07 - Heol Senni

Winds coming through brisk on arrival at top launch. NE winds constant but dropping slowly. Gaz launched and I followed 2 mins later (usually 2 hrs later!) and totally messed my launch up, but controlled it to a safe flying position! (Don't ask!) Found myself 500ft ato in no time. Penetration was slow at times and found myself going backwards at times. Was nearing going over the back and decided to speedbar which I haven't had to do much since passing out as I think my weight and well loaded wing keeps me penetrating well anyway. Pushed out forward and maintained heights through thermals and prevailing winds.

Overall time about 70 mins, landing good. I could have carried on flying for about another 20 mins but I felt nauseous and needed to land. Need to buy some Ginger   (No pun needed from Max!)

[Steve Watkins]

14/3/07 - Fochriw

Went via Talybont to Fochriw with Gaz and Simon. Managed two short flight, first one not very long, second one better. Pleased with launch/ground handling (amazed I can still remember!).

Conditions thermic and not really enough wind for me to stay up with my lack of skills and the 5kg over topend weight (Must sort that out!)

Glad to have been out thanks Gaz and Simon.