Very big day yesterday with which Catherine managed to push her PB by 50km or so to 159km flying to the north of Zamora, a route hardly ever made. Also on Sunday Tommy made 70km , his 3rd pb of the week. 
A hot day with temperatures to 34ºC +. Trigger temperature around 29ºC, but after that a temp trace with no inversions until 4000m, quite a contrast on last week. Winds to the south and not so strong perhaps within the boundary layer, but due to thermal strength we will get strong local thermic winds on the mountain peaks. If we look at the convergence predictions we have a strong convergence within our valley parallel to the hill and a line running from just West of Piedrahita towards Salamanca. Also strong sink on the hill (powerful downslope winds).
This is a very high quality thermic XC flying day with the major problem of getting into the air at the right site and the right time before the winds are too strong for launch. We will leave for Lastra or Chia South take offs around 10am and brief at 9.30.
Before the briefing please bookmark this page.
https://www.flypiedrahita.com/tracker/land
The conditions starting to improve now and a great day out with climbs eventually reaching 2800m. We followed the tandem comp task over the Pass, but decided to return at the 30km mark due to the light headwind. A great run back over the Pass again and to home. Ross and Stu top landed before flying down and myself and David landed in town. A great day and similar but better tomorrow.
Once again an increment in the conditions, Hotter, higher and lighter winds. The SkewT shows more generally NNW winds in our valley so the conditions on the hill should be very nice, especially in the evening. The general flow still continues to be NE, so a probable flight towards Barco or Plasencia is most likely, or a modest closed circuit triangle. A blue thermal day, with perhaps some haze domes or whips on the high mountains. Top climbs probably around 2400 to 2600m.
Yesterday with lighter winds and slightly higher climbs we had a good day, though once again without big distances. However, both Juan and Tommy achieved their personal bests. We stopped before Tornavacas.
Slightly lighter winds and a little warmer giving a better thermic day. Once again quite inverted bellow take off level and a NE flow. Perhaps today we may venture down further than Barco!
A weak inverted day and then strong climbs and stronger winds as we reached Barco. Most of the group there yesterday, then a decent evening soar.
Today once again we have strong inversions and little probability of climbs over 2400m. Also we will have increased winds strength from the NE by early afternoon. This is a quite typical scenario with cool NE airflow and a reasonable stable airmass. It can be unusual in that the winds at take off on the mountain are lighter than in the valley. Have a look at this video I made some years back for a rough explanation . https://vimeo.com/64294975.
TANDEM CHAMPIONSHIP
There will be a number of tandem pilots competing today at PN. Lets be sure to not get in their way an obey there turn direction and try to be clear of launch before their start window. If the wind is E we may even start at the PN rock where we were yesterday (this is actually better with an E flow). With todays conditions they will be able to do little more than the flight to Barco that I am also contemplating. However, I will be contemplating it earlier than them as I do not want to be in the air when the NE comes in strong!
Quite poor XC conditions yesterday , so a group goal in Barco. Notable people who did not make the goal but bombed out on the way. ME. Durrrr!
Today we have strong winds West of the Bejar range and to the East side of the Avila Valley. There is a very persistent inversion at around 1800m, and with lower top temperatures we will find it difficult to get above 2500m in the valley climbs. Our Valley and Down to Barco is the area we should restrict ourselves to if the forecast is correct.
