For those that don't know, Parham is the home of the Southdown Gliding Club and is blessed with a North facing ridge which runs from Butser Hill near Petersfield in the West to Lewes in the East, a distance of 69km. In certain wind directions it is possible to reach Eastbourne (the Holy grail), which adds another 20km. So when a brisk Northerly wind is forecast gliders migrate there to join the locals. Pete S(230), Ron and Dan(711), Phil and JB(DD3) and Wyn(W7) made the trip this time.
 |
| Phil taking a picture of himself! |
Saturday
Saturday was a good day with the maximum 15 visiting gliders plus Southdown club members - there were about a dozen gliders on the grid when we arrived at 08:30 which were soon joined by many more. Southdowns super slick launching operarion is a joy to behold - 2 tugs, 18 launches per hour, release at 800-1000' on to the home ridge. It was a bit soft at times which is reflected in the task speeds for the day, although the fast boys seem to be able to go fast whatever the conditions - the locals always fly full of water. 230, DD3 and 711 all did tasks of c.340km. Real excitement for the day, for Phil and JB at least, was a full on birdstrike with a buzzard right on the front of the canopy which made Phil jump(understatement) and put a 9" crack in DD3's canopy(ouch). Buzzard came off worse, failed to look before turning and paid the price, a lesson for us all! Probably about 30 gliders launched from Parham plus the gliders that flew down from Lasham made for a busy ridge day.
Saturday was a good day with the maximum 15 visiting gliders plus Southdown club members - there were about a dozen gliders on the grid when we arrived at 08:30 which were soon joined by many more. Southdowns super slick launching operarion is a joy to behold - 2 tugs, 18 launches per hour, release at 800-1000' on to the home ridge. It was a bit soft at times which is reflected in the task speeds for the day, although the fast boys seem to be able to go fast whatever the conditions - the locals always fly full of water. 230, DD3 and 711 all did tasks of c.340km. Real excitement for the day, for Phil and JB at least, was a full on birdstrike with a buzzard right on the front of the canopy which made Phil jump(understatement) and put a 9" crack in DD3's canopy(ouch). Buzzard came off worse, failed to look before turning and paid the price, a lesson for us all! Probably about 30 gliders launched from Parham plus the gliders that flew down from Lasham made for a busy ridge day.
 |
| Looking South towards Brighton (711) |
Sunday
Wyn arrived overnight to join in the fun as Ron and Dan departed but Sunday proved not quite so good with a lot of showers around and the wind off the ridge. There was a clue there when most of the locals didn't bother and those that did fly landed after a couple of beats of the ridge. But we were on a trip so we were going to fly! It was possible to avoid most of the showers but as they went past the ridge conditions became 'tricky' at times as the wind decreased was dragged off it even more than it already was, a case of parking on a bit that was still working until it got going again. A few gliders ended up in fields today but we all enoyed some good flying.
Wyn arrived overnight to join in the fun as Ron and Dan departed but Sunday proved not quite so good with a lot of showers around and the wind off the ridge. There was a clue there when most of the locals didn't bother and those that did fly landed after a couple of beats of the ridge. But we were on a trip so we were going to fly! It was possible to avoid most of the showers but as they went past the ridge conditions became 'tricky' at times as the wind decreased was dragged off it even more than it already was, a case of parking on a bit that was still working until it got going again. A few gliders ended up in fields today but we all enoyed some good flying.
 |
| Looking East from Truleigh towards Devils Dyke (DD3) |
Pete and Phil had to leave Sunday but JB and Wyn stayed on with the promise of a good day Monday. Stirling made the trip down to fly with JB, JB hoping to get to Eastbourne given the NE wind direction with thermals to help. Turned out to be the best of the 3 days with the wind being close to optimal at c.030/20 and some decent thermal energy lines to boot which made crossing the bigger gaps much less stressful. Wyn(who scored the day 9/10), flew the 344 km Butser - Lewes 5 lap ridge task at a very respectable 103kph. JB didn't get to Eastbourne this time but Stirling enjoyed his 300km+ trip between Butser, Lewes and Devils Dyke.
 | |||
| Wyn somewhere on the ridge (James Hiley, Southdown GC) |
Clocks having gone back over the weekend meant landing in good time to de-rig ready for the drive home but another very worthwhile trip. - Pete S.
Monday
Task - Lewes - Butser, A clear sky greeted us on Monday morning, so the glider was moved into the sun to help with clearing the ice. Stirling arrived early to help JB prepare DD3. The wind was forecast to be NNE and picking up later in the day. Soon after 10am the first stirrings of a breeze saw the first glider launched.
Shortly after I launched onto the local ridge, which was working but not very well. I set off to the Chanctonbury rings, and slowly climbed to 1,100 feet above PAR. Crossed to Truleigh Hill without losing much height. The run to Devil's Dyke was a gentle climb all the way, but then the challenge started. To push north to Newtimber from Devil's Dyke was not easy and I struggled to get a climb a few times and then ran back downwind to climb again on the ridge. Eventually I got the height needed to cross the saddle next to the "Jack and Jill" windmills, pushing through eye watering sink at speed, to find the lift on the Northern ridge for an easy fast run to Lewes.
The wind gradually picked up and the rest of the day was fairly text book, with the crossings made easier with following thermal looking clouds and even the odd street, which aided.
 |
| W7 (James Hiley, Southdown glider pilot) |
The wind gradually picked up and the rest of the day was fairly text book, with the crossings made easier with following thermal looking clouds and even the odd street, which aided.
 |
| South Downs (Wyn Davies) |
On one visit to Butser, I had Nigel Mallender in his LS8 flash by underneath , and I tried to follow him to understand the higher energy low down. The surprise was arriving below Butser and turning .5k short - until I realised he was using a barrel turn point. Followed him out and then slowly regained a sensible height to complete the rest of the task at a more leisurely height and speed.
Altogether a great day out on the Southdowns with DD3. Followed by a welcome cuppa from the JB cafe with Stirling, to recount adventures before the trek home in the dark. - Wyn W7
Altogether a great day out on the Southdowns with DD3. Followed by a welcome cuppa from the JB cafe with Stirling, to recount adventures before the trek home in the dark. - Wyn W7
