Frustrations!

With my confidence dwindling but still eager to fly, I selected a day that probably wasn't ideal for someone with my low hours and experience. I arrived at the Devil's Dyke and the wind was strong and also gusty at times. I had booked time off work to fly so was motivated to get into the air. Ignoring my gut feel for what I perceived as border-line conditions, I rigged my Calypso, checked it over and launched.

I had difficulting penetrating forward and at times, the air was uncomfortably rough. I had remembered that phrase, "You're better off being on the ground wishing you were up there rather than being up there wishing you were on the ground!". Those words seemed apt as I was kicked around the sky which made for a less than enjoyable flight!

I maxed out at no more than 300 feet above take-off and after I bumped into one last lump of air that caused me to make an involuntary turn towards the hill, I decided to retreat to the safety of the bottom landing field. I touched down in a manner; my right wind was lifted as I began to flare which sent me running in a wild circle trying to control and slow the glider!

Safely landed and with no bent aluminium; just some dirt on my nose cone, I left my glider in the bottom landing field and climbed the Dyke to recover my car. After which, I returned to collect my glider and returned home.