Big Collin - no wind!

What is wrong with our weather - blowing a gale one day and calm the next? I headed for Big Collin encouraged by an ESE forecast. On the drive down Hillhead Road into Ballyclare I could see that the wind turbines on Big Collin were still. Probably turned off I said to myself. This notion was reinforced as I passed the solitary turbine by the bend at the foot of the Collin Road hill section - it was merrily turning and indicating a SE with maybe a bit more E in the direction.

Arriving at the hill I discovered that it was calm down by the lane and bottom landing area. Never mind, I thought, it will be flyable on top. Before I started to climb the hill, Al McMaster and Sam arrived. Sam demonstrated his flying skills with a small drone that he handled expertly whilst his dad got his paramotor organised.

I made my way to the top of the hill - slowly, as with advancing age the hill seems to be steeper and higher than it used to be. I thought hills got lower by erosion - but it probably takes a lot longer.

Of course the promised wind had gone. All was calm on top with the very occasional tickle from the ESE for a few seconds and then it was gone. I laid out my Firebird F1rst M wing - one that I use for training - and then heard the roar of a two-stroke engine from below. Alastair had a couple of attempts at forward launch before succeeding a the third attempt. Strangely, although he had started his run each time facing into the very light whisper of wind indicated by the trembling windsock, the wing tended to drop off to the left on inflation and his successful takeoff had him almost running uphill to stay with the wing.

Up on top, things were little better. I had three abortive attempts to inflate the wing and reach flying speed with the wing taking a dive off to one side or the other. Deciding that the old legs were not capable of accelerating to flying speed on the gentle top of the hill slope, I made a short hop to just below the top where the slope was steep. That helped with the acceleration and I made a clean takeoff, followed by a few beats along the hill and a standup landing by Al's van. He had landed and packed up while I was faffing about on top.

I packed up as Al and Sam were leaving and was joined by a small friendly dog. Shortly after the dog's lady owner who had been out for a walk with the dog, arrived. She surprisingly understood that paragliders need wind to soar and warned me not to open my car door as I would have an involuntary muddy-footed passenger!

I took a drive round to the windfarm and admired the distant view of a sunlit Slemish mountain before heading home.