The day began with the usual 0900 briefing from an excited looking Dave who was confidently predicting wave. This news immediately put the Mark C grumpy setting to ‘very low’. Rowan Libelle, Stuart LS3 and the DG with Mark and Tim were first North Hill members to launch alongside Andy Holmes (of BGA winch fame). A short but tense climb through some rotor, to around 1500 ft QFE and all went smooth as wave was contacted. Mark C immediately declared the week a success and himself ‘satisfied’ from the back seat of the DG. The next one/four hours, were spent exploring the valley in front of the Mynd ridge. Stunning views of the lenticular clouds to the north west were on offer, while floating above the patchwork quilt of fields and weaving between the wispy clouds scattered throughout the valley. Stuart earned the Mark C designated ‘star pilot’ title having reached 6000 ft and 4.5 hours before returning for a loo break. Mark and Tim got impatient and lost out after trying to reach the next wave bar ‘only’ managing just over an hour.
Meanwhile Dan Welch (Nympsfield) had motored up to the Mynd, and Matthew Wi hitched a ride. Launching slightly later meant wave was more difficult to contact. It was managed by Rob (Mynd instructor), but after a hardy hour or so of effort, Dan and Matthew eventually had to motor towards Denbigh where the locals were reporting strong wave. From here, they managed to get to over 10000 ft (limited by lack of oxygen) and eventually reach Snowdon along with Andy Holmes and Rob who had pushed forward earlier (no motor involved!).
Back at the Mynd, Nick H had managed to fly three new types – Twin Astir, K23 and Discus and is now fully ‘Mynd inducted’. John B had a couple of sessions in the DG with Mark and returned grinning from ear to ear. Simon and Mark shared a session in the DG to get a break from instructing and demonstrated their maturity with a ‘fly-by’ up the field, past the launch point and back onto the ridge.
Despite a strong west wind, ridge lift varied throughout the day due to wave suppression, but full beats between 500 and 600 ft were possible throughout the day and well into the evening.
At the end of full-size flying, the adults extracted their toys from the cupboard and flew the ridge as the ‘duvets’ and hang-gliders floated past in the evening air. Simon L had a lucky escape after not performing his pre-flight checks and launching a glider with both transmitter AND aircraft receiver switched off. The model flew a perfect right hand circuit on its own and did the best landing it has ever experienced.
Matthew Wi shared some of his birthday cake with Mark C (bribery?). It seemed to work as Mark declared it ‘staggering’.
An epic second day, full of sunshine, flying and cake eating. Let’s hope day 3 continues the success. Dave was heard to mutter the words ‘wave tomorrow’ over evening dinner...
