Big Collin again.

No wind at home all morning. I went out to Big Collin anyway around lunchtime after speaking to Dermot Lagan who was already there and reported 4-5mph at the bottom.

When I arrived the wind had picked up a bit and when we got to takeoff we found a brisk 18-20mph! We were joined on top of the hill by Janet Crawford, the owner of Big Collin who was out for a walk and stopped for a chat. By then the wind was gusting to 24mph.

We walked down to meet Tom Carson who had arrived. He decided to do a bit of ground handling near the cars and eventually managed a few short semi-soaring flights from a few yards up the hill when the wind gusts eased a bit.

See also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzRdduY0CVM.

Dermot and I contented ourselves with fighting the gusts in the landing area with the small Firebird Trainer. By then the wind on top was gusting to 26mph and very cold. By 4pm we'd all had enough and went home.