Cloud9 Hang Gliding & Paragliding www.flycloud9.co.uk: Back on track(er), more tree topping and an early night :) Mexico day 10

It was a tired crew that arrived at breakfast but Gordon was ready as ever to fight the case to regain Grants score along with a little help from Phil c and others back in the UK, thanks guys. I whipped out a quick blog, Carl dribbled out something wet and slimey (the food here does not agree with him, Steve whipped up something very healthy for his lunch, Grant talked to home and Kaz whipped up some super rolls for lunch then we were off dropping by the laundrette to pick up clean underwear.

Clean underwear

Hi-me looked as fresh as ever which is remarkable as we keep him up late every day and he drives whilst we cat nap in the back. Everyone seems a little later on launch but things go as usual with the added bonus of a spectacular fly by from a microlight which will be filming the fun from the air later.

Microlight fly by

Tree hugger

Get set

Wayne and myself have early bird slots which give nice rigging areas on the front and at my end even some grass. Pilot briefing went almost well and we have a 133 k task with a forecast for cloud shadow in the afternoon shutting things down. the launch window gets moved forward and there is a bit of a rush to get ready. Wayne is off at number eight and I follow straight after him and we gert climbing. Grant is next, carl , gordon and finally Steve, we are all in the air.

Gaggle starts to gaggle

Message comes up that someone has not got their tracker, guess who? it's Grant. Another message, no tracker no score! They will allow him a re light from the bottom landing field. Grant heads down as does Hi-me and in what seems only a matter of minutes (time flies when you are enjoying yourself) they are back on launch and with a small army helping Grant to rig he is air borne with enough time to catch the first start, amazing.

Things go well to start with and I manage to keep up with the big boys and take TP 1 in good shape. Back towards T/off and things still going well, leave a climb over the "G" spot a little early as it gets busy and starts to fade. ver T/off and on course for TP 2 all good (ish). 3 up behind launch start to climb, Carl is a couple of clicks ahead calling a 7 going 10 up, what to do? Could do with a bit more height but should have enough, lets go............ arrive 500' below a couple of gliders, broken lift not good, gliders above leave, not good nowhere to run too, not good. Sink onto a tree lined ridge just north of goal, landing acceptable close to the ridge but the National grid bar my route out o better fields. Up and down (mainly down) until I am forced to set up to land which involves a trip over the cables . A couple of beeps and I get one shot at this, a 360 over the cables, better not fall out of it and we are in lift, the vary counts up and we go up, phew. Well behind now and Gordon is out front going for it with carl and Grant not for behind. No news on Steve as he has a radio issue, wayne is down near TP 2 but in good company as Manred has bombed out there, even World Champions make mistakes, just less of them.

I bumble onto TP 2 as the guys push on past TP 3 & 4 and the cloud shadow moves in, Gordon starts to get excited on the radio as the race builds. Around Tp2 and off to TP 3 and the guys are nearing the end and things get tense, Carl and Grant get past Gordon and make goal :)) Gordon is not that far behind, we have got our three in :))))) I manage to get TP 3 with a bit of patient flying but the day is over so land in a nice big field not far from the one I landed in on my very first flight here.

Cute dog

field retrieve team

Kaz and the Kids

Steve B makes goal to give us four in and gets his confidence back on track, nice, could do with one of them myself. Retrieve is good (except) for Carls bacterial issues and we get back at a sensible time after what was a bit of a tense day. Grant gets a blocking for forgetting his tracker then a huge congratulations for pulling it out of the bag (with the aid of Hi-me).