Stevie G's Log Book 2009

[Stevie G]

yeah harrington barathea... I think he is... Im impressed... all the guys, Norris, Rob B, Cookie, Rhys and Chrissiekite are really going for it...even the locals are impressed with the Welsh boys..tidy

[Stevie G]

9.9.09... Monte Cabrer... NE 3mph. 28c... an earlier start at goat mountain today...strong winds at the coast... ready to fly by 3pm... everyone eager to get up and go... we had a training plan today to seek and work the thermals as a team... to gain at least 1800ft ato... it worked well....cloudbase was higher... everyone working well together, concentrating in 4, sometimes 6, even 10mps lift...taking it all in... the valley wind picked up but still safe to fly... all land after 1.30hrs... knackered and happy go for beer... tomorrow cloud base even higher, so we're all looking forward to more of the same and getting an xc together...we'll see!

[Jeremy]

No offence to Norris, but he must have felt quite "at-home" up Mt Cabrer (goat mountain) eh? Ha ha ha !
Love you really Norris.

Glad you're having fun guys !

[Stevie G]

8.9.09...Monte Cabrer (Goat Mountain)... NE 5mph. 28c... didn't expect to fly... but got a call from Doyouwanna to be ready at 3.30 we go fly...after an hr an a half we get to goat mountain... pilots in the air already... the boys are excited... get to to top 3300ft asl... 1300ft ttb.... we all forward launch and start to thermal straight away... searching for bigger and better thermals we find them over the huge plain in front of us and drift back above the mountain... marvelous... the boys really enjoyed their experience of 5mps football field sized rising air getting 3000ft above the valley floor... after over an hr in all starts to ease off so go in for landing in a small area...they do really well for a complicated site... all very happy... a good start... the boys enjoy the beers....see what we get tomorrow...

[Stevie G]

lol Mark.... its just so reliable there this year...I like to fly where it'l give the most for the day... see at the Blorange Mark

[Mark Bowley]

Stevie,

Surely you must be in the running for the "Rhosilli Frequent Flyer" award.

Mark....

[Stevie G]

24/8/09... Rhossili.W-SW 14-16mph. 22c... took a chance for an early... 7.30 at Rhossili, was met by Nasher,Gerry, ParaVenture and students...it was east 5mph and showers...we knew we had to wait...forcast was slow... went for breakfast in the warm...got back to hill to find it starting to clear and turn, so went up and got ready...we didn't have to wait long... it came on West 14mph and gradually to 16mph...everyone off at 12.45pm, glad we waited...air was smooth to start but after an hour was turning SW - S... starting to be a little turbulent in place's...all knowing the dangers when Rhossili has South in it we land...most of us back on the pimple, some on the beach... we all got a good 1.30mins in the air around the 1000ft asl mark...that's the window shut for the day, so retrieve to WormsHead for refreshments and social...for us locals it was worth it... would of been nice for a full day, but grateful we flew anyway...

vid shot on th 17th

Paragliding (azbushcraft.com)

[Stevie G]

22/8/09... Marros. S 15mph. 20c... was gonna do an early at Marros... glad we didn't... got there for 11.30 to find FlySpain already there... got ready and it just started to  work so Gerry and me... along with a couple of FlySpain's student's had the air and ridge all to ourselves... it's a small site with only a top landing really...bout 360ft asl... the wind was steady and 15mph, warm air occasionally coming thru...Gerry and me could make it over to the shooting range over the cliffs and out to the beach too... flew for 1.10mins and got 777ft asl... we had enough, so left FlySpain to it... a nice site...

[Stevie G]

17/8/08... Rosylee. W 15mph. 18c... thinkin Rhossili might only be working in the late afternoon was pleasantly supprised when Martin C piped up on the shout box gliders already in the air....nice... so hurriedly got there early afternoon to join the FlySpain crew, ParaVenture and our own motley crew of locals... the air was friendly as was the sea, everyone flying for hours until it got dark for some... and then a nice social in the wormshead for afters... I did tandem for 2.25hrs gettin 970ft asl...fun in the sky again for all...

[Stevie G]

16/8/09...Rhossili. W 15mph. 17c...up at 5am hoping to get a bit of air time down Rhossili, it paid off... met Gerry at worms head carpark, it was 15mph so we go for the dunes... in no time we were air born, just a few fishermen around... Gerry plays the dunes...I get enough height off the dunes to push back to the ridge...white horses at sea, so have to be mindfull bout the ridge...no problem just push out... cloud base was low... couldn't get any higher than 1320ft asl...push out over to beach space and practice manoeuvres...then back up in minutes to practice more...after 1.45hrs we're both gettin cold...the breeze pics up, Gerry tries to land on the pimple...derr...25mph I'm chuckling as he has a little drag over the wall into Viv's field...he's fine, Chucklin too... I opt for the beach... well timed as it picked up more and began to drizzle ...worth getting up early for...

[Stevie G]

13/8/09...Rhossili.WNW-W 12-16. 21c... again Rhossili was the place where you could get the most flying for the day... again some of the valley boys down knowing they could fill their boots...we all arrive mid-dayish... not too many on the hill... sun out- blue sky- tide out- nice combo... breeze was week for an hour, 13mph, so not much height to start... did half n hour ... decided to land to wait for it to get stronger....cookie arranged a couple of tandems for me to do with a couple of passing beauties, so I gave them 40mins each... good timing as the breeze was more favourable so we got a 1000ft asl, the girls wanted to play in the sky, its always good fun...then a final flight with a passing cyclist... he loved it too, t/o was a bit strong but thanks to a good ground crew we managed it... flew a good 30mins then did 20mins on the dunes as the breeze picked up more... flew for 2.30hrs... had enough so decide to socialise... Nick R, Paul H and Viv were left the skies for themselves for hours after... getting even greater height... fantastic

[Stevie G]

11/8/09... Rhossili. WNW 12-16. 23c... arrived late morning to see pilots already flying so hurriedly got up the hill...I was flying solo today... greeted the SE boys and the Fly Spain crew... it was pretty busy for a Tuesday... 25 in the air at one time... the conditions were good so lots of space to use... the sun was out and the tide was low...everyone very happy... again pilots were practicing their wingovers, spirals, sats and helis....after a couple of hours the wind was getting strong... Young Chris did a perfect sat, when exited they go straight into a deep spiral which he exitted from too fast, made his wing climb steeply... all the energy gone made it collapes, cravat then spin, he was too close to the hill to recover it... so threw his reserve...quick thinking!!!...he landed safe but because the wind by now had picked up he was getting a good draggin up the hill, he managed to stop it and someone was quickly down to assist him... so all was good... it does remind one tho that flying in strong conditions to be aware that if we have to throw our reserve, we may land safe but then the problem starts when were on the ground... I'm sure in the future one day someone will invent a safe release for after we have landed safely....it was a good day with plenty more experiences... only 1.25hrs for me... 

Chrisy sat

[Stevie G]

9/8/09... Rhossili.W 14-16mph.18c... a late start but another good day...not so intense as yesterday... more relaxing... only 2hrs of tandems... always good to make people grin happily with our sport...

[Stevie G]

8/8/09...Rhossili. W 14-16mph. 20c... busy on the hill, plenty of pilots...20+ in the air...a good day... did 4hrs of tandems...all happy to let me play in the sky, I like it when their like that... valley boys and girls down to fly, all flying till they could'nt fly no more... brill

[Stevie G]

7/8/09... Rhossili. W 14-21mph. 18-21c... plenty of pilots in the air again in nice easy air... the breeze slowly increasing toward the end of the day making it difficult to land and take off at the pimple.... did a 2hr tandem ride with an old friend... we landed on the beach....then I had half n hour from the dunes solo...others flew all day until they were tired... a pleasent social afterwards...