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  • West Australian

    Flight Log and Thoughts about My Rev Kit.

    By West Australian

    No Arvo Flight Yesterday, Responsibilities are beginning to creep in on my flying time Well I Joined up to KiteLife… Very Happy about that. I feel that the Contribution that KiteLife makes to the Community needs to be supported. And all those Sweet Tutorials are Pretty good too I have been Downloading them onto My Ipod Touch. To Paraphrase SparkieRob, I have a John Barresi In my Pocket. This morning was nice, Light to Moderate winds when I set up the STD with 3 Wrap and 80# lines I got i
    • 3 comments
    • 4,524 views
  • Felix

    2012 events, provisional list

    By Felix

    Oh well, another year! <grins> Nothing is confirmed, as yet. 1st January 2012 12-16/04/2012 Berck-Plage, France 21/04-29/05/2012 Cervia, Italy 05-07/05/2012 Weymouth 26-27/05/2012 Exmouth 25-27/08/2012 Portsmouth Margate
    • 0 comments
    • 2,008 views

Everything you need to know about roof inspections

Roofs account for one third of all homeowner’s insurance claims. It’s not too surprising when you consider that your roof is the first line of defense between your home and the elements. Unlike the other parts of your home, your roof is exposed to the elements 24/7. Rain, snow, wind, and even the sun’s rays are wearing down your roof over time. Problems with your roof affect more than just your roof. Water that can get inside your home can cause costly damage to your ceilings, walls, floors, an
richardowen

richardowen

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08/02/2015 Blackheath

A mostly smooth c7mph NW breeze and limited convection/relief cloud had us somewhat dazzled but at least slightly warmed today with full 1.5 sails and standard race rods. The consistency of wind speed really does have a major impact and today, I would say, that there was a gradual increase through the session which meant that the sails were slightly over powered at the end. Along the way though we saw some spontaneous in line stops and inverse pendulums. That’s always a good indicator of ‘tre
Felix

Felix

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01/02/2015 Blackheath

A blustery NW airstream kept a cloud cap on the heath today with tantalizing glimpses of clear blue sky to the NW. The sun almost broke through on a couple of occasions, not that it would have made much difference to the wind chill. Xtra vents with 4 wrap mostly were a bit of a handful in the lulls but the long arm horizontal handles of light wind technique filled the gaps for me and the physical activity helped in keeping warm… As Berck and Cervia are organized we need to arrange a March eve
Felix

Felix

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25/01/2015 Blackheath

Broken cloud, light SW breeze 5-6mph so full 1.5 sails with diamond rods worked OK until the breeze firmed up and we decided that changing spars would be too much effort <grins> Discussion today was about ‘precise’ stops assisted by vigorous throwing forwards of the handles rather than applying brake through ‘wrist’ adjustments. All good in my view and precisely in line with the ‘fighter kite’ sensibility! There is plenty of room for adjustment as well given the ‘full arm’ possibilities
Felix

Felix

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18/01/2015 Blackheath

The cloud was breaking as we left Hackney this morning and for a brief spell on Blackheath there was ‘full on’ sunshine. As the light wind was from the North it was a bit bright! Full 1.5 sails with mostly diamond rods, the green race were occasionally just a bit heavy apparently. Some impressive free flying today with the occasional called sequences for the amusement of passers by. With a little help from our friends Cervia is set and flights mostly booked. Berck logistics are in hand and
Felix

Felix

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11/01/2015 Blackheath

Bright and breezy from the SW at about 20mph most of the time so Xtra Vents and 4 wrap mostly, only occasionally let down by lulls. Mostly called today including a run through Plan A or was it B? I hope to finalise arrangements for Berck and Cervia in the next few days. It is always an anxious moment waiting to hear back from all the fliers in order to be able to put proposals to the event organisers! Felix
Felix

Felix

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04/01/2015 Blackheath

It was very murky on the heath today, wet underfoot and in the air but no actual precipitation. 3C and a light SW breeze so it was 1.5 sails with mostly diamond rods. Five fliers so there were some called moves but nothing too energetic. <grins> We are getting the 2015 event schedule arranged and note the changed Portsmouth dates announced today, 15th and 16th August. Felix
Felix

Felix

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28/12/2014 Blackheath

Almost completely clear blue sky with a steady NNE breeze. About 5C so extra layers helped. 1.5 vented with green race were just right. Four fliers today and we did a quick run through Plan A as well as some brisk called flying at the end of the session as a ‘warm-up’. We may manage a New Years Day fly as well as the usual Sunday fly next week. Felix
Felix

Felix

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26/12/2014 Blackheath

Thick high cloud was not quite completely obscuring the sun. The SW breeze was minimal so full 1.5 sail and diamond rods today. It was ‘fingertip flying’ with the handles most definitely horizontal for the long ‘pull backs’. Wet underfoot with a lot of worm casts. Not too much evidence of the geese on the ground but four of them headed towards us in the air before veering off to the east. Felix
Felix

Felix

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21/12/2014 Blackheath

It was gusting over 30mph today from the west, mostly cloudy but dry with some brighter spells. Xtra vents with green race worked well with the occasional lulls and gusts. Only two fliers today so nothing called and we did not last very long as the wind chill got through. The Blackwall Tunnel was backed up to Sun in the Sands roundabout so I took the long route home today. Must be Christmas shopping at Stratford generating extra traffic! Felix
Felix

Felix

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14/12/2014 Blackheath

It was bright today with a brisk southerly breeze. Mostly sunny but with little warming effect. Full vented 1.5s again with green race were beginning to feel a bit over powered by the end of the session which may be because of flier fatigue, cold getting through or an actual slight increase in the wind speed. Free flying to start and then a long series of called moves for the benefit, in part, of an enthusiastic photographer. Also the white van driver who made a point of stopping and coming
Felix

Felix

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07/12/2014 Blackheath

There were light showers on the road to Blackheath this morning. The promise was clearing skies with sunshine in the afternoon! A brisk NW breeze so 1.5 full vented with mostly green race today. Five up and initially mostly free flying but Ashley did call some moves only to find the breeze collapsing on one occasion. The low thinning cloud cover was deceptive and we were subjected to a sharp squall and wind shift to WNW before the sky cleared to cloudless blue. The sun was sufficient to dry
Felix

Felix

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30/11/2014 Blackheath

The fog was breaking up in the light NW breeze as we headed to the Blackwall Tunnel this morning making for dramatic scenes with shafts of sunlight. Conditions on the heath were very wet underfoot but not too much in the way of worm casts etc. The dramatic lighting continued and of course we were facing the sun when it did break through… the compensation was that it was actually warming! Full 1.5 sails with Diamond rods were just right for a lazy no call session with only a couple of occasio
Felix

Felix

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23/11/2014

Today the rain did not let up at all so that is twice in a month now that we have been rained off. Must be a symptom of something! I am not travelling to Miami next weekend as I did last year… Felix
Felix

Felix

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19/11/2014 Blackheath

It was a late start for me but on the ‘heath’ soon after 11:00am under a lifting layer of low clouds revealing a high layer not quite completely obscuring the sun. Another light but steady breeze, this time from the east and again at about 4mph so it was the same configuration as last weekend, 1.5 sails with Diamond rods. We did make a bit more effort today in formal moves for the ‘photographers’. Some ‘involved’ free flying as well and I could see some figures that should be ‘learned’ in th
Felix

Felix

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09/11/2014 Blackheath

Soon after 10:30am there was a bank of high cloud only partly obscuring the sun. The clear blue sky to the west approached slowly. The c4mph breeze from the SW was surprisingly consistent even after the sun arrived so we made good lazy use of the 1.5 sails with Diamond rods (apart from a quick run through PlanB that is!) The site was very clean today. In previous years the Nov 5th fireworks display has left the ‘heath’ littered with partially burnt cardboard components… Felix
Felix

Felix

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02/11/2014

We have had a long run without a very wet ‘flying day’ but today was it! The early forecast this morning suggested that the rain would clear soon after 11am but it was late starting c10:30 and was still steady at midday. No flying today... Other priorities for the afternoon including a quick ‘spin’ through Victoria Park and around the post Olympic site which was mostly deserted. The field to the west of the velodrome has been mown since we were last there… Felix
Felix

Felix

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26/10/2014 Blackheath

A slightly lighter SW breeze than last week but it was still 1.5 full vented with green race today. Free flying felt more comfortable with the more optimal configuration/windspeed. The cloud cover only broke slightly on a couple of occasions before we left the site at about 1:00pm. The approach to Blackwall Tunnel was backed up to the ‘Sun in the Sands’ roundabout so we diverted to the Rotherhithe route to get home… Felix
Felix

Felix

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19/10/2014 Blackheath

Blustery 13 – 20+ mph from the SW so 1.5 full vented with green race worked with the occasional lulls today. Six up so mostly called sequences with the odd sprocket thrown in to keep us on our toes. The Blackheath walkers and cyclists were an appreciative audience on a number of occasions today as and when we ‘stopped’ for a break! Plans for 2015 Berck, Cervia and, if it occurs, Weymouth were discussed. We hope to be at all of these events but there are logistical considerations given the ov
Felix

Felix

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12/10/2014 Blackheath

There were high grey clouds gradually thickening from the south and a very light easterly breeze (c2mph) to start this morning. The full 1.5 sails with Diamond rods were just fine to start with but the breeze was due to strengthen. In the very light breeze the free-flying was often complex but neat. Above a certain wind speed threshold where the handling of the sail becomes ‘less comfortable’ called flying is more practical. We should probably have changed sails or spars before the end of th
Felix

Felix

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05/10/2104 Blackheath

As luck would have it, it was another glorious sunny day on Blackheath today, the only downside being that there was, for most of the time, almost no discernable breeze. So, more time on the diamond rods in the larger sails and with longer lines for me today. The Zen, Rev 1 and also the CR sail had air time today. The changing, from all directions, no wind environment meant that it was not possible to evaluate differences between the sail and bridle sets. Keeping the kite in the air was th
Felix

Felix

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28/09/2014 Blackheath

I had been watching the forecast all week as it had been indicating light SE breezes around the 4-6mph mark. That is what we got, mostly about 4mph from the East, so it was 1.5s with diamond rods. Four fliers today and lots of ‘not called’ close flying with only the occasional hesitation or touch… It was also the chance to try the diamond rods in the larger sails again, the Rev 1 and the Zen, on 150ft lines and the longer handles. I’m sure the longer lines would work in our favour with the f
Felix

Felix

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21/09/2014 Blackheath

Back on our usual pitch today and a ‘bright’ NE airflow so 1.5 full vented with green race frames. Most of the kites (NB Xtra Vent Grey?) were back from Dieppe so were relocated in the main team bags. A lost pair of Rev Handles also came back from Dieppe. We’ll keep them safe for the ‘lucky’ owner! Mostly ‘lazy’ flying today with discussion about events next year, particularly Berck, Cervia and Weymouth. They all overlap so it is a difficult call… Felix
Felix

Felix

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