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Flying Diary

Flight Statistics
Site	Woolacombe
Conditions	SSW 15-20 mph; very strong, a litle rough in places with few hints of thermals.
Glider	AirBorne Sting 3:168
Height Gain (ft)	918
Max Climb (fpm)	-
Duration (mins)	75
Distance (km)	-
Total Hours	27:10

Woolacombe

29 August 2009

For many years, long before my flying started, my family have visited the north Devon coast for our summer holidays. Since learning to fly, it has become an ambition to fly Woolacombe and this August that opportunity finally came.

Saturday morning I was body boarding in the sea at Woolacombe. The wind was a fresh westerly and I didn't think it suitable for flying. However, by lunch time a paraglider started soaring the dunes and a short while later I spotted two hang gliders high up above; it looked like it was on – the surf sucked!

After making my excuses with the family, I arrived at the Woolacombe launch. The wind was very strong and there was no way I would have launched my fomrer Target in these fresh winds. I had my Sting now so after rigging and being assisted to launch I was good to go.

Launch was interesting; I took one stride and was lifted off the ground and started to hover 15 feet above the ground not moving forward or backward! This was a pretty fresh but smooth wind. After transitioning to the base bar I gained more pitch control and was able to pull in and accelerate the glider. The glider happily moved forwards and upward as I penetrated the wind and hit the lift band.

Sharing the lift with 3 other hang gliders I was able to max out at 918 feet above takeoff, probably utilising some rare Woolacombe thermals. Most of the flight was around 500 feet above takeoff and lift was abundant and mostly very smooth. I zipped up and relaxed into my harness and enjoyed the view. I could see Braunton, Saunton, Croyde and a spit of land called Baggy Point to the south, Woolacombe town and the north Devon coastline as far as Ilfracombe to the north and far below me all the holiday makers on the beach. This was fantastic; I just wished I had my camera!

Over an hour later I decided it was time to rejoin the family. I had achieved two personal goals so far, one to fly Woolacombe and two, stay up for over an hour! If I could pull off a successful top landing, that would be a hattrick! I wasn't entirely sure of the best way to top land; would I crab inland during my ridge soaring, or turn downwind until far enough back then turn into wind and land? The answer presented itself as a pilot below me turned downwind, flew over the field turning into wind and landing (a downwind/base/final (DBF) approach – of course!).

So that's what I did, I followed him in. On my final I thought I was going to overshoot, but stuffing the bar brought me down nicely – although I had to transfer back from the uprights to the base bar to have enough pitch authority! I landed very softly with one or two paces before the glider came to rest.