Steve Watkins' 2008 Diary

[Steve Watkins]

5th October 2008 - Heol Senni

Saw Ifors shout on the shoutbox and headed directly to Heol Senni, got there in lightning time!

Wind coming on perfect for an evening flight, very damp under foot though and after 45 mins, landed and packed away wing quick which soon got damp.

45 Mins, 300ft ATO max, very smooth conditions saw sun setting, lovely site.
Had a great landing, pushed out and then around still at height and had to lose it before spot landing by Ifor.

2008 TOTAL AIRTIME : 8hrs 45mins

[Steve Watkins]

28th September 2008 - Talybont

Not looking forward to the climb on the SW face, Gaz and I and one other pilot arrived just after midday and headed towards the right bowl (by the saddle) as thermals were being pushed through regular. The other pilot tested the air and it was marginal but it soon picked up. Maxturner arrived on the scene walking from Llanfrynach.

A host of other pilots arrived on the hill (from Avon I think) who were soon in the air.

Very thermic conditions allowed good climbs and height gained ato was about 600-700 feet although many were much higher than me catching thermals over the back although nobody went as the skies were blue.

Made a slight misjudgment and lost all lift and headed over towards the saddle to side land although I found conditions to be extremely thermic and very difficult to land. I will start a new thread about landing in very thermic conditions as I have been in this situation before and I don't feel confortable.

Anyway eventually landed and headed back up past soldiers running with huge bags over the hills.

After recovering, headed back up into yet again thermic lift although height gain had lowered at this point and many pilots had landed out.

Enjoyed a nother good flight with Gaz marking thermals and getting a lot of lift off the quarry side (slightly bumpy).

Glided over brook for a good landing. - 1hr 30 mins

2008 TOTAL AIRTIME : 8hrs

[Steve Watkins]

25th September 2008 - Pandy

First flight for over 3 months due to my recent illness and feeling pretty apprehensive but knowing I was with Gareth Davies who I have spent a lot of time with calmed my nerves for some brill flights on Pandy forecasted ENE but more to the NE.

Managed 3 separate flights totaling about 2.5 hours, first flight managed 800ft ATO.

Good to meet Stevie G, Ifor, Paul Williams and others (11 in total) on hill.
Conditions were spoilt really by consistent cloud cover - when are they ever going to get the forecast right!!!

2008 TOTAL AIRTIME : 6hrs 30Mins

[Steve Watkins]

8th June 2008 - Fan-G Bowl

Headed up with Gaz and Simon - Ifor already on the top who launched as we were unpacking.

Managed just over an hours flight in strong thermals but quite scattered. Found very good lift right in the bowl and managed some great thermalling today reaching about 1500ato. Landed on top as conditions were picking up and getting a little narly. Good to see a lot of pilots out including Chris Dusgate, Nick Roberts, John Nash, Jon Munro, Andy H, Viv.

We did take the oppurtunity to test the text service which needs "tweaking"

2008 TOTAL AIRTIME : 4hrs 5 min

[Steve Watkins]

11th May 2008 - Heol Senni

Good to meet Andy H and Ifor on the hill on arrival with Gaz. Ifor enjoying a 1000ato before we arrived.

Initially conditions very buoyant and to be honest not very enjoyable. Decided to bottom land after 10 mins.
Walked back up reluctantly with Ifor and sweated all the Vodka I drank last night!

Second flight a lot smoother conditions but not brilliant, didn't manage very great heights andbottom landed after 20 mins.

Not the best day I've had flying which I think was mostly attributed to the wind being off to the East a lot.

2008 TOTAL AIRTIME : 3hrs 5 mins

[Steve Watkins]

7th May 2008 - BrynCaws

Arrived at about 6:15pm on the hill with Gareth Davies. Great to meet Nick Roberts, Gareth Pawan & some SEWHGPC members.

Wind coming through 20mph+ but was just flyable when the wind dropped off. Launched at around 7:30pm and flew for an hour in good conditions, very lifty. Wind switched slightly off and I hit a big sink causing me to sink out at the worse place possible between barbed wire fencing a small gully which I aimed for and crashed out but luckily escaping injury but a bit winded.

Anyway, after composing myself walked to the top again and launched for another 15 min flight.
Spent about 15 mins ground handling as well, nice to get that feel of the wing again

2008 TOTAL AIRTIME : 2hrs 35 mins

[Steve Watkins]

5th May 2008 - Blorenge

Quite a gamble I thought today as weather forecasts were all over the place. Anyway decided that the E would swing around to SE later and decided on the Blorenge. Walked up with my partner Kay and its the first time I ever been up there. Not a bad site at all

On arrival Tim Johns was in the air scratching in thermals with 2 others sitting on launch.

Quite a few thermals coming through regular. Did some ground handling and managed three small flights of about 10 mins each. First flight managed about 300ft ato. Last flight landed into wind but ground speed was very fast, dropped like a lead weight and had to run v.fast, but managed to injury. Decided to call it a day about 4pm as conditions didn't seem to be improving.

[Steve Watkins]

16th January 2008 - Pandy

Arrived about 11:30am with Gaz and Ifor. Looking at the carpark, the hill was going to busy, and it was!!
I counted at least 30 in the air and 20 on the ground including about 8 hangliders.

I sat around for ages, as I am not very confident flying in big numbers, but I enjoyed the display of gliders and launches.

Around 3:30 I decided to pack up but then Gaz landed and boosted my confidence to get the wing back out and launch.
Enjoyed around 50 minutes of very smooth flying although it was very cold!!
Launched fine with the help of Gaz and landing was very good on the top.