An unpleasant day for me, personally. For a weekday, surprisingly busy with 4xHG, a bevy of PG (some visitors?) and several models. A gentle E-ESE wind promised much and Wayne B. had an impressive tour of the valley on his ATOS before I arrived at midday. Some PG got away during the afternoon from Whitewool and Mercury when the gentle lift patches came through, (well done!) but it was not consistent despite the breeze.
I had a horrible experience on my first launch, got a nasty wing up just over the fence. (Later, a PG suffered a minor collapse in the same spot.) Luck smiled on me and somehow I recovered, but the remaining 15min flight was just as nasty. The air was jumbled and difficult to work. (The southerly component probably didn't help.) Then the sky filled with PG which made it impossible to navigate safely and I had to land.
It was a long wait for a spell of clear, lifting air to attempt another flight. Once airborne, the sky filled with PG again. Like Dementors, they sucked the joy out of the flight. Instead of relaxing and enjoying the improving conditions, I spent the entire time dodging canopies and pleading loudly for others not to launch. I guess my shouts were heard, but not before half a dozen or more had packed out the 150ft lift band. Matters weren't helped by the wind direction which prevented access to the bowl. We were all operating in a very confined space, altogether far too risky.
This is not the excitement we fly for, is it?
Wayne was coaching a couple of CP red-streamers. With no room to explore the ridge, they inevitably ended up at the bottom. Experienced pilots may be able to cope, but we are doing our novices a disservice with this density of traffic. It just ain't safe, folks.
Brian
I was one of the Red Streamers that day and indeed I am intimidated by the PG's and I am specificly avoiding mixed sites at week ends.
ReplyDeleteWe are likly to need more room as we require greater airspeed.
Will this kill the Sport?
It's hard to get trough training and I think that alone accounts for the lack of yonger pilots but finding a safe place to fly the big issue. Ian
The overcrowding issues is why I generally now try and avoid flying in light winds. I would rather fly in 20mph (= no paragliders) + than in 10 mph.
ReplyDeleteJames Roy
umm! it's difficult finding the right conditions for novice HG pilots. light to moderate winds are better but they also have to cope with other traffic. Winds around the 20mph mark present other hazards & can be unforgiving to a novice. Both Ian & Graham dealt with the conditions etc very well.
ReplyDeletesafe flying
wayne