Once again we continue to be affected by the Azores high, any instability and rain affecting only the east of the Peninsula.  Today generally light winds from the NW with limited Cu development in in convergence areas and on mountains.

Good quality thermals with climbs to above 3000m by around 1.30pm,  The upper and mid level flow is a light NW yet we may find N wind lower down and much more so in the Avila Valley.  Convergence along the main ridge and at the Pass and to the South of the Avila valley.

A good day for the Avila valley and back or Barco and beyond and back.

1pm

Looks like a mellow day with light wind and some stratocumulus to slow things down early on.  For the early part of the afternoon we are unlikely to go above 2600m.  No predicted overdevelopment with a solid inversion cap around 3100m which should keep things safe.  Most of the instability has moved eastwards now.  Briefing around 11am.

1pm

3pm

track to Avila and winds at 2400m

condiions over time along track

2pm

5pm

For those coming out next week and those who might be contemplating it.  Looking very nice with good light wind conditions on the main site on the long range as long as the local prediction can forecast.

The week ahead in Piedrahita.

A nice friendly XC day with good quality climbs today going much higher by mid afternoon though with an inversion around 2600m early on.  Although NW we may find it a struggle into wind on the other side of the Pass.  convergence in Gredos and at the Tornavacas Pass and possibly the Villatoro Pass.  It will probably best to try a triangle or closed circuit flight between The Villatoro and the Tornavacas pass and however far north you can go.  If the   W seems to prevail we will go over the Villatoro Pass to see how the Avila Valley i.

1pm

Jorge 500px

Jorge our retrieve driver in a slightly Velasquez style.

Less wind today more from the W low down and moving N at higher levels.  quite a moist airflow so we have almost orographic stye clouds again early on and stratocumulus clouds to our north which should reduce as the morning goes on.  Very good thermal quality once again, however this is capped around 2600m by an inversion.  This should be an enjoyable thermic XC day with a good chance of moving into the Avila valley later on.  Once again good evening conditions with this direction but we will find it difficult to fly beyond Avila.

1pm

1pm

1500

2pm

5pm

winds 2400m

conditions along track

Here is the finished version of Ian from a few weeks back.  He is 6 days into his annual beard standing in the middle of the Corneja Valley.

Ian Walker

Relatively low clouds this morning which is quite normal with the wind to the N and post frontal.  The normal situation is that they should lift by around 11.30 and continue lifting as the day progresses, finishing around 3000m at the end of the day.  Winds should be flyable but top end at times.  Convergence to the South of Gredos so we will not benefit or be affected.   We will go to launch as soon as launch clears c 11.30 .  Briefing at 11 ish.

1pm

Jack on a steep glide path

This is young Jack Pimblet of the Nova Team increasing his airtime during the windy afternoon yesterday.  We did eventually fly at PN as the wind came on and gave us an interesting thermic and restitution flight.

Michael and his speed glider

on his way

This to my knowledge is the first ever take off with a speed glider from Peña Negra.  Our slope here is rather shallow, which allows it to catch the suns rays from early on, even though it is NW facing.  This is the reason it is so good for thermals.  However, that makes it a poor choice for speed gliding.  We used to have problems reaching the bottom 2o to 25 years ago on gliders with a similar glide ratio.

We did have a speed gliding hang gliding competition in the late 90s during the Hang gliding word series.

This was during the evening an you can see the poor visibility of the atmosphere due to the forest fires to our West.