JUNE
2/6/2025 Brigsteer
Below: take off is centre right by the road junction.
An early start (9.20am) as it was due to get windy later as a front arrived.
I met up with Cefn on take off and was soon laid out and away. It didn't seem that windy, more odd gusts. It was also coming slightly from the west, over the trees which is never good. So it proved. It was the usual batle down the field and there was some side rotor causing a few tips to roll under - Cefn vidoed and I later spotted three tips go; but oddly never saw or felt them.
Once on the front ridge it was OK ... fairly smooth and at first mostly just ridge lift, Cefn took off second time of asking, joined me and some thermals then kicked in ... quite good ones too for so early in the day. I had the NCS task in play and managed to get the two end TP's, probably could have got the one in the middle of the valley, but the wind was picking up so I went and top landed.
Quite a reasonable snatched 1hr 20 before it started to blow out.
5/6/2025 Brigsteer
The forecast suggested a flyable afternoon, once the active front had cleared through. At 11am I was a mile or so away and stripping out an old kitchen, noting the torential rain and remarking on the over-flowing gutters. It didn't look at all good ... but things can change.
By 1.30 I was settling into the Hare and Hounds at Levens and having some lunch ... the sky was brightening, the rain had cleared through and if the wind now played ball there was a chance. I arrived on take off to find it OK ... the sky out front was clearing, sunny patches appearing and no sign of showers. The wind was on too ... even light at times.
I posted out a 'Brig OK' message and laid out. Cefn arrived just as I was about to take off along with a bit of a gust. Take off was easier than the previous day, with the wind being less crossed - so the climb out from the trees was easier.
It was fine in the air, fairly smooth and surprisingly thermic given the valley is green and was still wet. I had the NCS task plugged in but wasn't sure if the day was up to it at this stage.
Gradually others arrived, until an hour after take off there were about eight gliders airborne and a few more on the ground concerned about the wind and the 'dodgy' take off. As the day improved I set off on the NCS task, flying probably too conservatively, and thinking I was the only one doing it, in bimble mode. After almost two hours I landed with the task completed. Andy landed just after, having knocked about 35 minutes off my time.
It turned out to be a good afternoon of flying. The following day, same site (I wasn't out) seems to have been excellent too with many flying. It appears that despite a wind and rain forecast each day, if you seek out the windows of opportunity and have a convenient site you can get some good flying in. Even three days (almost) on the bounce.
XCMAP task link inc the four goal flights.
11/6/2025 Grey Scars
Warm day, nice sky, enough wind, but well of the hill to the east.
Flew down.
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