The second week we moved base to St Andre where the British Nationals were taking place along with the French nationals so making a comp of nearly 100 pilots.
Arriving on Saturday afternoon gave me the chance of a warm up flight which was fun and bouncy with lift up to 10,500' reminding me of just what St Andre can be like! The comp started on the Sunday and with a first class forecast the classic task of Dormilloes / Chamat was set. Conditions were great with some of the smoothest 8 to 9 up climbs I have ever had taking us well up to the 12,000' mark. An easy run saw us past Cheval blanc and into the amazing area beyond where the fearless go low and I stay high! Racing along the ridge to the end a short climb and its out to the turn point, well that's the plan.
Whilst circling up I spot a glider way below in an area where I would not want to go and doing manoeuvres I would not want to do. Next thing its upside down and a parachute is popping out only to get hooked up on its A frame, Still it stabilises and descends landing on a scree slope at the base of a cliff. Whilst pilots tried to climb high to get radio messages through to base i head out into the valley to land and get on the phone, the pan works and the pilot gets rescued by helicopter although his glider still remains there. Not a dissimilar start to the last time I was in St Andre for a comp!
We get two more tasks in both with some stunning flying and even higher cloud bases giving amazing views and glides, with no other problems to land for i make goal both days one back to laragne and the other a flight from Lachens back to St Andre.
The "down" days are taken up with swimming, wind surfing, kayaking, tree climbing and generally relaxing, nice............... Jenny who flew home on the Monday was replaced by Da (Dad) who had a great time mixing with the pilots meeting lots of new friends and plenty of old ones. Kaz flew her Paraglider and we met up with Michel K and Mike C who were passing through along with Pat and Kat B on their 3 month honeymoon! A Great party rounded off the week and my legs still ache from the dancing or was it the 5k run to get fuel having run out on the Peage on the way back?
Another good week making it a very special holiday altogether only wish more of the family could come,
next year??. Picccies to follow I hope
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