What a wind-up the forecast was! People were talking about east-going-west and more wind than predicted, but on looking this morning, I had my doubts about all of them and particularly wether RASP got it right on Snowdonia, so I decided the Malverns would be the place to be, rather than Corndon or the Gyrn.

We got there at 12 o’clock and the first people we bumped into were Sebastian Ospina, Alex and Wayne Seeley. It was also really nice to finally meet Charles Norwood. Great to catch up with everybody. 

It was only just getting properly flyable, but it looked like it could improve, so despite people getting some height over the hill we waited a while. Wayne slope landed, reporting he got 800′ ATO, so we were hoping (against the forecast), that the inversion would break like it did yesterday. Geoff launched before me and got up straight away. I got off in a good cycle and also got to 800′ a couple of times, but I was just bouncing up against the inversion and the sink in between the thermals was pretty bad, so I slope landed while I had the chance.

A few people went down and then one guy on an Axis Venus climbed up from the landing field, past launch, went along the ridge and managed to punch through the inversion at the south end of the ridge. We last saw him heading to Ledbury. He did really well and was the only person to go XC. After that it was only Alex and another pilot who got up and had good flights. Anyone low stayed low, slope landed, or went down. In the end Geoff gave it a go, followed by Nigel Brevitt, but both went down and this inspired a mass pack up and walk down.

It’s the first time I have ever actually flown the ridge at the Malverns – i.e. soared the ridge and landed on it. Every other time I have been fortunate to get off, up and away, so it was nice to actually look at the ridge and scenery around.

I gave up on the flying at 5pm, drove down to collect Geoff  and we decided to go to the British Camp iron age hill fort, which we have seen so many times from the air, but never actually walked up. Stunning place with amazing views.

See photos of today.

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