Still buzzing from flying my new PB.
Due to helping with coaching LATs I launched from Mount Caburn almost an hour after the majority of the usual suspects who were hoping to go XC. This may have been a blessing in disguise as some of the early starters were possibly disappointed with their short flights.
I hit a good thermal within a couple of minutes of launching and climbed out together with one of the LATs (Will) who I'd been coaching!
He left the thermal at around 1500' and I continued in the smooth lift to Cloudbase at about 2000'. I pushed out in front of the wispy cloud and continued to return to the lift until reaching the North Eastern side of Ringmer past the gliding airfield.
I'd seen a couple of wings in the distance so hooked up with them. I was pleased to find out that it was Dan and Ollie Peters who'd I'd chatted to on the hill earlier and have previously flown with. Unfortunately I couldn't speak to them on the radio as I was on a different frequency.
Anyway we soon started working well together and found some decent thermals above a couple of sailplanes. I'd flown this route heading North East towards Heathfield two weeks ago with Carlo from FlyBubble and this experience proved really helpful.
After topping out around 2500' in another smooth thermal I decided to glide toward the far side of Heathfield. I was searching for lift in the area where I'd hooked up with a good thermal when I flew with Carlo.
It worked and I found some good lift and was getting back up to a comfortable altitude.
Unfortunately the other guys had chosen different routes and their flight ended near Heathfield.
Every now and then I could see a few wings in the distance so I knew something decent was possible.
I had a couple of lowish saves with the most stressful around 400'. On that occasion I was assisted by a couple of birds of prey who after playing around eventually showed me where the nearby thermal was.
I continued by myself on my XC adventure continually finding good lift and keeping below the 3500' airspace. I had joked with some of our guys earlier about flying to the Isle of Sheppey and had actually set Rainham as a goal!
I could see Ashford to my right and London in the distance to my left. After navigating past the Headcorn airspace I made the decision to head North East with the wind towards Rainham. The isle of Sheppey was directly in front of me and getting bigger all the time!
The kilometres were clicking up quickly on Flyskyhy and I was now past my previous PB of 62km set from Worcester Beacon to Pandy last year.
Unfortunately the thermals were starting to become more difficult to find and I knew my XC adventure would soon be over.
With both the Isle of Sheppey and Rainham agonisingly close I landed in a soggy ploughed field a few kilometres short of Faversham.
As I was packing up and busy replying to messages from the paragliding gang I was met by Paul who had watched my decent whilst flying his model aircraft nearby.
He was good enough to drop me at Faversham Station whilst we chatted about why the thermals weren't as good locally as he'd expected. That made me feel slightly better about not making my goal.
This was was only my second flight and first XC on a newly acquired Ozone Alpina 4. I've a feeling we're going to be good friends.
As well as my new PB it was also my costliest retrieve via Victoria Station.
I can honestly say it was worth every penny of the fare. | 
