No end of faff followed. I got my lines twisted, got a line over, fluffed a launch, got a cravat, but eventually got back up just as Greg (who had much more competently executed a similar kiting move) was climbing out nearby. I was able to scratch my way up and then got a proper climb up to cloud base where I was set up under a decent cloud street heading to the TP.
Spur hopping |
Final glen before the TP |
After all the excitement, I assessed my options and with only 6 km to the TP - which I'd set as my goal for the day - and little prospect of more flying, I was lured in by the attractive riverside camping option. On the basis that the TP was the best take-off for tomorrow I reasonably deduced I may as well camp there, in comfort, and just hike up in the morning - as opposed to what would undoubtedly be a cold and windy bivvy on the hill top.
A decent plan, but it was only 4pm and with a race curfew at 9pm, there were another 5 hours of racing to be had! With time on my hands, and no phone signal to check how everyone else was getting on, I pored over the map, analysing and re-analysing where I could have got to if I'd pressed on. I really started to regret my decision, concluding: yes, it probably wouldn't have been worth it... no, there aren't many other good take-off options within striking distance... BUT something probably would have worked and it would have been a good challenge and physical endeavour...and a race! Oh well, we learn. So I thought....
Tosh was laid out and raring to go, but the sun was in no hurry, and after an hour or so of para-waiting with little sign of the sky clearing, impatience (and concern for the dwindling hours before the 3pm race end, and those making progress on foot) started to grow. The sky remained stubbornly clagged in but there were strong thermals occasionally coming through and quite a lot of wind on launch still. Around 11 however, Tony appeared in the air just to the south of us and that was the trigger to go!
I was off shortly after only to find one of my speed bar lines had come out of the pulley on the riser (careless pre-flight checks as I rushed to get in the air) and the glider kept pulling to the right. For lack of any other ideas (but not thinking too rationally) I thought it must be related, and spent the next 5 mins trying to thread the line through the pulley again while compensating for the pull to the right and flying along the ridge in fairly lifty and thankfully quite smooth air. Speed bar sorted it was still pulling to the right and I only then noticed my c-lines had snagged on a bit of the riser, causing the issue.
Flight prep finally sorted, I took stock: I'd made decent progress along the ridge and could see the others ahead moving slowly. With the sun still nowhere to be seen but with reasonable lift around I figured staying high would be key to the day. Cloudbase was still below 4000ft so not much above the plateau anyway.
Turnpoints and my track |