Wed/Thurs at Parham

Pete St and JB headed for Parham on Tuesday afternoon and Peter Sm set off on Wednesday morning in anticipation of a nice day's ridge running on the South Downs. The wind was forecast to be 15 - 18kt Northerly with only the slight risk of an isolated shower towards the east. JB and Pete St planned to run between Butser Hill and Lewis, a 74km beat and just trickle along and enjoy the view while Peter Sm was hoping to get a ride in a K21 with one of the local Instructors and sample the South Downs for the first time.

Wednesday dawned with a 1400ft cloud base and an unexpected rather damp looking sky. Pete St and JB rigged and were on the grid ready to launch immediately after the 10am briefing. Pete St was about 5th to launch, but just after he launched it started to drizzle at Parham so he headed east to avoid getting wet. The gods were not smiling and when he was jumping across the Amberleigh gap he hit some prolonged sink and within 15 minutes of leaving Parham he had landed in the grounds of Seaford College. Peter Sm went to retrieve him as the drizzle stopped and JB launched.
Discus in school playing field (and LS7 nearby) at Parham
 It was still raining to the east so JB and Rob Thompson from Nympsfield teamed up and took some extra height before venturing across the Amberleigh gap to Bignor Hill and on past Seaford College where the two Petes were preparing to de-rig 230.The wind was not as strong as forecast and was about 15degrees west of North which was not ideal. But they had an uneventful run out to Butser and back down to Lewis.

Returning from Lewis they had a momentary shock when the smoke from a bonfire by Devils Dyke indicated the wind to be almost Westerly and along the line of the ridge. They thought they were doomed to a field, but it turned out to be a local phenomenon and pressing on to Truly Hill they soon climbed up to the 1300ft necessary to jump the Storrington gap and arrive on the west side level with the top of the ridge. On arriving back at Parham they decided to call it a day; 148k and a nice time was better than 175 and a wet field, so they ended the day with a few beats of the home ridge at 90kts trying to get below 800 ft before going in for tea!

 Peter Sm had a flight in Parham's K21 and although it was only a short flight he did get cleared to fly solo next time he visits.

Thursday

Having visited his cousin in Southampton Hospital on Wednesday evening, JB stayed over at Parham and flew again on Thursday. Thursday's weather was what they should have had on Wednesday! It was glorious with not a drop of rain in sight, but the wind was a bit light at only 12 kts Northerly. Soon after launching JB stumbled into some weak wave and climbed to 2400.
A couple of pilots ventured forth but most stayed on the home ridge and enjoyed the peaceful conditions for a change. After an hour JB got lonely and spent the rest of the flight buzzing up and down the ridge until about 3pm when the wind died and everyone landed.
Wave at Parham
It was the most relaxing flight I've ever had at Parham and made a real change from the rough and tumble ridge-top thrashes we usually experience there! - JB