Flying at Mens

Howling when we got up, so they canned the day and briefed everyone for St Vincent and Mens, which are sheltered in a Mistral. At the briefing they gave out the prizes for day winners and also a special award for the competition idiot. I was hoping that this wouldn’t refer to my muppetry at forgetting my flight deck on Wednesday, but unfortunately they read my name out. I got a nice Ozone jacket and a very red face!

Ruth and I decided to go to Mens and we got a lift with Andy and Olli. Conditions there were not really like any I have had when we have been there before. Cloud base was higher than usual, there was sun on the ground and it was thermic, rather than getting the gentle cloud suck you usually get at Mens.

Because we were free flying, everyone took it easy, had their sandwiches first and then launched later. I seemed to be the only person to have flown there before (other than the locals). I launched relatively late, as there seemed to be little rush. The early birds got a good flight, then it got less lifty and people went down, then it got lifty again. I soared along the ridge to the right and climbed up over a waterfall. As I was flying around enjoying the scenery, Andy reported strengthening conditions in the landing field. I could see people heading out in the valley and going up, so I headed there too. It was getting windier all the time and I (and everyone else) were having problems getting down. With big ears and speed bar I was still going up and whenever I found a blue bit with sink a cloud would promptly form above me. I did manage to get down to launch height and I could see the trees and long grass by the landing field blowing strongly. 15 minutes later I managed to get down. I was going backwards (still on speedbar and big ears), but I landed ok. By this time it was blowing 20 – 24mph in the landing field.

I have never known the Mistral to actually enter at Mens, and there were a lot of interesting arrivals, although thankfully no injuries.

We all headed back to the campsite for the big final night party. Good bash!

See photos of today.

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