Piedrahita - day 4. More XCs...

A late start today which ended up upsetting the natural order of flying here. We took off for the morning flight, starting with quiet lift. Steve and Kobus landing out with little to speak of. Meanwhile Bryan and I climbed out, as did the others soon afterwards. with hindsight we should have just tried to stay up. It would have been easy, as we we found when we headed out into the valley to land, thermals kicking off everywhere. It took some searching to find sink to wind down in and then some of us had down wind landings as thermals drew air off the hill. I had some dusting down to do after fininshing face down in a field used for livestock...

After a quick cup of tea it was back up to launch, picking up JK on the way (he'd landed near the chalets), to see Simon, who had waited, launch. In a lull. The cycles had got strong. Gavin and Steve launched in a lull, JK from below the road. Bryan, Carolyn and I waited for the next lull. And waited. Howling thermal gusts convinced Carolyn to bag her wing. I was going to join her when the next lull began, and I quickly took my chance. Bryan was walking down to the road and had to rush to get off himself, running backwards through the brush to get off. But we both got away!

I was soon climbing above the road and up over the top, soon getting up to around 500m above launch. Following the usual route along the spines of the hill, I got height above the Coral and made the quarry spine with height. However, loosing it with glide along to the top of the spine, I thought it was going to be a repeat of two days ago. Indeed, only finding bubbles, I was set up for landing coming over the cemetery at about 30m above the ground when a stronger warm gust came through. I turned and went up. The next five minutes were a battle to stay with it and I climbed back up to 2000m... and lost the thermal. Was to be all in vain? I wondered as I pushed back towards the cemetery, hoping for another thermal. My luck was in and again I climbed up, the thermal becoming easier. At above 2800m I could cross the pass.

Climbs the other side of the pass were not very strong and in a N headwind were drifting back into the mountains more than I cared for. I left a climb at 2200m - in hindsight a bit too low. I headed for the line of the river hoping it would be triggering. All I found were small bubbles and soon I had to set up to land in a nice big field. Typically it kicked off a big thermal about 5 minutes after I landed! Still, a 29km flight, and all the more pleasing for the fantastic low save.

Flight details are here.

Pete was soon there to pick me up, even before I'd finished packing. Very efficient - thank you Pete! We carried on out to Avila, following Bryan, Gavin, Steve and Kevin (flying tandem). All were getting good lift further on the valley - much as I had done yesterday. Having watched the flights into the landing field and headed back to Piedrahita, it was back up the hill for an evening flight to finish off the day. Good stuff yet again.

Piedrahita - day 3: Over the pass!

Blue sky! Its a classic looking Piedrahita morning, the day is looking good. :-)

After the morning flight and the usual cup of tea it was up to take off for the main event. Everyone got off in good time and we were soon thermalling up ove the main big spine or out in front. Steve led the way (of course), with Bryan, John (JK), and I following, Gavin joining us from out in the valley to cross to the quarry spine. Sadly JK got low and lnaded out while I thermalled up above him. Thus today had loads of height above the quarry spine. Steve and Bryan worked up high above the ridge behind, while Gavin and I climbed up together above the pass crest. Bit of a N wind so we crossed over the south side, watching Steve getting drilled down, looking for all the world like he was going to land on top! Oh we of little faith - he got a good climb on the lee side where Gavin and I joined him for the next climb. Bryan, of course, comes in from nowhere, high above us! I'm sure he has a secret pass sky teleport system...

The four of us floated about ther for a bit before heading off, picking up thermals off the villages at the foot of the mountains. Bryan and Steve got a bit low and had to head south-east to get to some triggers. I went out to the river line and started to pick up reasonable thermals there. I could see Bryan and Steve getting a good climb out. I continued zig-zagging along the river line getting thermals and drifing off to the south before gliding back. Slow but steady progess. Eventually I saw Bryan, Gavin and steve heading ove, though in the case of Steve it was ahead of me, speeding off towards Avila!

Towards the Y junction (around 7km short of Avila I guess) I took another thermal to make sure of the glide into the landing fiels. I need not have bothered! Going on glide at around 2700m, I continued to climb all the way to Avila, getting there at over 3000m, getting good views down into the bullring and it would have been easy to carry on. But the day was slow and there was the evening flight to consider, so I headed out to find sink to wind down in, while Bryan glided in beneath me to land. I soon joined him and Steve. Gavin had landed back along the valley having crossed to the road line to find no lift.

Then I found out that Tony and Carolyn had also managed to climb out over the pass. Carolyn having patiently worked the thermals ove the head of the quarry spine, before getting small bits of lift to get her out into the Avila valley, landing a little way along the river line in the middle. So six over the pass - a great result!

Flight details are here.

Back for the evening flight. This was a geat way to unwind after the XC battles of the day and a chance for some nice sunset shots. A fine day indeed, rounded off with a good meal courtesy of Puri at the house.

Piedrahita: days 1 & 2

Blue skies but a strong wind forecast. We headed up the hill for a hopeful early morning flight, but hope was in vain as the wind was already quite strong from over the back of the hill. Back down again then for an afternoon of cards and reading.

The evening we were more fortunate. The winds had died down enough for a bit of a westerly to come up the face, and we were able to have a bit of a soaring flight for 1/2hr or so. The wind was quite strong in the valley so glides to the landing field were somewhat crab-like! However, a nice bonus given the expectation was a non flying day, which we all rounded off at Bar Filipe for food and red stuff that is apparently drinkable providing you don't think of it as wine!

Day2 didn't look to be starting too well either with the hill covered in low cloud during the first half of the morning. Took a while to burn off, but it did to give us a good looking sky though a low post frontal cloudbase. Steve H recommended we go for staying up and going for the XC flight rather than a flight down (time moving on), though direction difficult to call. (in the end we went E against light N wind.) Slow climbs with relatively low height gains led to the inevitable fallout of pilots at stages along the way. At the pass just Steve H, Bryan, Gavin and I remained in the air. The area at the top of the quarry spine was all in shadow, and bar the odd bubble I could find no lift, so I bombed out there at the cemetary. as I packed I watched Gavin come in, looking like he was going to do the same. Ah, the sun! Gavin gets the low save and climbs up out of there - excellent low save. He, Bryan and steve go on to do a triangle, flying back to Piedrahita.

A good evening flight (they always are here). Boating up the ridge and back for an hour or so before heading out into the valley with loads of height, watching the sun go down. Must be time fo a beer! :-)

Piedrahita trip: days -1 and 0.

The start of our now traditional trip to Spain for some flying; but first some winding down in Madrid. We arrived Friday, and having checked in, found the Tapas bar next to the Real Palace we'd stopped at a few years back. The beer was just as welcome as the day was just as hot! We finished off the evening in the Plaza Mayor with a pleasant meal (fish) and a random white wine.

Our day in Madrid we spent finding air conditioned locations to frequent! Our aim was the Reina Sophia gallery of modern art, but chance took as past the Caixa Forum - a curious building on pillars with the entrance winding up the inside of the central pillar. Two floors of exhibit space. The first was showing a selection of Islamic art from the Aga Khan's extensive collection, covering hundreds of years and the spread of Islam through Asia and Europe. The second floor was given over to an exhibition of the architecture of Richard Rogers whose work includes the Millenium Dome and Heathrow T5!

On to the Reina Sofia via the railway station! (Odd, I know, but it boasts a bit of a botanical garden under its great entrance hall, and a large number of Turtles. We didn't stay as the sun was streaming down rather strongly over the cafe where we thought about having a drink.) A nice touch is that entrance is free after 2.30 on a Saturday - so we waited 15mins in the shop before our foray into the Galleries. The Renia Sofia boasts works of Dali, Miro, and of course Picasso, including the famous Guernica. By the time we got to the said piece the place was packed, so we didn't stay just there. The many cubist pictures didn't do a lot for us, but there are some less well known Dali pictures we enjoyed, plus a couple of Magritte paintings (a favourite artist of mine). Highlight though was probably the temporary review of Munoz's sculpture on the third floor. Lots of figures - typically the fantastic 3/4 size figures with rounded lower halves, set in various poses.

Late afternoon, and we returned to another spot we'd been to before for Tapas. A couple of welcome beers and a selection of Pinchos. We returned here for the evening meal after going back to our hotel to freshen up, walking back via Pueta del Sol - lots a people about the many bars and restaurants in the side streets. We chose to eat at Vine P. A simple sald followed by the speciality of the house - slice beef steak you cooked yourself on a stone plate that had been heated up in the oven. Great fun, and great tasting meat, and all washed down with a very nice bottle of Ribera del Duero.

The next day we headed back the Airport to meet up with the others on the trip. Collecting our gliders etc from left luggage, we waited on Simon D at T4. The rest had come in at the other terminal building, but a phone call fom Kevin P / Steve H whilst we had morning coffee and we were relieved of have to travel back to T1/2/3, and it was on to Piedrahita, via Avila, hopefully for some flying. It wasn't to be. Our stop in Avila showed that a howling SW was present, so we stayed for lunch and wandered around the old city.

Getting into Piedrahita, and the wind was still so strong that even the evening flight was a non starter. So the usual recourse - off to the bar for an apperatif before the evening meal! Good to steve Steve, Puri, Oliver and Sophie again - always a shock to see how much children grow up in a year (more so over two - Carolyn having missed last year's trip). Hopefully a good week of flying ahead.

A new Personal Best - 115km!

I think I cashed in all my luck today...

SE forecast so went to Kettlesings to find it quiet and indeed off to the S. A few others about including Bryan, Jock, Gary, Al and Craig. A few made tentative hops but it was way off to the South. Jock went down to bottom landing field, Bryan went up but drifted along hill before having to leave thermal low and then had to go and land out. Charles, Dave T, Graham, Tim etc. got up as well but only with slow climbs. One looked good so I launched to try and join them but fell out. While everyone else got back on TO, I got drilled in the bowl seting up and failed to side land, so ended up landing with Bryan.

Jock is there - do we want a lift up, Howard is there with his car? No-brainer, we all squeeze in and head back up - at least we'd get another attempt in in what was not looking such a good day: the others we managing to get short flights but were not getting height. At one stage we thought they'd be bottom landing as well. However as we got back to TO we found the wind had picked up and come more onto the hill. If anything it was now quite fresh. So no hanging around, kit back out I waited for a reasonable lull and took off.

We had a goodly gaggle thermalling up to above 1000' ATO and we drifted back. Graham and Tim headed off whilst a couple of others headed back to the ridge. I started to follow but then it seemed to me to be marginal as to whether I'd get back with reasonable height, so I turned back to find the thermal we'd been using - well nothing ventured... I soon connected with with and worked it up. Steady rather than strong but got up to 2000' ATO, and somehow caught up with Graham and Tim - well I think they were waiting up near base, which was good of them. Then the next bit of luck as I headed out on glide to a cloud in the distance. Graham flying above and a little beyond turns around and yells down at me to head for a cloud near by. Turning I see, yup it does indeed look good and much closer. Tim up there as well - so I followed.

I didn't make as much of it as the others, so the next section was hard going as I got low while they managed to stay high. However although lift was weak, so was the sink and I just kept working what I could with drifting bubbles. Although it seemed slow going, we go the Leominster, so it was already a good XC for me. Now Bryan, Iain and one other came overhead like the clappers. A cloud street had formed overhead and they were cruising it, catching Graham and Tim up. Just beyond Leominster I picked up a good thermal and was soon up under the cloud: base was only ~4200' at best. All the others were a way in front of me but that just marked out the sky. It wasn't long before I'd caught up as folk dived from one side of the street to the other, finding the lift and then sink to avoid (mostly) going into cloud. It was all pretty easy now with good ground speed and barely the need to turn in thermals at times. Really enjoyed flying over the wind-farms around Newtown though felt the need to concentrate on the flying so no photos I'm afraid. :-(

The big northern mountains of Wales were looming as I saw 98km come up on the GPS. My first 100km flight was in the bag! I went on glide to one final lee-side thermal, but found ground speed was now up to 70kph. Going on was not going to be sensible. The valley ahead (going down to Aberdovy) runs E-W so rotor was in my mind, but it is relatively wide and I figured a valley wind blowing toward the coast would be there. Although I considered running down the valley to the coast (in fact Graham did this a little later), I figured the best thing to do was land in the biggest field not crossed by power lines (and there are a lot around there!). Good move. There was indeed a valley wind. I was barely penetrating and of course got picked up a couple of times as thermals broke off (fence looking close...) A safe touch down leaving me to watch the others flying over only to get pinned on the north side of the valley, barely penetrating with full-bar. Tim and Graham squirted off side-slipping towards the coast, Iain managed to get into the same field as I was in, and Bryan one field down.

Six of us has made the ton together in all (the sixth, Simon I think, has landed about 5km earlier). Graham had landed by the train station - handy. Thanks to some hunting about by Tim, we got a taxi to get us right back to the car-park at Kettlesings - well worth it. The pint with Graham, Iain, and Mark back at the Malvern Hill Hotel barely touched the sides. What a brilliant day! Flight details here.

BPcup 2009 Round 1 - Scottish Borders. Day 3 & 4

A vote was held at the briefing this morning. Options were stay local and risk day being blown out or travel 3hrs north where the wind would be less. I wasn't there as breakfast at the George was a much more inviting option! Staying local won out.

The mini-buses ferried us out to the hills above Meggett Head. Cheryl was flying the NE flank when we arrived (though not going up or down). Encouraging, so we took the long hike up... It was obviously too strong from the east. So, dumping rucksacks we went for a walk, kidding ourselves that the wind might drop as the inversion lifted.

It was a good walk. Great views, with the far point of our little ramble atop a cliff above a fine tarn. Obligatory photographs taken, the parawaiting was deemed over, and we all made our way down again.

The George Arms Inn was closed that evening, so we were back to camping. Fortunately most things were dry enough now, so Carolyn and I took the opportunity to re-establish our tent before heading off for the now free afternoon. We went to Melrose to take a look at some gardens and the abbey; a pleasant enough way to while away a sunny if windy afternoon. Seeing the RAF take a very close look at St Mary's loch from a couple of Tornadoes was also noteworthy! The day was rounded off with another trip to the Taste of India, this time with a party of nine (we booked) and drinking back at the campsite - the forecast for the next day was for even more wind.

And indeed the next day was greeted by a strong easterly. Fortunately the tent was relatively sheltered with that direction and had survived the night. The morning's briefing had become the competition's prize-giving. Still plenty of folk around for it which was good to see. Official results and a write up are here. With just the one task, I had placed 17th in the cup, 19th overall, which I pretty pleased with. Roll on the Dales!

Having struck camp Carolyn and I headed north for the mountains via Traquair House, the oldest still inhabited castle in Scotland. A grand affair with parts of the building dating back over 900 years, today it hosts a museum (including an impressive library and some fine antique maps of the region), a working brewery (interesting strong ales...), and a large maze. The gardens are pleasant and extend through the woods down to the river Tweed. Peacocks wander the grounds the entrance to which are marked by the Bear gates, closed until there is a Stewart upon the throne. Well worth the visit.

BPcup 2009 Round 1 - Scottish Borders. Day 2

It is sunny, we have a task!

Didn't feel the need for breakfast this morning following last night's curry! The briefing at 8am set us on our way to Broughton Heights - a site I'd failed to get away from last year. Expectation was for light westerly winds going around to the N and NE later in the day. The ground was expected to be very soft, so we'd have a walk up the hill, but this didn't stop some from attempting to drive 4x4s up. Calvo (meet director) got stuck and required towing out courtesy of the farmer and his tractor, much to the amusement of all on-lookers.

Whilst some tested the air, and the organisers planned the task, I set up the new wing and ground handled for a bit to get a feel of it. The Cobra comes up nice and easy and sits overhead, with no apparent tendency to overshoot. The lines are very clean. My initial impression, having come from a Sport, is that it looks small and thin! (The Cobra has an aspect ration of nearly 6:1 as opposed to the Sport's 5.2)

The task was called. A straight race to Hawick, 46km ESE. The wind was already going around to the north, clouds were developing and likely to be an issue. The window opened but pilots were not in a rush to get off as winds were very light now and we were relying on thermic cycles. Gradually though gaggles worked the cycles and each time a few got away. My first flight came to nothing as I didn't quite catch the thermal and decided to side land rather than risk ending up down low. My second attempt was good and I climbed up several hundred foot above launch before loosing the thermal and sank back down with everyone else. There were still a good number of us who hadn't got away and were hunting around in the bowl going up and down. Also a number still on the deck finding it hard to take-off now as the wind continued to veer round to the N and E. I thought I'd blown it and I'd be stuck here, but at least I'd be giving the wing a good work-out. However I got lucky with a thermal that I felt happy to work on the lee side and with a couple of others I was up and away!

So how does the Cobra fly? Well, I'm no expert reviewer, and these are just my impressions from a single flight: The first thing I noted is that it is indeed quick quick and nimble, but quite refined. It's agile and responds well to weight shift followed by a little bit of brake to get into a good turn. Now I haven't flown many wings, however agile wings that I have have felt a bit light and delicate. The Cobra though feels pretty solid - agility without fragility! I hope this proves to be the case, it seems to me to be quite impressive for a LTF-2 wing. During the flight I found it climbed really well, giving good feedback without being "over-talkative". The pitch neutrality is going to take a bit of getting used to as there is little tendency to pitch into or away from thermals as you go in. I found "scrappy air" a bit harder to read than I've found on some other wings, but that said I had more time to float around to sketch it out as the Cobra is definitely "floaty". Indeed I found that I was out-climbing other wings more often than not when thermalling (although I have a pretty small sample for this statement!).

During the flight the cloud cover continued to build and the skies got fairly threatening. There was quite a downpour going on 20kms or so out to the east. I had just one moment where the wing didn't do anything other than fly smoothly. About mid-flight I suffered a full frontal (I think) and the wing's 6:1 aspect ratio became 1:1! Expecting things to get dramatic, I was somewhat surprised as the wing barely pitched, calmly re-inflated and resumed its service. It was a remarkably mellow experience, as if the wing was a trusty unflappable butler, calmly apologising having been knocked by an unruly guest before continuing a dignified service.

I flew on, staying clear of cloud-base and in sight of blue holes, and tried out the speed system. This has a more complex riser modification set-up than I'm use to (apparently to modify the shape of the wing beyond simply its angle of attack), but application of speed bar is really smooth and easy. I soon found myself making use of the bar throughout the rest of the flight. A couple of thermals later (and a bit of sleet!) and I could see goal in the distance. I just needed one more good climb. I could see wings well to the east and well to the west of me (I figured they must be free flying, but it later turned out that competitors in the task had taken a wide range of direction options for the task), and one landing next to the river Ettrick below me. The terrain beyond was a good stretch of moorland so plenty of landing options, but with no good road access. So if I had to land it'd be a long walk out, but I was in a gentle climb, so I decided to continue. As it was I didn't have to make a decision to land due to the incoming weather as a I hit the sea breeze and got sunk out to land right in the middle of the expanse, about 9k short of the goal cylinder. Landing had been nice and easy, and having packed away after an enjoyable flight, my luck continued as some anglers, having finished their fishing for the day, strolled past and offered me a lift down to the road.

We picked up Chris who had flown about 0.5k further than I had as we drove down to Ashkirk where he and I exchanged stories of the day's flying over a nice cold pint. Carolyn came to pick us up having had, sadly, an unsuccessful flying day. Apparently I'd been in pretty much the last group to get away from the mountain. The wind went around to come over the back. Carolyn had laid out, but then a gust came down over the back, rolling the wing down and then dragged it, and her, back up the hill. - "I got rotored on the ground!", - Carolyn

So, I didn't make goal, but it was a good flight, and I didn't get hailed upon in the landing field or have to spiral down to escape the weather! In the end I came a respectable (I think) 19th. Not bad for the first flight on a new wing. Overall I think I'd sum up my impression of the Cobra as having more the sense of a refined GT car than a feisty supercar. Flight details are here.