27 / 09 / 2008 :: Talybont
| Name | :: | Richard Bungay |
| :: | richard _at_ cloudbase.me.uk | |
| Date | :: | 27 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | South West |
| Comments | :: | Another great day at this mountain site. Very light winds but 3-4m/s thermals to 1700'ato. After a couple of hours flying landed next to Al and had a sacrificial burning of his red ribbon - well flown Al:-) |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
28 / 09 / 2008 :: Westbury
| Name | :: | Richard Ford |
| :: | _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 28 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | North |
| Comments | :: | Turn up in time for an ice cream, a chat with Sion and then amazingly by recent standards some flying. All switched on from nothing at about 15:00. Some pleasant thermalling in really smooth thermals. Really nice to finally get back in the air. |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
28 / 09 / 2008 :: Bossington
| Name | :: | Reech |
| :: | rstiling _at_ blueyonder.co.uk | |
| Date | :: | 28 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | West |
| Comments | :: | Another coastal day of floating about. After too light, just about right then too strong. As you do........ |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
28 / 10 / 2008 :: Westbury
| Name | :: | Fi & Tim Burgess |
| :: | _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 28 / 10 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | North West |
| Comments | :: | For once we got the timing and the day right and arrived at 3.15 in time to see the first gliders getting airborne. Quickly joined them and had some fun until it finally died about 5pm. Top landing was challenging with so many gliders, walkers and boxer dogs around, yet no disasters or scares apparent - all very pleasant. |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
29 / 09 / 2008 :: Devils Dyke
| Name | :: | Steve Empringham |
| :: | _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 29 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | North West |
| Comments | :: | Torn between Liddington and the Dyke -chose the latter. Enjoyed some bubbles of lift early on, with a 'few' more than 8 other pilots. Unfortunately, had to leave, just as the sky was looking more promising, to collect sprogs from school. |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
29 / 09 / 2008 :: Liddington
| Name | :: | Mike Silvester |
| :: | mikepsilvester@btinternet.com _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 29 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | North West |
| Comments | :: | Pretty much same as Al's report. I was setting up as l saw Al and Mark dissapear over the back. It was a bit up and down but managed a few ten minute flights before it went to westerly and a tad strong. left site about 3pm |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
29 / 09 / 2008 :: Liddington
| Name | :: | Al Wilson |
| :: | al _at_ mrog.co.uk | |
| Date | :: | 29 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | North West |
| Comments | :: | About 8 out on the hill. Started off light and scratchy, ended up strong and lumpy, and was always a bit off to the west. In the phase between weak and strong there was some reasonably interesting flying, probably adding up to about an hour's airtime for me. Between 12 and 1 a few half-decent thermals came through and eventually Mark Jones and I climbed out at 1.5m/s. The sky was epic and things looked good for a few minutes, but the climb petered out at 2500' and we were soon down at about 7k. Thanks to Paul L for a welcome lift back! |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
26 / 09 / 2008 :: Denmead to Cattistock
| Name | :: | Tom Clowes |
| :: | tomclowes _at_ hotmail.com | |
| Date | :: | 26 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | East |
| Comments | :: | The Great Malverns sounded like the place to be! However, I had decided to fly under power from Denmead (near Portsmouth) to Cattistock (near Dorchester) in Dorset. The visibility was not great but still ok. I had permission to land at a private grass air strip at Chalmington Manor near Cattistock. I was visiting the in-laws who live nearby! See photos at link below... |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://pinnacleadventures.blogspot.com/2008/09/150k-from-portsmouth-to-dorset.html |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
26 / 09 / 2008 :: Great Malverns
| Name | :: | Ian Pepper |
| :: | pepsathome _at_ ntlworld.com | |
| Date | :: | 26 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | East |
| Comments | :: | Superb conditions from 1100 - 1500 with easy thermals topping out at 2000ft ato, I was able to cruise south along the ridge as far as Castle Morton in ESE. Conditions got lighter as the wind backed to East making for more congested flying, the lift died out by 1700. Probably the pleasantest flying I had this year. |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
25 / 09 / 2008 :: Pandy
| Name | :: | Mike Long |
| :: | _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 25 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | North East |
| Comments | :: | A good day for soaring and thermalling on a massive ridge. Great to have plenty of airspace to play in! Even managed to land in the correct field...... |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
19 / 09 / 2008 :: Eype - Dorset South Coast
| Name | :: | Sion Roberts |
| :: | _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 19 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | South West |
| Comments | :: | The sea breeze kicked in just enough to stay up on my last day of holiday in West Bay, Dorset. Flew Eype/West Bay all by myself for over an hour while the Mrs sat on the beach below. Light and smooth flow. Lovely! |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.flickr.com/photos/cosmosmoss/2875565510/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
21 / 09 / 2008 :: Mercury
| Name | :: | Mike Silvester |
| :: | mikepsilvester _at_ btinternet.com | |
| Date | :: | 21 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | East |
| Comments | :: | Unusual wind day, alot of wings fluffing around on takeoff but flew a couple of times in and around 4 or 5 Hangliders. not the best of days but at least got in the air. Mike L, how did you find the walk up at Tally Bont :-) |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
20 / 09 / 2008 :: Talybont
| Name | :: | Mike Long |
| :: | mikefly _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 20 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | South |
| Comments | :: | Firstly, a big thanks to Richard Bungay for organising the day. The wind was meant to be SE, well it was elsewhere in Wales except where we were. So after some thought we stuck with the SE take off area even though the wind was more Southerly. Our patience paid off! It's got to have been my best day yet..... fantastic scenery, nice, quite strong, thermals and above 2000' ATO which is a first for me. |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
19 / 09 / 2008 :: Countisbury Hill
| Name | :: | Mike Hibbit |
| :: | cloud9airsports@btopenworld.com _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 19 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | North West |
| Comments | :: | Spectacular coastal site in North Devon. Highest cliffs in England (1000 ft.) Have looked forward to flying here since I first saw them last year and got the opportunity on the way home from a walking holiday with my wife, Maggie. Only four pilots on site, one a hangglider pilot friend from the seventies,Tony Beresford. Incredible site with thermals breaking off rocky outcrops exposed to the sun. Only 150 miles from Reading, most of it on motorways. |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
16 / 09 / 2008 :: Mercury
| Name | :: | Robert Ager |
| :: | robertager _at_ ash-studios | |
| Date | :: | 16 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | East |
| Comments | :: | There were a few wings at Whitewool when I arrived in the early afternoon with baby and wife for company. Headed on to Mercury where there was 'not a soul!' Got permission from Farmer to fly (as I was the first there)and took to the air, albeit nervously, wondering whether I had missed something like the site was closed, or the it was unsafe or something of the sort which would explain its emptiness. Flew for an hour in variable lift, but the grey sky and ominous clouds weren't very cheerful, a few thermals wandered through but nothing to speak of. Saw a few wings flying at Whitewool and so headed over there and met a very nice gent (Shipo) who briefed me on the site and left me to it. Managed two beats and then the wind dropped and stayed that way. Still was a nice day out and I got my feet off the ground. |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
18 / 09 / 2008 :: Pandy
| Name | :: | Fi Burgess |
| :: | _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 18 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | East |
| Comments | :: | Spent a beautiful day in the sun, having gone there with 6 friends, met some more there and had a little bit of nice thermalling around lunchtime to 500 ft ato - not as much as we hoped as the wind then went very light and then later on a bit south. Finally TTB'd at 4.30, leaving a couple on the hill still hopeful. I had ummed and ahhed whether to bother and it was worth it as we did fly. And this year that's better than sitting at home wondering. |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
17 / 09 / 2008 :: Mercury
| Name | :: | Punter Ian |
| :: | i.hobbis _at_ btinternet.com | |
| Date | :: | 17 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | East |
| Comments | :: | Great day flew for 20 mins and got 50' ATO. Confused or bemused by this and previous recent entries then read my blog below |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.puntersgap.blogspot.com/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
15 / 09 / 2008 :: Mercury
| Name | :: | Punter Ian |
| :: | I.hobbis _at_ btinternet.com | |
| Date | :: | 15 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | North |
| Comments | :: | What a fantastic day for Mercury. Several people managed to get down to the Southampton CTR including my good friend Daniel who touched a cloud on the way. Now I didn't get anywhere but I did manage to snap a lovely candid picture of some of the beautifully dressed female pilots who turned up today (see yesterdays diary entry). Take a look for yourself on my blog (below). It's nice to see some girls made the effort. |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.puntersgap.blogspot.com |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
14 / 09 / 2008 :: Mercury
| Name | :: | Punter Ian |
| :: | ian@marilynscakes.co.uk _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 14 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | East |
| Comments | :: | Twas a bit crap at Mercury today. My good friend Daniel had the best of it climbing out to a grand with another Golden Pilot. I spent two hours (or so it seemed) trying to get back across the fence from slope to launch - what a punter (or muppet... is it the same?). I have heard that tomorrow it's Lady's Day at Mercury so come on xc girls wear your best outfits... I hear that low cut tops and short denim skirts will score highly with the judges although they are liable to cause unpleasantness at cloudbase! |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
14 / 09 / 2008 :: Murcury
| Name | :: | Mike Silvester |
| :: | mikepsilvester _at_ btinternet.com | |
| Date | :: | 14 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | East |
| Comments | :: | Got to site about 1100hrs, great for groundhandling as probably a dozen of us was doing just that. Was there till about 1700hrs and had two, five minute flights, and a lot of parawaiting. Good to get back into free flying though. |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
08 / 09 / 2008 ::
| Name | :: | mike |
| :: | _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 08 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | South West |
| Comments | :: | Arrived at Milk for 10.40-ish hoping someone else would turn up. At 11 was pleased to see two cars at the bottom of the track. 8? pilots eventually in the sky before the wind was too strong at 2pm. |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
07 / 09 / 2008 :: Mere Bash 6th & 7th
| Name | :: | Paul & Kay |
| :: | _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 07 / 09 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | West |
| Comments | :: | Saturday,This years Mere Bash was a good if not better than previous years,a good turn out even if the weather wasnt playing ball, a big thanks to all the Loyal Avon Club members for making it possible and such fun. Two Great bands played into the night and Big Dave kept the Ale flowing right up untill breakfast,Sunday,for the more energetic Local Falconer Alan Gates invited us to join him and his Bird on a 'Hawk Walk'And the Biggest thanks goes to the farmer who towed many of us out of the Mud,(all good fun)Have the T Shirt,seeya next Year. |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
29 / 08 / 2008 :: field near Stokenchurch
| Name | :: | Bob Johnston |
| :: | _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 29 / 08 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | South East |
| Comments | :: | I was also out making the most of the warm calm but grey evening, decided to drop off the Chiltern hills down on the the Oxfordshire plain near Chinnor only to find the gentle wind blowning down the hill had set up a catabatic flow and I couldn't climb back up at all, had to fly away from the hills very low before I could get enough height to get back on to the hills. Then it was climb as high as I could get and practise wing overs all the way down, managed to accidently spin the glider when down at about 150ft Oops! Still pleased that I caught the spin and stopped it before it had gone more than 90 degrees. |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
29 / 08 / 2008 :: Near Denmead
| Name | :: | Tom Clowes |
| :: | tomclowes _at_ hotmail.com | |
| Date | :: | 29 / 08 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | South East |
| Comments | :: | Flew with brother Ben, about 70 miles on the motors from a field near Denmead in Hampshire, to Petersfield and on to Petworth. Landed for a sandwich on the Downs, east of Cocking, before flying back all on less than one tank on the Bailey 175cc. Very atmospheric in the low cloud but calm conditions. A lovely way to spend a Friday - obviously not as good as thermalling without the motor - but still fun!! |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://pinnacleadventures.blogspot.com/2008/09/70-miles-in-clouds.html |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |
30 / 08 / 2008 :: Potential TVHGC Site Number 3
| Name | :: | mike Hibbit |
| :: | cloud9airsports@btopenworld.com _at_ | |
| Date | :: | 30 / 08 / 2008 |
| Direction | :: | South East |
| Comments | :: | In my quest for new sites I arrived, with flying buddy Daniel Games, to find two guys with Parafoil Kites launching themselves into the strong venturi. Later I flew from lower down the hill into very thermic conditions! Flocks of seagulls were marking frequent thermals off the freshly cut field below. Wind eased mid afternoon and we both soared in good lift prior to the wind veering more southerly. Two more guys arrived with model gliders! With the wind across the hill we flew down and had a friendly chat with a Farm-hand who approached us on a quad bike. Looking back up the hill the models seemed to be doing quite well! |
| Weather | :: | 06:00 12:00 18:00 |
| Pictures | :: | http://www.tvhgc.co.uk/photo_gallery/ |
| XC League | :: | TVHGC :: National |