Joint XC & thermallling clinics with SE Wales club

[Viv]

How about combining XC lectures with the monthly meeting? It would make me want to attend if I feel there is something worth turning up for. Did anybody actually bother to go this month?

[daryy]

I  just want to hone my xc decision making which always seems to be my undoing :mrgreen:

[Chris Dusgate]

Went to BC , despite concerns about the wind strength,as I'd made the committment. Thanks to those who turned up. Too windy until 3ish then it eased and we managed to get into the air. As RASP predicted there were fairly weak thermals. Shame it didn't ease earlier and the cloud lift a bit, we might have managed something.
Nice couple of hours flying however, max ato = 700 feet. For once parawaiting paid off for me.

When I made the decision yesterday to call the XC clinic I did have some concerns about wind strength however given most forecast models looked okish for wind strength and RASP said there would be some thermic activity I felt it was worth a go. Ironcially I was more concerned about thermal strength than the wind. You don't need me to tell you that forecasters have had a problem with the weather this year! Yesterday it didn't feel like a marginal call (unlike last Saturday and Nant y moel).

If we get a good looking day over the next three weekends I'll still try and run the clinic with Nick's help. Beyond then  it'll have to wait until next year. Given the vagries of the forecasting I'll only make the call the day before, definitely no earlier. I'll also be looking for a slightly better forecast than we had for today, but not much because as I've said it didn't look too bad yesterday, perhaps a better RASP thermal strength forecast.

Chris

[Chris Dusgate]

As we are fast running out of summer, going to hold a clinic on the hill at Bryn Caws tomorrow (Saturday)

It looks like the obvious place to try and fly tomorrow so it looks like it's worth a go. RASP suggests it may be a bit stable and therefore the thermals may not be going high enough for us to venture over the back, however the chance of thermals is considerably higher than the last few days.

Briefing on the hill at 11am. Please be prompt.

Thanks

Chris

[Chris Dusgate]

Well we tried,

Went to Nant y Moel and drove to cloud base!, then it rained, then it became too windy. Thanks to those who turned out. Here's hoping for some better weather next weekend.

[gareth.pawan]

Thanks for the directions and the telephone call Chris. Will try and get there for 10.30. Hope the weather holds!
Gareth

[Chris Dusgate]

Just had a chat with Nick and we both think it's worth having a look at Nant Y Moel tomorrow. I emailed all those who've signed up (apart from Gron who remains secretive re his email address!) and will now ring those who have not replied to my email. Meet at takeoff at 10.30am.

The wind is forecast to pick up in the afternoon and cloud will increase, however the day does appear to offer some thermic possibility so we'll give it a go with an early start.

[Chris Dusgate]

When we had a chat at the XC theory lecture the idea of a paid retrieve driver seemed popular, i.e. each person contributing say a tenner plus petrol costs. If anyone knows of someone with their own vehicle who would be interested please let me know. Knowing you've got a guaranteed lift back to the hill can make a big difference in deciding whether or not to go XC.

Thanks

Chris

[Chris Dusgate]

Thanks for those comments, glad you felt it was helpful.

Re this weekend we are not going to hold an Xc clinic because the forecast doesn't look good enough and I don't want to be dragging people out on a so/so XC forecast when Rhossili looks likely for Sat pm. For someone who lives on Gower there's nothing worse than having spent the day in the hills and not flying only to drive home and see gliders flying at Rhossili !!! I feel the latest notice I should give folks is the nite before. Perhaps when all this humid air clears away we'll have a better airmass.

I may yet go inland 1 day this weekend, perhaps Sat depending on how things look in the morning, otherwise Rhossili pm.

Gron I still need your contact details, email,mobile, landline.

[Viv]

Thanks for letting me attend the clinic, it was interesting. Although I haven't achieved pilot status yet, and so cannot join in fully, I hope to come along to fly the hill and may even make myself useful for retrieves for successful XCers?

[Stevie G]

Tidy Nick and Chris, thanks for the effort guys, am looking foward to really getting away, (any day now lol)

[AndyH]

Thanks for your time,effort and knowledge tonight Chris and Nick, I really appreciated it and hopefully my XC distances will now start to improve with the clinic up and running, and hopefully Saturday might work too.

[Chris Dusgate]

Reminder that the theory lecture is being held at Nick's house tonight at 7.30pm. Depending on which forecast you look at we may well be getting out at the weekend.

[AndyH]

Will do Chris, with SteveJ's permission I could also bring along his 'Performance Flying' dvd that I borrowed 6 months ago, this was filmed with Jocky Sanderson and team ozone and contains XC,S.I.V and acro,although i'm not interested in the acro side, it's too dangerous for me.

[Chris Dusgate]

Theory lecture,

This will be held at Nick Robert's house on Thursday (24th) at 7.30pm prompt.  Nick's address is 47 Graigole Road, Glais. Andy please bring Speed to fly DVD. If it's a good flying day on Thursday I may postpone. I will put a post on the website on Thursday if this is the case, otherwise assume it's taking place.

Gron please email me on cdusgate@aol.com your mobile and landline #s plus email address. Tom please resend your email which ended up in my spam folder and I accidentally pressed 'Delete All', sorry!