The Young Pretenders and the Come Back "Kids"

Graham A comes in legs and all

Dave brightens up the day after a super top landing

Andrew makes his aproach as the sun sneaks one in

Come back Kids on the left Young Pretenders on the right

With a dubious forecast of the warm front passing and things improving and 4 really keen "hangers" we went for it and arrived at Perran for 11.00 in blustery and damp conditions only to find 3 hang gliders already rigged and ready!! So good to see keen up for it hangers out and abouy again, almost like the old days.

With the wind well off to the south we opted for some tethering to get things going and everyone had a good session in near perfect wind conditions even if cloudbase was a bit on the low side. Luke C (Bath) was first up so getting his first taste of hill flying and was soon "soaring" in prone dealing with the bumpy air well and smiling the whole time like he does. Next was Roger M (Devon) who was back to take up the sport again after a 25 year lay off and within minutes looked like he was in the "zone" and enjoying the view! Andrew M (Bridport) kept his hand in having done his first hill soaring flight last week and proved it was still all in there. Last but not least Dave (Exmouth) also back from the past after a 10 year lay off made it look easy as cloudbase descended even further.

Time for some theory so after a brief chat the guys sat down to their CPC exams taking up a "fun" hour by the end of which they all had passed, picked up a few points and more importantly the wind had veered indicating the front was passing by. As the cloud lifted i took the Mars up to test conditions which were still breezy but lifty so it was Calypso rigging at full speed. Graham A (Torringtoon re rigged his Sport 2 and was next off to have a good flight and finally sort out the top landing at Perran with a very nice one.

The wind mellowed and Roger M led the pack putting in his first hang gliding flight in over 25 years and looking good after a few beats. He did a fine job and rounded it off with a nice top landing showing the way to the others.

Luke was next so having his first hill soaring flight and did a great job quickly working out "crabbing" and thoroughly enjoying the whole experience despite his apprehension. His top landing was text book and his smile even bigger than ever, the culmination of a couple of months work, great.

Back to the "come back kids" and Dave was away looking like he had never been away from the sport and dealing with the by now veering wind easily. having to work a shorter beat he made good height before bringing the glider in for super top landing from the left over the dune so giving a fine demonstration to Andrew who was waiting to go.

Last up was Andrew for his second ever hill flight and again it was faultless. With the wind as far north as you'd like it he soared easily as smooth as ever and even the sun came out on the horizon. He followed Dave's example and performed an excellent top landing slipping the glider in from the left to round off what turned out to be a good day.

well done the guys and thank you for your patience and belief that conditions would improve, it is a virtue!

Quote of the day " that was totally awesome", guess who??