A post cold frontal day, though we all managed to bomb out after the first flight at around 12.15.  However, on the second attempt, braving the rather spicy conditions at launch, we found easier conditions.  Juansa was the first to go for the Pass, myself, Johan, Bill and Fred reluctant to commit to the end of the valley and the pass due to the rather scant thermals.  However, sometime later  Johan and myself were blasting along well to the north of Avila with Cu streeting at just over 3000m (a day with less problems to keep out of the airspace).  We arrived at Segovia around 8pm with heigh climbs and a reasonable sky which would have got us to Arcones at 150km I expect.  However, after  a little sightseeing from above we landed next to the City of Segovia.

The wind squared onto PN this morning, even with the terrible forecast.  Some flying was done i the available window (not by us, but by the french group from Gourdon).  The rest of the afternoon windy and no evening flight.  I did a roughly rendered caricature of Ralph at his request.  Ralph has been here 2 weeks and leaving for Ireland tomorrow.  He made some great flights , including a 130km out and return, probably the biggest in Spain so far this season.  His ambition for the trip was to make a 100km flight.  He managed that on arrival day!

A strong WSW leading to wave along the mountains.  Quite nice to visualise on RASP, but will not be much fun on a paraglider.  It does seem  that it will be reasonable for evening flying at PN though.

A tricky day.  In fact in Pedro Bernardo the Spanish nationals had a canned day. PB is actually SW, and we are NW at Peña Negra.  Always seem amazing how the wind bends and curves and the local micro met allows us to fly well in the lee when PB in the windward was blown out.   See french also flew the WSW at Lastra.  It was choppy on the hill be very nicely formed large thermals in the valley taking us to a bit over 2800m.   After a climb at he Pass we found the a fair bit of wind on the crossing (around 70km at trim on the downwind glide).  On the other side the ground was well ventilated and we all landed before Muñogalindo.  So no Segovia goal as planned.   Nice evening soaring at PN, though a bit to the West to make it perfect.

A bit more difficult to get an easy 100 as there is no easily useable convergence.  Winds more to the NW with convergence effects further to south on mountain.

Surface Winds

BL Max. Up/Down Motion

Skew-T Chart

The more westerly flow and  hopefully NW on the hill should still allow us a Segovia goal.  an inversion below take off early on, but with temps to 31ºC expected at least, then we should get blue climbs to 3000m.

An excellent day finding ourselves early at Lastra.  For Lastra it was a gentle climb out and not too much wind early in the day.  A few early drop outs, but myself and Ulf flew to a nominated goal at Medina del Campo, around 115km.  Steve Bishop, a little behind was aiming for the Cuellar Gap to go the whole 200km.  He made 100.5km for a personal best.

On the other side of the Gredos the Spanish Nationals also had a great day with a  165km goal flight to Penafiel.

This was originally a commission from Dave Snowden, organising the Bright (Australia) PWC for  2019.  Also used in the latest Cross Country Magazine for the back page SkyJunkie piece.  The idea was to show the ¨charge¨ of the lead gaggle in the final glide.  In this case the male frenzy balanced by an agile and able woman.

Below the final image without text, the origin concept sketch and part of the process with the perspective grids.

Concept Sketch

Fianl Image

A complex wind day making a determined XC direction difficult.  No defined convergence streets.  Definitely a day for out and returns towards Barco or the Pass.  If we get towards Guijuelo, we may find an option to continue to the NNW.  

Although there were large build ups of  towering cumulus to the south (cancelling the day at the Nationals in Pedro Bernardo), our region seemed to be fine till some Cbs later in the afternoon around 6 to 7pm.  Quite rough conditions and climbs to over 3000m.  Ralph stayed with it and made the best of the day with a flight returning from Barco and then to the Pass for around 60km.

After two weeks of our season so far only 1 lost day to weather.  Last week our large group managed a clutch of personal bests over 100km and towards the end of the week climbs to 4500m yesterday and also close to that last Sunday on the out and return to Avila.   Some stormy days towards the end of the week, but still allowing some quality flying and long flights for those who wanted to push things a little (not me!)