Eye in the Sky Aug 2006

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Report by Paul Escott

The Eye in the Sky reports that Kaye and I may of been at Bell on Saturday. . . . . . . . . .

You're wrong! We were driving up to Wales for the classic Blorenge Party. Arrived to find it far too windy but the beer was flowing and as usual there were many faces we knew, some we hadn't seen for a while like Ian, Flinty, Keith and Steve, some from our own ranks like Nicholle M, Sean S, Debbie S, Paul H and Neil H. As you can see from the pix the Girls spent the night bopping to the band whilst the rest of us got on with some serious drinking (though the beer was better and cheaper at our Bash :-).

Sunday morning seemed like it was still blown out but the minibus was laid on for Fochnw (pronounced Fock-rew) and Merther so we jumped on. Glad we did! Once one brave soul took off in the strong conditions the lemmings soon followed for an hour or two of boating about. from the photos it looks crowded but it wasn't really as the site is huge compared to ours down south. We took the mid-afternoon bus home as we needed to hit a supermarket for food and beer. Once supplys were in I got a lift up the Blorenge. The wind was a bit off but following my best comedy launch I got a peachy floaty top to bottom into the campsite to round off the day.

Report by Jon Harvey

Weather predictions marginal at best, was the direction going to become SW before blowing out, or visa versa? Arrived Eype, and yep, direction nearly along the cliffs, but strength about 10max, so parawaited. 2ish, slightly better direction, so a short jolly to the beacon and back, landed to update Dinks, and away again. Thorncombe was now somewhat of a struggle, in ever increasing wind strength, though plenty of height gains. Tremendous speed on return leg, 25mph, screamed down to Westbay area, arriving about 600ft asl and thought of making the trip to Burton, but decided against this, as a long walk back, no way of making the return trip across the bay. Landed back at T/O, after about 50 mins, just as Gordon W arrived, but by then just on verge of blown out.

Report by RW

Bell Hill 29-08-06 A call from Keith B asking to put a message on the Site Phone as he did'nt have the number. Store it on your phone folks its' on the Home Page.

Arrived Derek S & Grant O were having a "rest", Keith B was wafting about the Bowl so I had a short fly before lunch.

Good height gains with a gradually filling sky & some dark grey matter giving a bit of rock "n" roll. A few others arrived some stayed and played others decided to go home. As the weather has been so "pants" I thought it worth getting the feet off the ground. It was flyable after a fashion for a couple of hours, nothing ventured nothing gained. "Ala tua tibi loquator" RW Photos by JR

Report by RW

BELL HILL The "Everhopefuls" arrived early, it was still too late, gusting to 20mph.

We should have binned it BUT! Parawaiting was the order of the day. However, it was a Hangie day for Hangliders, about time some would say. Richard M, Everard C& 2 others whose names were not forthcoming enjoyed some "rock n roll" in ever changing skies. The wind had not relented at 1530hrs so I made the sacrifice in the hope that those who remained might fly.

Others Dave W, James T, Derek S ( Happy Birthday 80yrs young ) Paul & Kay ? and several kestrels.

Report by Jon Harvey

Arrived Eype lunchtime, called Dinks, and waited for more wind to strengthen, direction somewhat east of best. Eventually took off, but could only fly Eype to Westbay area, light and well off. Landed some 30 mins later.

Second flight much better, more strength now, made Thorncombe easily with wind behind, and when 1000ft ventured to Seatown and Golden Cap. Above Seatown massive sink and down to 300ft, so returned to Thorncombe, where I saw Tony B airborne. Second try to Golden Cap, arrived on the east side cliffs and then climbed up ok. Unable to gain similar height as at Thorncombe though. Made the run to Charmouth and returned to find TB now heading west to GC. He also made to Charmouth, and eventually he went across the Bay down to Freshwater Caravan site before returning to Westbay and landing eastside below the golf course.

Report by RW

RINGSTEAD 25-8-06 A slow Southerly start with thermals everywhere. Progressively improving throughout the day. Grant O showing Pilot skill on his journey to Durdle Door even landing & taking off on the Tumuli in front of the "Grockles".

Many making the Cliffs not all getting back to T. O. . A late posse' arriving from the "Horse", they must have seen our enjoyment.

Gaz M, Nicky H, Grant O, Martin H, Alan W, Acro Jacro, K. C. ,Steve P,James T, Harry D, Paul H, Peter R, & others?

Report by Alastair Florence

I was supposed to be doing something at home but outside just looked to good to leave. Pretty much due South maybe almost a faint sniff off to the East at times so chose Knitson. 13 - 15mph on top at about 1200 hrs and plenty of gulls marking thermals down on the fields. Most of the ridge was working well, all the usual trigger points working without fail. Plenty of climbs to 400 - 600 ft ato really clear visibility, plenty of pushes well out in front of the hill. Par for course with plenty of sharp rough thermals ( bit like it would feel being swotted upward by a giant fly swot). If I had more time the Ulwell gap and onto Ballard would have been easy, tried for Corfe but would have been a hard push back so didn't bother to go past Harmans cross. Sadly didn't have time to stay out all day. A day like this over the outskirts of Swanage is really as pleasant as flying down from Bell and you just avoid all the hassle of finding thermals and stuff like that for 30 odd KM's before you get here. Got to be worth an 8. 5 on the Peachy scale !

Report by Alastair Florence

I drove up to Bell this evening and passed several hangies driving the other way, on arrival Steve hangy was flying and Everards glider parked on the hill. gusts up to 21 mph so sat it out, Marcus W arrived, plus Casey, Dave & Neil F, Simon J, John (Blue Airwave), Keith B, plus Mr blue Ozone. Everard had a flight then Marcus lost patience and went home to sort out his dog. This was the sacrifice the wind gods where waiting for, about 1900 hrs they turned down the wind a bit and Casey volunteered to wind dummy (sucker), no probs and soon joined by the rest of us. Still fairly strong but by no means top end. Reasonably bouyant but disapointing lift at higher levels, still stuck with it for an hour though, hence only worth a 6 on the Peachy scale. Nice evening though.

Report by Simon Jones

Ringstead, Tues 22nd August Arrived at Ringstead at around 11ish to find RW looking like launching, and Derek and others looking at him. RW asked if I had reached the magical 10 hours of flying time, and I had no option to admit that I had. I was then informed that I would consequently be going out to the cliffs.

RW talked me through the basic principles, discussed some flight plans, and then launched into 15-16mph of wind. He gained some height and went straight out to the cliffs. It certainly looked do-able enough. . . Derek then also launched and followed RW's example.

I launched and then lurked around TO for probably a bit too long, convincing myself that I did not have enough height to make "point A". RW got bored of this and returned to coax me out. RW coached me all the way to the little square building thing and we soared the unbelievably smooth air on the cliffs for quite a while. RW then led me back to TO, where he told me that I would have to write an Eye-in-the-sky report, and that I had failed to follow any of the numerous flight plans we had concocted in the beginning What a blast.

I might even think about losing the ribbon at some point.

Simon Jones CP+11(and several minutes. . . I think)

Report by Keith Burridge

Waited and watched xcweather hoping for the wind to drop for a chance of a flight this evening.

Arrived 19. 30 hours to see Paul trying to unpin his new wing from the hill and opt for a top to Bottom with his other half Orly capturing pics.

Roy M also arrived (supplied me with a sites CD) and the wind finally eased allowing forty minutes of flying till sunset. Sorry about he pics but these mobile phones ain’t cameras

Report by Alastair Florence

Got home from work early to take a look at Ballard as it was SE, too strong though so went home for tea, about 1900hrs it looked more calm so I decided it was worth a walk up.

I arrived at T/O about 1930hrs and it seemed fine. Twas a bit late in the day to site to sitephone though. Launched asap and found the wind ESE just on the strong side of perfect and the air very bouyant. The site was flyable from Old Harry rocks right back to the Ocean Bay cafe ( i. e max length) very pleasant and really bouyant and springy on the lower cliffs along the hotels.

Landed about 2030hrs as the light was going. About 8 out of 10 on the Peachy scale.

Report by Phil Venn

Fairly strong conditions at Ringstead today. Flying between the ridge and the cliffs from around mid-day till it got blown out at about 4 pm. Myself, Derek and RW were joined by John Alder (yes, some club members do still fly hang gliders) who launched into the stronger wind at about 4:15. Last seen rapidly gaining height over the Nothe.

Jay surrendered the camera to my daughter Reanne.

Report by Phil Venn

A blustery day at Bell. Piccy's by Jay

Report by RW

BELL HILL A long wait, rewarded by XCs for the patient few. Harry D maiden flight to somewhere past Bere Regis 18. 5K all the usual suspects elsewhere all over the County.

Bash 05-06 Aug 2006

Report by Gill Le-Gras

I was grateful for the oppurtunity to paramotor in the Dorset area ,did an out and return to the horse ,sorry it wasn't free flying , I hear there was little to be had !

Bash Pictures by Dave Winn

Report by James Roy

Lone Hang Glider, Bell Hill, Sunday 6th August 06 Having failed to make the bash due to extended family holidays I though I would call in at Bell on my way home. Arriving at around 2pm I felt very intimidated arriving in amongst a throng of 50+ paragliders with a hang glider strapped to my roof and no other hangies in sight. I considered going to a less prestigious site but sensed the wind speed picking up so though I would wait for the sky to clear of floppies.

First flight was at 3pm and boy was it rough, at one point the ground was coming towards me very quickly and I decided better of it and bottomed out. Rather than get a lift up I though I would show the paraglider community what hard men we hang gliders are and carried my glider and harness up from the bottom landing field. I now decided that, as many of my school reports read, "I could do better" and this time left my glider bag in the car. Consequently another ride to the bottom would end the day. This seemed to do the trick as my second flight saw me finding more lift and the conditions has eased. It was now about 4. 30 and the air was much smoother to about 600ft ATO. After a quick top landing for refreshment I made another flight at 5pm and managed 1500ft ATO in pretty buoyant air with the sky to myself. After an hour and fifteen I decided it was time to head home and eyed the white target landing spot in the bottom field. I though that this would be good spot landing practice and headed out to make my approach. This is when I encountered problems - I couldn't get down. Three times I made a final approach and on each I just kept getting hovered back up to around 400ft ATO - if only it was like that all the time.

Pictures by Jeremy Mortimer

Report by Alastair Florence

On Bell Hill after a murky start with murk base at around 700ft the skies eventually turned blue and cu's started appearing. Virtually all the club on the hill (surely one of biggest turn outs of the year). Not to crowded in the air most of the time as seperation was ok for a reasonable amount of the morning. After a couple of waft abouts I began building up some height, I dont like just trying to wind straight up off the ground for an xc like the pro's but if i catch a decent thermal once i'm up a bit i'll go with it (sometimes). I caught one at about 900ft and decided to follow Sean S over the back. The lift was a bit patchy but at least not to much sink. Sean didnt seem to catch the core and was soon in a freshly cut corm field past Winterborne stickland. I floundered along about half way between CB and the ground not really finding any convincing lift but again little sink. As I passed the chicken farm North of Winterborne Kingston it looked like the end was nigh, at no more than a few hundred feet up I got a patchy save which got me back to about 1900ft amsl, I was now just south of Winterborne kingston and the drift wanted me to go over Bloxworth Forest. I had other ideas until I gained more height. I managed to add another couple of hundred foot just bimbling around the area but was not really winning so took a ++it or bust glide toward Bere Regis which I remembered Sean L saying was a good trigger point.

Approaching Bere I flew into a user Un-freindly thermal which hammered me up at 9 up for what seemed like an eternity, I was gratefull for the height but could hear the canopy rustling and crackling, I couldnt really tell if it was inflated or not but as I was going up it didnt seem to matter really.

Things settled down and wareham was the next target. Loads of lift South of Wareham which I think was the Sea breeze front which seemed to be filling Southward which was quite handy. I reached my best height here, around 4000ft and was now over Corfe. A nice steady glide now toward Swanage, As I flew over my house at Herston I had about 1500ft left and was not sinking much, Durlston would have left me with about a grand to waste so I put in a turn and flew North toward Ballard. my theory being if I found lift on the way I may just clear the ridge at Ballard and coast on toward Studland or sandbanks.

Didnt find any more lift and landed at the base of Ballards, I called in a favour from one my daughters for a lift back for the car.

Report by Mike Bretherton

Simon Herbert and myself went to Combe but we had disappointingly cloudy conditions. A couple of bright intervals created some nice thermals though and the flying was smooth and thermic. A few people managed to get away before the conditions became too cloudy.

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