Friday, 2nd Jan.
First flight of the year and the first for some months.
Started out as a glorious day and by 11:30am I was on deck at Strezzie where Cottsy was about to launch after having a verbal joust with Matt.
It all gets rather silly at times.
James T had just launched and Matt had just top landed (to applause from the gathered throng). Tony Barton was about to take a customer aloft as I was making ready.
After Tony B got away I got sorted and waited a bit so Anton could grab some footage of the majestic Edel taking flight.
Launch was good and I was away after one step in the direction of the coal ships. Lots of consistent, fun lift. I flew out over the rock shelf a few times and tried a bunch of easy wingovers and some 360's and stuff. After a bit I flew to Watt St to see how it was going there. Got good height going over and managed to maintain it while I was there but it wasn't a abundant as the lift at Strezzie so I thought I'd head back. I applied 3/4 speed bar to cross the bit between the bowling club and the Bogey Hole and was sinking substantially. In a moment of panic I thought about heading back to the cliff at Jimmy Fletcher Park but held my nerve and pushed on.
By the time I crossed the Bogey Hole, I was about half way down the cliff face but by the time I'd reached the Fort at King Eddie Pk, I was back at launch height again.
One long pass down the cliff to Monument and I was back about 100ft above launch. Just goes to show!
I made a few more passes along the ridge and more hangies were setting up, plus the white caps were developing over the water so I headed down to the park for a nice landing. Mick - a hangy who was flying a fun - was packing up and took me back to launch. Hurrah.
All up about 90+ minutes. Excellent!
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