Had hoped to fly on Saturday but the weather seemed a bit fickle. Sunday looked a tad light and South East.
A couple of suggestions were made.
- Jubilee Cairn
- Loch Skeen / White Corries
- Ettrick Pen
- WitchieKnowe
- Cacra (if more south)
All in relative striking distance of Ettrick so Rob, Gerald and myself headed up to Tommy's to try to work out what to do.
Some tea. Some chat. and then the first sign of a breeze.
Tommy and Rob went up craighill to get an idea of the wind. A ESE and a reasonable breeze. Forecast had things going round to SE.
We ruled Jubilee Cairn out quite quickly. Its a nice fly down but needs bang on SE. Cacra needs more South. Loch Skeen.. bit of a walk but possible. WitchieKnowe. Possible.
Ettrick Pen. Mmmm.
So off to Potburn we went. Tommy lightning his kit. I tried to but the theory was kit was light enought. Doh! My light kit is not so light any more.
Me, Tommy and Rob made it to the trail head in 30min. then 40min more to the top.
Gerald made it up to take off at a slightly slower pace
Tommy was first unpacked. Wind was strong and a bit gusty. also seemed a tad east but looking at the map it was probably SE and we thought the hill was more bang on SE.
Tommy was off. Downwind towards Hopetoun Craig. He landed just over half way then was up and soaring on the hill. Looked ok. Rob followed not long after. Made it without landing. I faffed.
Got myself together and tried a few launches. It had gone light. After a wee while watching Rob and Tommy climb in the distance I saw Rob heading back. Thought... you don't want to do that. He almost made it all the way but landed.
Told me how great it was and to give it a go. Then he was off again. I followed along a bit quicker this time but had to relaunch a couple of time. Rob managed it with out landing!
Got a nice bit of soaring on Hopetoun Craig then headed round onto Wind Fell where Tommy and Rob had been soaring.
It died off as I made it round the corner. things then cycled through nicely over the next hour or two. Some kiting. Scratching. Soaring.
Rob had a couple of trips to check on Gerald. Gerald had climbed up to the top of Ettrick Pen to get out of the crap air where I launched. He had a nice launch but headed west a tad early so didn't take full advantage of the breeze.
Gerald only made it half way along to Hopetoun Craig. After struggling back up onto the ridge Gerald did a bit of kiting practice before packing up.
We were ready to pack up on Windfell when it cycled through again. Another bonus 20 min soaring and scratching before packing up.
W then headed West off the hill and down to the Southern Upland way at Ettrick Head. Then back to the cars and off home
It was a cracking day out. Probably 2.5hrs walking. Lots of ground handling. Chat and a good days flying. Tommy summed it up as a great wee adventure.
Next time round we're going to put rocks in Rob's harness and see how well he flies then!
Jamie
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0NHaprRjpU
Pictures:
.png "tommy on wind fell (2)")
