Yet more wind

And now I do mean the beer matron - we need to lay off the entrecotes if we're going to be above 10,000' so often.

Today we launched at 1200, failed to swarm and instead flew as a variety of groups. Getting into the wave was easy on the West edge of the Cretes des Selles and 5-6kts carried you up to 10,000' there. So instead I went West and got violently shaken in rotor that gave a 10kt climb rate but shook most of my fillings loose. Eventually I learnt and moved across the valley to join the other gliders. Moving into wind to Aspres gave another 5-6kts up to 16,000' and Ben, Ryan, Dan and I set off North arriving in the lee of the Ecrins at 14,000'.

Another pummeling ensued here as we were too low for the wave and were still in rotor, so given we lack patience we set off West to Aubenasson on the Western edge of the alps. Half an hour later Jay, Henry and Geoff showed how it should be done by waiting to get up to FL195 at Aspres, crossing into the Ecrins 2,000' higher than us and continuing North up to Sestrieres and having a restful, if cold, cruise round never getting below 16,000'.

The four of us turned Aubenasson and crossed via Vaumuse and Cusson onto the Coupe mountain and further East to pick up yet another stunning convergence. This one had a base at 5,800' and tops at 11,000'. Dan and I picked up the system with a 8-10kt climb in the "dags" and with Ben ran South to the Verdon gorge.

Heading North we ran the system back to the Cheval Blanc and then moved onto the North end of the Trois Eveches for a climb in the sunshine to 10,500' and the 70kms final glide home to Serres, landing at 7 p.m.

Just for a change we went for dinner at the Hotel du Nord in Serres where, bless them, they now know the order for 11 biere serieux and start pouring before we walk in the door - what stars!