With top temp of 29ºC (compared with yesterdays 35ºC), bluethermals to 3100m.  With 33ºC in the plains we may get Congestus forming.  Lighter winds than yesterday and of a more Northely component.  The stronger Westerlies lie above the convective layer.  Fine for a flight to Avila, but probably too North for much further.

What Happened

Quite and evenfull day.  First off conditions quite weak with climbs to c2600 and light NW.  Mysefl and Richard flew to Pass and back, with others droping out mainly near Villafranca.  Later we went up for a  2nd XC attempt though only Nigel, Richard, Bart and myself got off in a lull.  Nigle at Muñogalindo, Richard at he bend and I myself to Avila (pretty much a glide from Amavida in the bouyant air for 30km).  Bart unfortunately flew to far back near the big spine so landed on top.  He  managed to find a good spot to relaunch and lamnded in town near sunset after the wind at the crest of the hill had abated.

Once again high thermal tops though the increased wind from the west and slightly more stable conitions at lower levels will make things tricky early on.  No prospect of return with this much wind  -around 20km/hr at take off level, so open distance is the best option taking care of the 3048m NOTAM after Avila if we decide to go.

What happened

Well we had about and hour or so fly around infront/windward of the Big Spine but the climbs were to little more than 2400m and the wind increasing at lower levels so we decided to land out towards the hang gliding landing fields.   Bart the intrepid flew on down towards Villafranca looking for a more exciting landing.  His lucky socks gave him the best XC and kept him safe.  He can´t change them now till their luck runs out.

The classic July scenario riun of epic weather continues.  The ridge of high of high pressure will begin to deteriorate on Thursday, but good conditions will continue.  Stronger SW winds tomorrow favour a big open distance.  The very high base and convergence may make it very difficult to stay under the airspace beyond Avila today.  With the light winds a closed circuit would be preferable today. Both today and tomorrow are 200km+ open distance days.  Some options below.  Simplest is the 100km O&R to Avila, the only difficulty would be the return over the pass against the headwind (but with 4800m base and convergence!).

What Happened

Strong climbs as predicted (Hakon to around 4300m) but also stagering sink holes.  The NW pushed in making things a bit tough.  A good percentage bombed at Villafranca in the huge sink hole there.  Gavin, Haakonand Nigel over the Pass  landed short of the Y junction as things were a bit manic and rough.  So much for the Big Wednesday.  Yesterday was far more enjoyable.

This evening a nice boat about we hope.

Todays heros below.  Also of course yesterday Nigel (//www.50k-or-bust.com/) also made his 2nd 100km out and return from Piedrahita (last year the Avila and out which we had hoped to do today).

4000M + BASE, LIGHT WINDS. CONVERGENCE. ANOTHER AMAZING DAY.

Another epic paragliding day with the conditions ramped up from yesterday with a max temp of 32ºC.  Yesterdays flight and more is feasable.  I have included the time and conditions over yesterdays route bleow.  However, with the lighter wind and more easterly componend it may be more interesting to fly more to the NW, skirting the Sierra de Francia and then towards Cuidad Rodrigo and Portugal.  This would be a very interesting flight and wholly in the flatlands, thus avoiding the stress of the Cherry tree valley.

Briefing around 11am.  Be very excited.  This is an amazing day

What Happened.

It certainly was an amazing day, we hit a bit of N wind near Gijuelo which decked quite a few after around 35km.  Only Richard, Nigel and myself managed to get up.  Then v.easy with climbs to 3800m, but when we reached Linares at 54km we found a NW low down so we abandoned the plans to fly to Portugal and flew home for a nice 100km.  Around 6.5hrs

Richard fumbled the last climb/glide and landed a bit short.  However, he smashed his previous PB (40km) and seems pretty happy about the day

High presures over the Iberian Peninsular with a ridge of high pressure forning to the SW bringing a general increase in temperatures. Winds around 15km/hr within convection layer from the NE.  Good quality thermals with base to a c3000m.

With eastly condition we oftne end up at Barco or Tornavacas Pass.  If we are feeling brave the light winds and relatively high base should allow us to continue towards Plasencia.

View of some key points

The google earth view below from v. high and looking to the SW through Barco, Tornavacas Pass and Plasencia (pink arrows).  the yellow spots are recomended climbs and the red circle is a danger/restricted area (nuclear power station).

What happened

Pretty much as forecast (almost down the the times if you see the track forecasts above), with a few PBS (Bart and Gavin and almost Chris).   Gavin at 106.2. Could have been more but he needed a pee.  Really great conditions in general with climbs to 3100m max and average decent climbs to 4m/s.  Very boaty at end of day so we could have done another 30km easily.  Tomorrow is going to be epic, and Wednesday remarkable.

After months of westerlies today gives us the oportunity tof ly to the west.  The westerly flow continues at altitude, but NE winds in tthe convection layer.  An inversion around 2500m will keep things down, but by theend of the afternoon some climbs to near 3000m.

Airport run for me today, so just an evening flight with the new group later.

looking good for next days!

This morning presents the typical post cold frontal scenario (with a complication).  Early morning Stratocumulus at mid level on the mountain and throughout  the valley.   This will gradually thin and rise during the morning, probably clearing take off by mid day.  Increasing high pressure, but complicated by the arrival of another weak cold front later in the day, which hopefully will not adversly a effect the flying. Mainly  Blue thermals later in afternoon

Winds initially WNW but going to North by end o the day.  Around 15- 20km/hr during XC hours at take of level, increasing significantly at the top of convection which may only be around 2400m and 30km/hr for much of the early afternoon.

Thermal quality should be very good, which will allow some degree of upwind flying in the valley.

¿Que podemos hacer?

No es especialmente facil. El viento y altura del base al principio del dia hace problematico pasar el Puerto;   tambien para hace un prueba en el Valle de Croneja.

A medio dia en el despegue antes del briefing hay que ver si el viento ha girado más al noroeste, en cuyo caso hacer los primeros tramos por la ladera.  Esto os permite salir antes de que enchufe el despegue y hacer tiempo mientras mejoran las condiciones (buscamos una subida en la altura de las termcias – puede subir unos 200 -300m/hora a las primeras horas de la tarde)  Probablemente tendremos unps 2600m para las tres de la tarde y 3000m a final del dia. (aunque se podria complicar debido al nuevo frente).

Se puede hacer un recorido como abajo por el valle y ladera, pero los tramos contra viento no van a ser especialmente divertido (aunque con la inestabilidad y viento formara mini calles de ascendencia que permitirá volver algunos tramos facilmente (!a vezes y para algunos!). (en el dibujo de abajo son vientos en superficie( 10km/hr a las 12) – los de nivel de despegue por lo menos 20mk/hr)

Es preferible hacer un simple gol en Avila si vemos que la base sube suficientemente.

Ventana corta y pronto pero start por la cara oeste del ¨big spine´. (Cordal del Nevero). Mejor pasar un buen rato antes del start en el Big Spine para ver la mejoria antes de tirar haica Villaroto.

Que tengais mucha suerte todos.

An approaching cold front and a general increasing of the winds. We still have the westerly flow but around 25km/hr at take off level and perhaps in excess of 40 km near 3000m. Similarly to yesterday there is an inversion at 2600m which will slow conditions untill later in the afternoon. With top temperatures of 29ºC we can expect thermal tops of c3200m (blue thermals). Good potential for distance flying; but you need to be brave and lucky.

Que hacemos hoy:

Hay ciertos problemas con plantear una manga en un dia como hoy. Es posible que el viento en el despegue a las doce sea razonable pero cuanto empieza a funcionar (termicamente) se enchufará rapidamente. Aparte de esto la inversion no nos va a dejar subir mucho mas que 2300 -2600m antes de llegar al Puerto, donde los vientos van a ser más fuerte. Los vientos en la fuga en la zona Villarotoro hasta Poveda/Amavida van a ser incluso más fuerte. Las posibilidades de remontar ne esta zona son pobres por supression (ver dibujo abajo).

Una vez remontado por Amavida la vida ya es más sencillo (aparte del turbulencia etc) pero en general en todo el valle de Ambles la termica y viento es un porcentaje más que en el Valle de Corneja.

Es posible que el prognositico sea incorrecto – en este caso, con un viento razonable y seguro en el despeuge se puede lanzar una manga. Si vemos que no se sube bien y el viento es en exceso de 25km/hr a 1900m se debe anular la manga rapidamente y intentar aterrizar en el valle sin pasar de Villafranca (con más que nos metemos hacia el Puerto/más viento y problemas). Si es posible, aterrizamos al oeste de la linea roja abajo.

Que managa

Lo mejor seria distancia abierta. Imponer balizas y gol con viento fuerte es una receta para tener pilotos luchando contra viento para legar a zonas imposibles.

Aqui terminamos la lección de Spanglish y ortografia incorrecta.

What happened?

A few brave spaniards took off but no task was run. One who flew tandem had won yesterdays task, but he, añong with the other tandem who reached goal, both were disqualified as they went into airspace.

Mike was bravest today, venturing out on a 40km O&R on my Raleigh Clubman (1970s) against wind and very hot weather.

Today I was able to fly the Swing Astral 7.  I flew the  Astral 6 some years ago and was really impressed.  I flew the 24 which goes as high as 105kg and   ballasted as much as I could with my Woody Valley GTO to 95kg.

My little test are far from any thorough testing, I  just hope to convey a gut feeling and overall impression.

This CEN C glider feels very much like a CEN D from last year.  Controls are quite short and responsive and in turbulent air needs quite a bit of attention.  It took me a while to settle on this glider and was perhaps a little over compensative initially to reign in the movements.  However, the glider seems very pitch stable and when I was finally brave enough to let it fly found it very nimble even in the rough and tumble of a 5m/s at the Pass.

I had two low saves, which for me are the best way to find if the glider works for me as it is when your really need a responsive wing to be able to sense the air, yet integral enough not to thow you when wanging the glider close to the deck.  The glider was super in this respect.

Build qualiyy is very nice.  Your can read all about it on the manufactureres web page //www.swing.de/index.php?main=produkte&sub=astral7&lang=en.  What I particularly liked was the neoprene brack handles and the high qulaity Harken pulleys on the risers.  The cell openings also looked pretty neat as did the general sexiness of the sail cut.

Is it the glider for you?.  Well you can certainly test fly one if you come out since Andreas Merzger the importer for Spain hold all the sizes and is nearby to us.

Is this a glider for the average profile of most of my guests?  probably not.  You would want to be a pretty regular flier and knocking in a few XCs at home each month before you would want to fly this little racer in July conditions here.  The new Mistral (CEN B) will be out towards the summer.  I reckon that is likely to be something special.