Happy Days @ Broughton Heights
Written by Dave Thomson   
Saturday, 03 February 2007
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Hi Folks,

Broughton was totally excellent today. I counted 26 gliders (and probably more out of sight). I've never seen the Broughton ridge used so extensively by so many gliders. From what I heard, it sounds as if quite a few valuable lessons were learned - PLease lets hear them on the group. I think its extremely valuable to share the less than ideal bits of our flights, as well as the highlights.

I would expect someone might be claiming the whisky? It seemed a great day day to try. I tried to do a 3 turnpoint flight starting at the S end of the ridge. I reckoned that the jump through the col to Clover law looked unlikely so opted for the "back ridge" onto Hammer Head . I have always advised pilots against going in there (after a bad experience on a Scottish
Open when Ulric and I went there in strong wavy conditions ).

Having tried it again, I would still advise avoiding it ! Even in the reasonably light conditions today, it was seriously rough low down. Not a set of conditions I would have planned for demo-ing a new glider, but I felt very comfortable on it - even as it got hoiked up from 3 feet off the bottom of the valley, - its even quite entertaining on See you! From there it was a lovely cruise out to Trahenna and across the Tweed to Drumelzier. I think its just over 15km - but of course doesn't count (cos you need to land at the farm to get the whisky)

I think the key for day was patience in waiting in the right place to get maximum height before making the crossings. The bowl got easier in the afternoon as the sun moved round and brought more thermic breeze onto the main bowl, but early on, the crossing to the S to Greenlaw was quite challenging,

The timing of Sunday's cold front is a bit unfortunate - It does seem that its on course to be here tomorrow afternoon. Its travelling about 20 mph so going S and E might give you a few more hours. Met wind looks similar to
today - WSW

See ya

David
 
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