Geoff writes: We couldn’t decide whether to go to the beach or to go flying. In the end we thought it might be a bit cold at the beach, and we’d be better off there next week when the temperature should be in the 20s. So flying it was; we’d left it a bit late to go to France, or anywhere else other than Santa Brigida (what a surprise).

It was flyable all day, from when we arrived about 1.00, to when we left about 6.00. Quite a few people there – three Catalans, one Brit (me), one German (Felix), one Belgian (Vincent), and one person who’s still somewhat confused about her nationality (Judith). Thermic at first. Only a couple of very short sink cycles, though one of them was enough to send me down – Judith retrieved me though. Then just ridge lift later, very smooth, very lifty.

We were a bit careful about getting too high – there was supposed to be a strongish north wind, and we were worried about the shear layer, so didn’t let ourselves get more than 800′ ATO.

Judith was practising her launches on the Gradient. At one point she said she thought she’d cracked it, then promptly got lifted off her feet and dumped on her butt again. So back to the practise launches. She had improved by the end of the day though.

So a pleasant day.

See photos of today.

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