British Paragliding Cup 2010
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Dates: 30th Jul - 1st Aug
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Gary Jackson writes...
"Once again the Cup descended on South East Wales with every one hoping for better conditions than so far this year. Met reports were conflicting with one another and you really had to be there to know what was going on.
Friday saw an 8.30 briefing with immediate departure for Nant-Y-Moel on the other side of the Rhondda valley. The cloud base was low and threatening and the wind was brisk but smack on the hill.
Task was set by 10:45, an elapsed time race to goal back at the camp site, and window to be opened at 11.15. As we all readied ourselves, conditions and simplicity of the task allowed for a rescheduling of the window open time. It was open with immediate effect and gliders were soon in the air.
It wasn't long before Cris Miles and myself, climbed to cloudbase in a weak but discernable thermal. Unfortunately it was only about 600 feet above the hill top at 2200 amsl and so neither of us went with it over the back. Apparently this lack of altitude didn't deter Dave Thomsom from having a go and so off he went.
About an hour later after bimbling about all over the hill, another well formed thermal finally came through and a group of us climbed to base once again. It was higher, only by about 300 feet or so, but it was drifting and the lift was quite well spread out allowing many of us to go over the back.
Marra headed off first in the direction of the next hill closely followed by Cris, Tony Spirling and myself. By the time I arrived on the next hill Marra and Cris were already climbing and going over the back again. Tony and I were climbing slowly but then I saw a large bird, probably a Buzzard, high up and out in front of the hill. I pointed at it and we both headed out and joined a good thermal. On our way up, Cris came back and joined our ride back to base, whilst Marra headed off on another glide. I remember shouting to Cris that it's probably time to head out from the base of the cloud as it got darker. I left and went into a 3-4 sink hole. Believe it not, I came back to the cloud again! Cris then headed off and I followed. I didn't see Tony again as the three of us headed towards some more high ground, flying in mostly zeros. At about this time there was a lot of radio chatter about conditions. I feared the worst and just my crap luck that the task got cancelled as the three of us came over a conglomeration of towns in the next valley. Marra had found another climb on the far side and I managed to connect with it before deciding that the rain was getting heavier. I turned and headed for a nice green patch of grass which had walkers by it, so there was no fear of landing in a fenced enclosure, unlike one other who did exactly this on Sunday and had to be let out by the security guard :o)
Marra has some ideas about the lift we encountered along the way and maybe he could be persuaded to enlighten the rest of us with a report.
Hats off to Calvo, for getting us on the right hill at the right time, given that the conditions were expected to deteriorate. Shame about the weather, but at least we all flew on a day that most of us wouldn't even have bothered going to a site for."
On Friday night we basked in glorious sunshine for two hours in a wave trough watching the rain clouds immediately up and down wind. A fantastic spectacle.
Saturday we went to Fochriw, but 25mph winds on launch, low cloudbase and a strengthening forecast meant the day was canned. For the evenings entertainment everyone was given a disposable bbq and something to burn and we drank beer and wine, and had food fights. Many pilots had more to drink than usual, one even deciding to redecorate the inside of his tent at three in the morning.
On Sunday, we went to Merthyr. When we got there the skies looks promising and the free fliers were at base as Calvo did the briefing. A race to goal at Castle Meadows in Abergavenny, via a turnpoint on the roundabout on the west side of Merthyr, was set.
Strong winds on the edge of many pilots comfort zone meant we didn't get the type of Grand Prix start common to race to goals but everyone got off OK in the end. Those who took off early were able to climb high enough to push forward for the turn point. After that things shut down - there was still thermals but they were small and punchy and it was difficult to gain any decent height. The weak conditions meant everyone ended up on the ridge, some looking for a climb to head off to goal with and everyone else still looking for enough height to push forward to the turn point.
One thermal gave enough of a climb for a second gaggle to go for the turnpoint, although several misjudged the weakening wind and slope landed on the return. After the window closed the wind turned north forcing most people down. A few pilots scraped over the back, but the poor sky meant that only three managed to get beyond the 5k min distance. Mal Davies was first with just over 8k, Dave Thomson a short distance behind followed by Graham Cummins. Scores will be up as soon as I get them - but don't get too excited.
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