| Flight details: | The Hang Gliding BOS (British open series) is currently at South Wales. So far we've had two great days- this flight was the first day (Saturday) and it was virtually nill wind take off from the Blorenge. I got taken up in Gordan Riggs 4x4 as the last 1km is by a proper 4x4 only track (except one hardy vw transporter with miles behind the wheel!).
Goal was set at 104km out and return from Blorenge to Malverns and back (Wales-England-Wales!)
I rigged right near the front and after about an hour of waiting the thermals started coming through and Justin Needham and Gordan took off first with me immediately behind. I went straight into a thermal and climbed out out with them and Grant Crossingham, Sheddsie, Dave Matthews, James Gaunt and a few others. We were soon at cloudbase and they shot off forming the lead gaggle over Abergavenny with me just behind. My gliders performance is very good meaning it made easy work staying with the lead gaggle, watching them make decisions and just trying to keep up in climb. I managed to stay with them and had some great climbs along the way- including flying into a dustdevil at 4000ft with Bracken/twigs all swirling around and bouncing off the glider and my face- AWESOME!!! The first 35k where a little harder and then near the malverns were strong climbs and long cloudstreets making great racing conditions! It was the same on most of the way back until the last 20 km where the whole sky was overcast and no sun on the ground- lots went down here- we slowed down taking any little climb, even zeros just trying to stay off the ground. It was now just Dave Mathews, Sheddsie, Grant and me and the time was almost 6pm... We eventually got a few 1/2 ups that allowed us to get just high enough to go for goal and we all arrived within a few seconds of each other. Darren Blackman was next in for the rigids and then Tim king after him, total of 6 in goal. A great day and 4th for the day overall and first for the day in the rigid wings with my |
