Stevie G's Log Book 2010

[Stevie G]

13/3/10...Rhossili.NW-N 12-16mph. 10c...Omega 6...4 of us Gerry, Scott, Francois and me got to fly... Gerry on tandem doing well... we were only gettin around 1000ft asl... we could go along the ridge or out along the cliffs... it seemed the higher we got the stronger it was... wind chill was cold... there was a 3hr flying window, I grabbed an hr...around 2ish it was becoming a little too strong so all down and packed to get a warm in the Worms hotel.. worth the day out...   

Rhossili 13.3.10

[Stevie G]

you cant be doing that Gareth... we want you out with us and in them vids mate...; )

[gareth.pawan]

These videos are getting so damned good I'm thinking of just staying at home and watching everyone else's exploits!

[Stevie G]

6/3/10...Tor Clawd. E 14mph. 9c... Omega 6... A quick 20mins afternoon flight after work on a nice easterly ridge with Gerry... only gaining 400ft ato... small thermals... low cloudbase... wonderfull views...

Tor Clawd

[Stevie G]

2/3/10...Ebbw Vale. E 12-15mph. 10c... Sky/Paratec/U-turn... met up with Paraventure to show Gerry and me the way to Ebbw site.... you can drive all the way to t/o... brill...met up with a couple of the Scumdogs... one allready flying...it was a bit weak but on...the guys get in the air in their serial gliders and gently boat around...I grounghandle my new Thriller... 17m of pure nonsense ; )...  after half n hr its strong enough for me to to a tandem for Leon...we just boat around only gaining a few 100ft ato...the day is still setting itself up....after 20mins we have to land.... after a quick cuppa it picks up nicely... I don't have a serial wing yet and I'm gagging to get in the air... Cookie offers me one of his wings the Sky Attis...easy launch and I'm seeking out the lift and thermals with the boys... an easy wing to fly... after 50mins and 2200ft ato and exploring the valley its time to do another tandem... sat the wing a few times most of the way down... its a bit flappy but good on wingovers... I take one of Paraventures students for a tandem... we get to 1100ft ato... across the valley and back... let him do a little thermalling... after 50mins we land just before it down again.... we pack up most of our wings then it picks up nice again so Paraventure goes for a float and I get a chance to test out the Thriller...its stays up well for a 17m... I gained 600ft ato... enjoy the 20min flight before it almost shuts right off.... there was a 5hr flying window... I grab a happy 2.10hrs....   here is a short clip of our day....  I like the bit 30sec in when Cookie is practicing a new landing tecnique  : ) 

our day at Ebbw Vale

[Stevie G]

21/2/10...Rhossili. WNW 13mph. 7c... Omega 6... got to Rhossili early with Scot and Gerry... the air was still while traveling but once there it picked up just right... 4 other visiting pilots are getting ready on the pimple...they launch and rise... we follow quickly... it was WNW around 14mph... none of us are getting big height...bout 850ft asl... there's a 2hr flying window... I get an hr then the breeze just dies off... its was worth getting up early for and it was a beautiful sunny day and a pleasent outdoor social after at the worms... hopefully we will fly again soon : )

[Stevie G]

20/2/10...Pressili. W 14mph. 7c... Omega 6... joined Pembrokeshire Paragliding school mid morning... me checking out their westerly... its gonna be a good one in the summer and it was good today.... nice to have a change and see new face's...  a good school... I got hrs of ground handling with plenty of hops... but also managed to fly 45mins and get 900ft ato... really nice site... and a good social for afters....

[Stevie G]

19/2/10...Rhossili.WNW 15mph. 6c...FLX2... met up with the Scumdogs for an early flight... which we got... the guys were getting around 1000ft asl... me only bout 700ft with my wing.... the air seemed flat... not really any lift nor sink... just constant and very cold... broken cloud with sunshine and dry.... the flying window was open for hrs... I grabbed a good 45mins but too cold for me so gave it up, but still worth it... roll on the summer... nice to see the guys....more of the same tomorrow : )

[Stevie G]

14/2/10...Rhossili.W 16mph. 6c...FLX2... 7 pilots turn up hoping for a good days fly... the breeze is very light and on the hill...we wait a few hrs and 5 of us decide to give up so end up flying to the beach... sods law we should of waited 5 mins, Viv and Martin take off and stay up and gain height... so we're all back up top a quick as poss...its still on and constant and we could take off from the pimple and its on the hill... we all get in the air and have a good flight for about an hr  , the guys gettin about 1000ft asl...the breeze starts to drop and turn N and a little turbulent.... we all land happily back onto the pimple, then end up in the worms for a warm and a pint... a good day : )

[Stevie G]

27/1/10...Rhossili. W. 16mph. 5c... FLX2... met up with the coaches Nasher and Gerry, along with Jarred, Idris and Stuwart early in the carpark... it seemed like it could be game on... on the pimple it was NW 12mph, a little weak but enough for the serial gliders to fly... 4 away nicely Nasher and I go to top t/o... the breeze begins to pick up just perfect... were all six in the sky with plenty of room... it was nice but cold... mist out to sea, not coming in, cloud base not too high above... I don't think the guys got more than 900ft asl...after a 2hr flying window it was getting colder and stronger so we all land... I had a great hr... pack then go to work for the afternoon... a great way to start the day... : )

[Stevie G]

24/1/10...Rhossili. NNW-W. 15mph. 8c... Sigma 6... got there early and met up with Paraventure, the Scumdogs and Nasher but it was allready blownout... we went for a warm for an hour to see if it would change... nothing seemed to go with the chart readings.... but... we got back and it had eased allthough still too northerly... we go up to play anyway... by now more people arrive and hangies to...Scumdog Cookie is straight out ready and up... its strong but not much lift due to being too northerly so a few of the guys go fly the cliffs for 40 mins... it all goes light and everyone (5 pilots ) are one the beach.... no way am I gonna stay up on the flx2 so I decide to get my teabag (sigma6)... after more tea drinking were back up and the breeze starts to turn onto the hill and pick up... and soon its perfect.... this is not what the charts predicted.... everyones ready and eager to fly... one by one the sky gets filled with pilots from far away... 15> ParaPilots and up to 6 hangies some of who seemed to forget ridge rule and annoy a few guys... but all in all it was a good flyable day for most levels... a little lumpy at times and just on the edge limit.... a good unpredicted 4hr flying window of which I grabbed 2.05hrs worth... of course we had the pints of social joy in the worms to finish off our day... : )

[Stevie G]

17/1/10...Rhossilli, NW-SW. 16mph. 11c... FLX2... met up with Nasher, Gerry and Gareth waiting to go up the pimple... the breeze was easing so we rushed on up, Gerry was ready in a shot and off in some nice 14mph NW, but the higher he got the stronger it was... so he had to push right out front but without a lot of lift... he radios back that it was smooth... soon after I assist Paul H away... a good take off... he heads over to the white house along the ridge and is a few hundred ft above top T/O but is pinned the breeze is now W, the sea is not showing wind streams or horses? but Paul in on full speed bar and is gently being pushed back... he deals with it and lands well back safely... Nasher radios from top take off for the low airtimers not to take off... strong up top... the wind meters are showing 13-16mph on hill....hm mm... my turn... I'm on a demo FLX2.... it comes up easy... I take off... straight away the wing feels like its in lumpy air I look over to Gerry and his wing is rock n roll too, I can see he's gonna go land on the beach... not liking what I was feeling I just do TTB... flying this wing was a shocker... I'm thinking Iv just joined the speedwing crew... lord knows what its gonna be like on a normal day...we land safe and just at the right time as the wind was much stronger and very SW... no wonder it was lumpy up there... Nash radios down its too windy and SW... so we all meet up for afternoon tea and scones... Gerry lucky boy got 40mins air time... next time I'm off straight away too...  : )

[Stevie G]

2/1/10...Rhossili. NW. 17mph. 8c... Octane flx.. got to Rhossili to meet  up with the scumdogs to see young James marine allready  in the air... watching him take off I wasn't too eager to join him as it was a tad strong, but we went up... Dan S getting ready... he goes... and soars on his speedwing...mmm strong.. then cookie goes and joins James out front... soon we all get up shortly joined by others thru the day... it did not ease just got a little stronger now and then...sometimes white ponies on the sea and sometimes stallions ....some had to take off from the beach..it was that sort of day...you needed your skill, they are all good pilots....I flew for an hr and got to nearly 1400ft above the beach, others got higher... for me it was cold... knees, ankles and face were numb....time to land....others flew for hours... a 5 hr flying window and a blue clear bueaty of a day with a good social in the worms afters....tidy