Geoff writes: given the light easterly forecast, we decided to go to the Malverns, even though RASP wasn’t giving it very good down there. It was blue when we set out, but there was a soarable breeze on the hill quite early (according to Luke); a little stronger than we expected, but fine. When we approached it, people were flying, but by the time we walked up, most were on the ground. It was cycling, though there was still a breeze. We – and many others – waited around for an hour or two, though people were flying, but not getting away. In retrospect, we should have launched soon after arriving, and not waited on the ground, but waited in the air. As it was, it died off, both the wind and the thermals, even though the sky was getting better and better, with plenty of clouds. So there was a long period with no-one launching, then the occasional cycle of people launching and going down. Judith had a brave attempt at flying to some swifts, but also bottom landed.

It then seemed to get slightly better, with a few people maintaining and even climbing. Just as Judith got back to launch, I took off, probably into the end of the cyle. I struggled a while, sinking overall, and finally headed to the landing field, where, about 550′ below launch, I got a great low save which took me up to base. My climb out from the landing field encouraged others to launch too, but though they got high, most went back to the front. There was very little drift, the sky was getting worse – lots of cloud, little sun – but I went anyway. I did get another thermal, after my first climb and glide, but didn’t get a third. Sink was so strong between thermals, and drift non-existent, that even with two good thermals, I still did less than 10km, and landed in the same field as Wayne Buckland.

We packed up, walked to the road end of the field, and climbed the fence – no gate. As we were climbing over, Gwyn was driving past. He stopped his car – he’d been flying at Corndon with Mark Leavesley – and took me right back to the car park. Definitely the fastest retrieve I have ever had, and what a coincidence!

So, a really excellent low save, and a really excellent retrieve. That makes up for the crappy flight in between!

As far as I know, not many people went XC from the Malverns, and most flights were small, though Neil Furmidge flew to Clee Hills – maybe 60 km? – an excellent flight.

Judith writes: And I had a pleasant flight later, easily getting to the inversion layer at 1900′ ATO, where it got really rough. I considered going over the back, but I couldn’t see anything… it was so hazy, I couldn’t make out clouds or much ground, so was a bit stumped as to where to fly to. Instead I went out front and then flew over to the British Camp hill fort, which we walked up exactly a week ago. It looks even more impressive from above.

See photos of today.

2 Comments »