Gargunock 5MAR22

[Ben Johnson]

Well today was a success! 

As I was working tonight, I was restricted to local sites but in fact that was not a problem! I also had a wing to demo so a nice local site which is familiar and friendly is always good. 

Looking at the forecast, I had some expectations knowing the wind would be a bit cross on launch. Met wind was NNE and the ridge faces NNW, however with plenty of thermal cycles coming through, there were no issues staying up. As I reached launch I saw a few gliders launching. Perhaps Tim B? Bob M? who were showing it was the upper end of conditions in terms of penetration. They managed to climb and move west along the ridge picking up climbs nicely and moving out from the hill. I met up with Martin preparing to launch, Ollie, Nigel and one other chap who I have forgotten his name (sorry). As cycles were coming through, launch conditions were top end but Martin demonstrated a lovely launch with no issues and started to climb shortly after taking off and headed along the hill. I suggested to the others we walk down from the top to the next lower plateau to launch as it was much calmer there. We had seen plenty to prove there were no issues getting up and staying up. 

Conditions were very nice. Smooth air with some fair climbs but nothing too powerful. Spring is definitely here :-) I too flew west along the hill and after getting some height flew out away from the hill and started to play with the new toy! Speed bar, rear risers etc. I hadn't really done much in the way of climbing but had become complacent with thinking I could stay up as climbs were so frequent. Wrong! I was below hilltop height and thought I'd make it back and connect either with ridge lift or pick up a climb. I found all the sink instead so set up to land at the foot of the hill and walked back up with my tail between my legs!

The day still had life in it, around 1400 I reached the lowest part of the hill I thought (this will do). Back in the game! A few gliders had flown far out to the North and high. I lost sight of them after that but it looked like they had the best of what the day had to offer. I managed to get some height and flew west along to Carleatheran taking any climbs along the way. It was weak but workable. The 777 Rook 3 Light had so much agility in these small bubbles. It was night and day from my Gin Sprint 3 Which is much more roll stable. I thought it was time for full bar now being downwind needing to get back to my car for work which was upwind along the ridge, I had 14 ish km/h of ground speed but I clocked 28 km/h on full bar and not sinking faster than I was travelling. As you could imagine I was smiling from ear to ear. The day was slowing down and I was back at ridge height scratching again along to Scout Head. I thought I would make one last dash out over the fields to see if I can pick up a climb but only found a few wee bubbles too small to get my teeth into and down to the landing field to discuss the day with the others.

Fantastic day, hope we have many more to come and soon :-)

Cheers,

Ben.

Cheers,

Ben.