Topic: Cotswold Slopers!

It looks as though Selsley is the biz this pm and the wind has moderated to a 'good  blow!

Selsley's West bowl was/is great today. A bit bumpy after launch but when you get out a bit smoothe strong lift. Damn chiily though, need to get the winter gear back in the car.

Selsley's West bowl was/is great today. A bit bumpy after launch but when you get out a bit smoothe strong lift. Damn chiily though, need to get the winter gear back in the car.

Going to head up there for a blast in a short while. Hope the wind doesn't drop off too much in the interim.
 

Going to head up there for a blast in a short while. Hope the wind doesn't drop off too much in the interim.
 

At most of our local Stroud slopes wind speed is not proportional to lift, unlike sea facing slopes. 10-15 mph is generally the optimum.

Blow through is the problem, often caused by up wind interference.

Tell us how it was for you Friday pm!!

Marcellus, otherwise known as Guy

Blow through is the problem, often caused by up wind interference.

Tell us how it was for you Friday pm!!

Marcellus, otherwise known as Guy

A tad bumpy with variable lift. The thing is, I don't know if a local sloper would class this evening as poor or very good.

Just checked the weather for tomorrow and i think it's looking slopeable. The wind is predicted to be 12mph from lunchtime to late afternoon.
Anyone playing? If so, where?
 

Looking a bit pants today. Gonna leave it until tomorrow I reckon and just hope the wind is as predicted S12mph.
 

Maybe I spoke too soon. Wind looks like it's picking up a little. May be able to get a fly in today after all.
 

A tad bumpy with variable lift. The thing is, I don't know if a local sloper would class this evening as poor or very good.

The lift was strong by any standards between 1.30 and 3.30 pm. It tends to back SW towards the end of the afternoon and the lift breaks up and the bounce incteases as it clips the end of the wood on the left.

This afternoon looks like Frocester, which works well even in light winds. I may well be there.

Guy

This site gives a good indication of what is actually happening on our slopes.

Current Weather Conditions at The Tuffley weather Station.

This afternoon looks like Frocester, which works well even in light winds. I may well be there.
Guy

Thanks for the link to the weather station. Nice little link. The wind speed looks a bit low though. I would have thought it was above 5/7mph at the mo? The prediction is max 10mph according to Staverton on XCweather. Think I'll keep an eye on the wind this afternoon, and on here, to see if it's doable.
 

I'm giving it a miss today....

I'm giving it a miss today....

Me too. Too much waiting around. May well be ok up there now looking at the trees moving. Think i'll play it by ear for tomorrow. Predicted to be best around lunchtime again.
 

I drove past on the way to the rubbish tip and it was blowing 15+ up there. Phil the Fridge was screaming about with his Nyx. Tufflley - cuurently shows 7mph
- wrong, just South of West - right!

And Sunday, now looks like Haresfield!!! They seem to change the forecast evry flipping hour........

Thanks for the link to the weather station. Nice little link. The wind speed looks a bit low though. I would have thought it was above 5/7mph at the mo? The prediction is max 10mph according to Staverton on XCweather. Think I'll keep an eye on the wind this afternoon, and on here, to see if it's doable.
 

Don't worry about the wind strength a Zagi will fly in 4 MPH, modern models are very efficient and will fly in a lot less. The three metre composites are at their best when there is no slope lift and flying in thermal lift.
Phil

Thanks for the info Phil. Think i'm going to trundle up to Haresfield around 11am on the off chance that it may be working.
 

Think i'm going to trundle up to Haresfield around 11am on the off chance that it may be working.
 

Working well! I like Haresfield, even the bowl. It seems to enjoy the cleanest lift on a regular basis. Definately blowing more than predicted up there too!

I like Haresfield too. You have been spoilt by coastal sistes!!

It's always windier there than you are expecting. I will go this afternoon but the wind seems to be between Frocester and Haresfield and shifting all the time.

It's forecast to end up at H so that is where I shall go, shortly.

Well, Haresfield was at it's best this pm 15 mph with strong consistant lift on the ridge and a nasty rotor to land in!

We tried the small bowl on returning to the cars and it was booming too! Just the three of us on a sunny afternoon. I guess the other slopers were out this morning?

I was out this morning along with approximately 6 or 7. Thing is, Sunday mornings for me are not the best. It's the one chance all week when I don't need to set the alarm. A leisurely Sunday afternoon fly is much more appealing but I get the impression i'm in the minority?
 

Strangely, 3 of us were on Selsley, yesterday morning, with thermal soarers!! At times, the wind was on the slope, but for most of the time it was too far south. I managed a half decent flight, but unless you could get above the tree line, you were destined to a very short flight. On reflection, we should really have checked out Frocester, or Haresfield. Later in the day (around 5.30), I dropped in on Haresfield, with the Mini Blade. The lift was huge. So huge that I had problems trying to land. I lost count of the number of times I tried to get it down. Unfortunately, when it did finally, come down it got caught in the rotor, and landed on one wingtip. There was slight damage, but nothing too bad.

Strangely, 3 of us were on Selsley, yesterday morning, with thermal soarers!! At times, the wind was on the slope, but for most of the time it was too far south. I managed a half decent flight, but unless you could get above the tree line, you were destined to a very short flight. On reflection, we should really have checked out Frocester, or Haresfield. Later in the day (around 5.30), I dropped in on Haresfield, with the Mini Blade. The lift was huge. So huge that I had problems trying to land. I lost count of the number of times I tried to get it down. Unfortunately, when it did finally, come down it got caught in the rotor, and landed on one wingtip. There was slight damage, but nothing too bad.

Yup my unbreakable cheapo slipstream flick rolled 18 inches off the ground and landed inverted. Gordon, I don't know how much you've flown Haresfield but the rotor is not really an issue in gentle winds. It was blowing a hooly up there yesterday afternoon, after a windless start to the day.

I knew I should have come out to play

Steve

Gordon, I don't know how much you've flown Haresfield but the rotor is not really an issue in gentle winds.

I've flown there quite a bit. However, this is the first mouldy that I've flown that doesn't have crow! I've got the ailerons & elevator setup for landing, but am still getting to grips with it! I have found that if you try to land just in front of the raised ridge, just behind the slope (about 25m back), it's not too bad. Yesterday I got caught out!

I knew I should have come out to play

Steve

You sure should have. Andy described it as good as a poor day at the Bwlch!

GordonP - yes that's the spot....''I have found that if you try to land just in front of the raised ridge, just behind the slope (about 25m back), it's not too bad.''

Guy

I've flown there quite a bit. However, this is the first mouldy that I've flown that doesn't have crow! I've got the ailerons & elevator setup for landing, but am still getting to grips with it! I have found that if you try to land just in front of the raised ridge, just behind the slope (about 25m back), it's not too bad. Yesterday I got caught out!

There is a spot near the trig point where it is possible to do a proper landing, it curves and the wind sticks to it without a curlover.
There is another landing where you float up the slope and turn into wind before touching down on the top of the slope, both are not for the faint hearted

Frocester was great this afternoon a series of smooth thermals, I flew my old Starlight
Phil

I'm hoping to get out after work one evening this week.

I notice from the SCSA compass that there is a gap for NNE to NE. Is there nothing that's suitable nearby or do you have to look further afield for a slope sesh?
 

I'm hoping to get out after work one evening this week.

I notice from the SCSA compass that there is a gap for NNE to NE. Is there nothing that's suitable nearby or do you have to look further afield for a slope sesh?
 

Maybe Cam Long Down? This is one slope I've never been to around this area.

Maybe Cam Long Down? This is one slope I've never been to around this area.

Isn't that the site that can be DS'd? 

Isn't that the site that can be DS'd? 

Not sure about that. I just looked at an aerial view on Multimap, and looks like the top is covered in trees, Maybe someone else from SCSA can give some advice?

have a look at http://www.scsa.org.uk/andycamdsing.mov  

the hill in the background is Frocester

Phil

CLD flies well in a Northerly and either side of that. Some don't agree but I think NE is too far East for it. Yes you can DS it as Phil's video shows. Landing is on top of the ridge and can take a few attempts. The South side will fly but there are a lot of trees/bushes on the slope.

The nearest reasonable NE slope is at Leckhampton, shown on the map I posted. It flies well but landing is rough.

This is a map of CLD  CLD map

We have flown 4 metre scale gliders there, most of the trees have been cut down.
DSing is better with a south wind there are less trees on the north facing ridge

Phil

I notice from the SCSA compass that there is a gap for NNE to NE. Is there nothing that's suitable nearby or do you have to look further afield for a slope sesh?
 

Looks like most of the week and the weekend are set NE. Looks like Rodborough may just about be on slope.
 

Looks like most of the week and the weekend are set NE. Looks like Rodborough may just about be on slope.
 

It looks too northerly for the east facing slope at rodborough, look more like CLD

Phil

Yup, get fit chaps CLD....

 I will try Selsley Wednesday afternoon, if it is too far east I will go to CLD
Phil

I will try Selsley Wednesday afternoon, if it is too far east I will go to CLD
Phil

XC shows Selsley as N until later on in the afternoon. I expect to be there at 2pm
Guy

Eyeboy,

It's 16.55 and I've just got back from Cam Long Down (with Phil). It's bang on, about 12 mph and the lift is smoothe and good. If you are going out tonight that's the place to go! Selsley would have been awful.
Guy

Sounds like you had loads of fun at CLD.

Just got home from work. Will probably be late home again tomorrow but Friday and the weekend, well that's a different matter. Hopefully CLD will be good then too.
 

Have you any info as to where to park / fly from?
 

The point to fly is pretty obvious when you trudge to the top of the ridge. A gentle 15 minute trudge!

I'll try to sort some directions for you!

I'll try to sort some directions for you!

Please don't go to any trouble, just a couple of pointers would be great.