Blow by and Wave goodbye – Algodonales Day 11

Another sunny rise in Algo

The hill was buzzing with a good forecast, blue skies and light winds. It was busy ish at launch on Lijar and the gliders looked really colourful all bunched up and ready to go. The early launchers pretty much went straight down but in fairness they were students but made good markers for those waiting to go.

Chrissy in the midst of it all

Wyn ready to take on the world

Andrew contemplates the world

With a steady stream of gliders going off the south launch and some off the SE team Cloud 9 got organised and we worked our way to the front of the que where one by one we fed our pilots in . Chrissy was first to go and soon disappeared around the corner onto the main face and it was not long before she was reporting lift over the main landing filed as she climbed out. Phil and Bill took off in quick succession and Adi not far behind all focused on not letting Phil slip away. Shaun, Wyn and Andy were next and Mike joined in the fun getting back in the air .

Man on a mission

Secret agent Shaun starts a new career as "Wheres Wally"

The lift was there but not as regular and as strong as expected seeing quite a few miss it and drift down to land. By the time everyone was off and Kaz and myself headed down the sky was clearing. On the way down some gliders were skying out under some cumulus to the east and there was the indication of wave in the air.

Adi gets set to chase Bill who's chasing Phil

Mike gets back in the air after his lay off

To cut a long story short (and to let Phil tell you himself) Chrissy and Phil went high with Phil topping out at 4'500 ATO and flying to Olvera where he landed safely and Chrissy punched the head wind nearly making it back to the landing field.

We left Chrissy still in the air to take the others back up and she kindly agreed to go and pick the Sky God up making life easy and the turn around a quick one. Back on launch and things were changeing, all launches were off the south face and the wind ws brisk even by Uk standards. Plenty of wave clouds around made even the locals a little nervous. Having watched a couple of exciting failed launches we sat back and waited. Kaz took one group to Poinientte launch where some pilots did launch but the active flying required along with the various collapses made the decision a pretty simple one.

Early evening saw things mellow and gliders launched from both take off's . all that wanted to fly got away nicely and mixed it with the french before heading out to the main landing. Phil and Chrissy reappeared but were not tempted to go and I don't blame them. I took a quick flights down (and it was quick) with a nil wind launch and nil wind landing concentrating the mind.

Again a great day for some and a little disappointing for others especially after such a good forecast.

Quote of the day “ittttsssss reallllllly collllllllld upppppppp hereeeeeee”