1500
For Chris, Bart and Dave who are staying on whilst I go to the airport. Light winds which should come on early at PN. Get of early and land before things get out of hand, staying in the Piedrahita Valley
After yesterdays epic day we have something similar regarding winds, but perhaps greater risk of storms. South wind which is again quite light and probably will come on to PN. However, we may want to get going early like yesterday so may go once again to Lastra.
The track below is the same as Nigel’s flight yesterday.
I will be checking wind at launch until 11am, then our briefing. wind S at 8.30am
1pm
1500
130km to NE
We all had a great climb out (except bart) to 3000m, went over the back but landed soon near Piedrahita due to overdevelopment. A very large storm later that afternoon
1pm
X section from Lastra to NE
X section from Lastra to NE
Still under the influence of the heat low with a trough to the N of the Peninsula. The Skew T looks less threatening today with a little more stability from around 3000m which reduced the threat of Cbs. The wind is SW and because of the relative stability of the trace (trigger temp around 30ºC) it may be a long time before the wind comes on at Peña Negra.
I am considering going to the launch at Lastra, this will give us a flight over the back and a track over the back to the NE avoiding the Ambles valley and free of airspace to 200km.
We should be ready to go at 11am, though I will be checking the windsock at launch until then to see if there are any signs of the wind coming on at PN. If it shows positive signs we will delay, as PN is always more healthy to fly at that Lastra.
A great day at Lastra will all but Felix climbing out and going over the back. Felix made an top landing to the W of the firewatch tower. Our pilots thinned out after crossing to the N of the Piedrahita valley, with landing around Gallegos de Solmiron. Mark, Ian, Nigel and myself finally got over 3000m at this point and continued towards Salamanca, though swinging more to the East some 15km short of Alba. Ian and mark went down after 50km or so. Soon after Nigel and I climbed near a large stubble fire in quite dramatic lift. I carried on to 90km not turning much for those 40km and landed to have a look at Madrigal de las Altas Torres, but unfortunately I got the town wrong. Nigel carried on to 122kkm to near Tordesillas, another historic Castillian town.
Ian and Nigel
Giant Stubble fire about 2500m below
Nigel Green, Mark Red and Ian Pink
1500
to North
X section to North
Early congestus build up with those making it up heading North to the other side of the valley (Ian, Beat, Nigel and Dave). the others, including myself, had an inglorious bomb out in the very gentle early conditions. Full Cbs by 15-30.
Nigel RED, Ian Green, Dave PINK, Beat Blue.
Website up and running this morning so here is the weather blog! Yesterday was a bit windy and rough and only Felix flew.
1pm
1500
x section to Segovia
A better situation this morning with less wind and less chance of big cloud build ups. Generally W to SW so a big Open distance could be possible. Once again the trigger temp is very high so the day will probably not get going until around 2pm. Blue convergence expected in the Ambles Valley.
A very strong thermic day with winds similar to forecast. All over Pass except for Fred and Dave S. Very strong and hard to get down towards Avila and many of us looked for sink to find a landing. Mark went on to Sanchidrian (80km) and Beat (99km) to Past Villacasting, Felix down North of Avila. Big build ups towards Segovia.
Bart and Chris both went over the Pass for the first time.
Mark and Beat
1pm
1500
X section to Avila over time
x section to south
A heat low forming over Spain with generally high temperatures. Winds qutie light from NNW probably turning more NE at the end of day. A day for an out and return to the Avila Valley, or conceivably over the back to the Valley of Tietar.
Pleaseant soaring conditions and all our pilots except 2 over the Pass. Pedro our alternate driver made his best ever flight landing near Avila. Wind too North to continue so we landed around el Fresno.
Yes it is!
1500 saturday
our region with thermal height. Red is 4500 to 5000m
Looks like a remarkable day for a big circuit.
An epic day of conditions with three of our Pilots going for an 80 km out and back over the Pass to towards Muñogalindo. PB for Rob, jacob and nigel gettting back and Mike and Hans out and a bit back.
[youtube]//youtu.be/KMEVtKqYEzA[/youtube]
1pm
1500
x section to NW from Chia
Lighter SE winds but some risk of congestus. A good reason to follow yesterdays flight direction . Wind is also more favourable for that. it should come onto PN with this windspeed, but we could change launch to Chia.
A very nice day with climbs to around 3600 and convergence out in front. We managed quite a bit of out and returning and triangling. A few track logs below. A PB for out and return for Mike
MikeRED, HansORANGE, SteveBLUE, JanJacobGREEN,NigelPINK
[youtube]//www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvYm4Oqdt4E&feature=c4-overview&list=UUWOPTFl4cpnACk5Vcy1APAA[/youtube]
1pm
1500
x section
x section over time
A high trigger temperature today which will make it slow to get going. A decent thermal top height and relatively light winds may allow us to fly to the NW, though if weak we will have to go the Cherry Tree valley direction.
uptdate 11.25. Wind at t.o a bit SE and more wind than normal from SE in valley at the moment. Postpone going up probably till signs of it coming in
Good flights to NW by Mike, Nigel and Jacob
[youtube]//youtu.be/mX52CasSuYM[/youtube]
Mikes flight
1pm
1500
wind at top of lift and X section
x section to south
wind at top of lift and X section
x section towards Plasencia
Potentially very good XC day but maybe not enough to do the route over the back. We will decide in the air.
Very gentle conditions for the first XC attempt as a band of cirrus slowed things. Just a trip to Barco with climbs no more than 2600m. We decided to do it all again for the evening flight and most got to Barco.
[youtube]//www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4sxlqEdFCw&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]