A very late start for some of us today but there may have been an advantage in that the wind was lighter earlier.
It was from the west again today, 4-5mph after midday but we were under a very low cloud cover with limited distant visibility. The usual horizons to the south and east were missing.
Full 1.5 sails with diamond rods felt crisp but it was all free flying today, nothing called. That being said, it really was quite remarkable how organized the flying was. There was p
Mostly clear sky again today but the breeze was from the west, mainly consistent but quite light so 1.5 full sails with race rods were only occasionally overpowered.
We started out mostly free flying which was often very well ‘tuned’ but then flew some quick called sequences. 5 fliers is not ideal but we found an adaption of the double leaders benefit and blender which worked well.
Plans for a trip to Canada in June are beginning to look realistic. It is always exciting to
Clear blue sky today with a mostly brisk easterly breeze so we were mostly on vented sails with race rods. Rowan was on a mid vent and had the advantage in the lulls.
Mostly free flying with close patterns but Ashley did call some quick sequences just to switch the focus.
We packed up a bit early after noticing a burning smell. Turned round to see a pall of black smoke directly upwind in the direction of Sun in The Sands roundabout, the A2/A102 junction. The Map App showed cons
Late start today. The northerly breeze was reasonably consistent so we were on full 1.5 sails with race rods. The kites were occasionally over stressed. Mid vents would have worked better…
It was cloudy with the forecast suggesting brighter intervals during the afternoon. The weak cold front passed over with a visible thickening of the cloud but no precipitation. The following clearer sky was tantalizing in the distance but we succumbed to the cold and headed for home.
The sun b
Light rain in Hackney turned to heavy drizzle at Blackheath in a brisk westerly breeze so I didn’t even stop the engine, just drove back to Hackney. Fortunately the Blackwall Tunnel approach northbound was not too congested today.
Earlier in the week the forecast for the heaviest rain was mid morning rather than during the night as actually occurred so it was not unreasonable to travel in hope…
Felix
Six up today with a northerly breeze mostly between 4 and 7mph. Full 1.5s with diamond rods felt precise most of the time.
There was some warmth in the sun but as it was right in the middle of our wind window the intermittent clouds were a bit of a relief.
Ashley called a string of moves, some now familiar, some new today which attracted the attention of quite a few ‘passers by’ on the heath. Strange how they have never seen anything like that before…
Felix
Mostly brisk NNW breeze today so full vented sails with race rods to cope with the lulls.
Not too much debris on the field after the previous night’s fireworks.
Plenty of close free flying watching patterns develop and drift with the changing wind direction.
After a sunny start the cloud thickened as is often the way at Blackheath. Back in Hackney the cloud cover was complete by 2:00pm and very grey!
Felix
The clocks changed so a more relaxed start to the day but the fog really didn’t lift so we had to put up with a cotton wool environment.
There was occasionally an easterly ‘breeze’ which probably reached 4mph at its maximum. That is just about enough to do team moves if it is consistent but of course it was not.
So full sails with diamond frames. I was not feeling too energetic but others did 360’s in the lulls. Some of the interactive free flying was quite neat so all was no
Arrived soon after 11:00am today. Some sunshine provided ‘just enough’ warmth to contend with a chilly easterly breeze which was about 7 mph when we arrived but more like 14 mph when we packed up.
Mostly mid vents with race rods. We really should sort out a team set of this sail as it really does become very useful at a certain wind speed <grins>
Nothing called today, just lots of close flying based on trusting the other fliers to keep it smooth and not to try and ‘show off’.
Felix
Late start after heavy rain gave way to a showery SW breeze.
Full vented with race rods felt very smooth except in the occasional higher gusts.
One shower passed Blackheath Village just to the South East with a dramatic cloudscape when the sun reappeared. Later a shower looked like it would be a direct hit.
Back in Hackney after a 30 minute wait on the Blackwall Tunnel approach it is now raining very heavily!
Felix
The sky was cloud free over Blackheath as we arrived but the cumulus was beginning to form as we wound out our lines.
NNE breeze so not quite directly into the sun today. The breeze was 7-8 mph so it was mostly full sails but Rowan flew his mid vent with green race without issue.
Plenty of quick calling again and the ‘passers by’ were on questioning form today as in:- ‘Never seen anything like it’.
I flew the two medium JMH roks which are really ‘light wind’ kites now as noted last week so t
Another late start but there were some sunny spells…
Full 1.5 sails with race rods in a Northerly breeze so straight into the sun.
I had hoped to put up the JMH roks and did fly the 3m kite and one of the 2m kites as well deciding that they really are ‘light wind’ kites now. I would not feel comfortable tying them off, they are ‘hands on’ kites!
Ashley has been calling various quick sequences recently and this continued today. It will be interesting to see how a complete routine will develo
A bit late arriving on Blackheath today but we were then six up so Ashley called plenty of fast paced team moves.
Green race in vented sails almost covered the lulls and occasionally felt overpowered as the gusts blew through. No actual showers but quite a lot of stately cumulus clouds ‘marching’ by.
The plantain heads were occasionally troublesome. Maybe the site will be mown before Autumn sets in properly…
We switched spars in the team kites post Dieppe and contemplated the Zen project on
Good to be back in Dieppe after a long absence.
Arrived Friday 9th September c2:00pm and went directly to the site which was still being constructed… We went for a walk around the town and then back at the tent found that supper was arranged for that evening on site.
It was pretty much a one kite event over the eight days flying. Full 1.5 sails with Diamond leading edge with the uprights switching between Diamond and Green Race. It was only on our last day, Saturday 17th that we switched to
Full vented sails with 4 wrap worked comfortably today. We set up handles and lines for Rowan after last weekend’s disappearance.
Some intricate close flying without calls was followed by some rapid calling by Ashley.
We are just about set for departure to Dieppe early for some of us next Friday. Just waiting for the final Rok spars and fittings as well as guy ropes for the ‘tent’. The second wave is set to arrive on Saturday…
Felix
We had realised that travelling on a Bank Holiday Friday to the West Country might be a bit difficult so opted for leaving London early. This worked in part but the combination of the very early start and the long drive meant that the rest of the day was not great. Some of us did, however, have a very good evening meal at a local ‘French’ restaurant.
We did get a good start on Saturday morning flying out on the estuary but then almost suffered from a complete wind recess at the appointed hour
I was on Blackheath on Thursday checking JMH rokkaku kites with some success and some failure. Testing to destruction has to be fun… <grins> Decisions about four point or six point bridles are outstanding.
Today the forecast was for a strong breeze so I had anticipated Xtra Vents. 4 wrap worked just fine and it was good to get the kit together ‘just in case’ for next weekend at Exmouth. A kite drop via a bus route was involved…
The Blackheath ‘regulars’ are off to Seasalter for a tea
The weather held to the forecast from earlier in the week so it was a great weekend at Portsmouth.
On Saturday the wind was from the west at about 10mph for most of the day. Full 1.5 sails, diamond leading edge with race uprights worked just fine.
There was a wind recess on Sunday morning as the Northerly land to sea breeze was countered by the South Easterly sea breeze that, once established, was light but steady for the rest of the day. Slightly disappointing that this coincided with our fi
A brisk SW breeze was almost Xtra Vent conditions but we switched to full vent with 4 wrap spars in order to cope with the lulls.
Six up so we did a fair amount of called flying in anticipation of Portsmouth. Rowan was on the line today and will be at Portsmouth so it was good to make a gentle introduction to the demands, or otherwise, of festival flying…
The Rev Site was not available today (or yesterday) so I will add this message as and when the site is back. I took all the text offline s
It was an interesting site and very well equipped! The flying field slopped down to the east but the westerly or slightly north westerly breeze was fairly consistent over both days of the event.
Full 1.5 sails with Diamond LE and Green Race verticals worked very well on Saturday even if they were somewhat overpowered towards the end of the afternoon. The vented JMH kites with green race felt very crisp on Sunday.
The only issues related to worn out leaders with one flier crashing out twice
11:00am arrival with the grass cut on the NS axis rather than EW.
Full vents with race frames were comfortable for the five fliers mostly free flying with close interaction. We did break into a called sequence when a family with dog stopped by. The dog seemed most intent on finding a shadow to rest in so was close to our feet.
If the wind had been lighter I would have put the Reflex and Zen sails head to head on the 150ft line sets just for a more complete understanding of relative capabilit
Finally a summerlike temperature and a consistent westerly breeze. Mid vents with race rods occasionally felt overpowered.
The site had been mown so not much remained of snagging risks. What is not to like?
Rowan was on the line with us today.
Next team event is Beverley, the last weekend of July. Travel plans are still in the making…
Felix
Mostly cloudy today on the heath with the occasional spot of rain in a somewhat blustery SW breeze. Full vents with 4 wrap after initial attempts with lighter spars. It was sunny later in the afternoon after the end of the TDF.
Most of the personal kites we were using today have been in use for many years and are not in any way compromised by wear issues. The last set of 1.5 team sails arrived in 2008 at Portsmouth as I recall. We have just retired them from regular team use so they were go
A running/walking event was taking place on the Heath as in previous years so we used a slightly different pitch today, closer to the paid parking in Greenwich Park.
The WSW breeze was mostly 7-8mph but quite often dropped away as is typical here in the summer. Diamond rods LE and Race verticals felt comfortable most of the time.
Events on Saturday night meant that it was a limited line-up today but we expect some busier meetings ahead of the Beverley, event at the end of July.
Felix
Another promising forecast but not a full summer’s day. NW breeze so if it wasn’t for the cloud cover we would have been facing the sun most of the time…
Full vent with race rods almost coped with the regular lulls. Nothing called today as we discussed the parlous state of political discourse.
Next weekend there is an event on Blackheath so we may have to use an alternative flying site!
Felix
