The forecast was again 'marginal' with respect to wind speed on the run up to this, our second planned event for 2008 upon the magnificent Lleyn peninsula, North Wales.  Having studied the range of web-based forecasts, it looked like Saturday was expected to bring 8mph winds from the NW, increasing in strength to 15mph from the South on the Sunday.  Weather-wise it was at least going to be fine, sunny even(!) - so with that, and with recent memories of being beaten by the weather on so many prior occasions this year, I loaded up and headed off in determined mood to Abersoch!

I met Alan Hulme and his wife, Margaret, at the agreed pub car park at 10am on the Saturday.  From here we confirmed that the wind (what there was of it!) was indeed blowing from the North West, and that the chosen site would therefore be Mynydd Cilan, overlooking the East end of Hell's Mouth.  We posted a sign for any would-be flyers arriving behind us and set off to the slope.

Upon arrival we were greeted by the magnificent views over the bay towards Aberdaron.  Having rigged only our lightest models, the wind speed was measured with gusts upto the forecast 8mph, but in reality it averaged only 6mph and this was proven to be less than adequate for PSS, even on such an impressive cliff top site.  Alan and I both attempted flights with the GWS Stearman and E-Flite P-47 foamies - but we had to recover our models from the heather below the launch point on more than one occasion.   This was frustrating - we were forced to 'sit it out', enjoy the views and wait for the wind to mature during the day...

By 2pm Rez Manzoori had joined us from Derby, and following some late lunch the wind, thankfully, did increase in strength, just enough to allow sustained PSS flying with the lightest of our models.  The wind, now blowing a constant 10mph had shifted slightly to WNW and the best lift was found a few hundred yards walk along the coast, the local terrain here not only being steeper but also more aligned to the West.

Alan Hulme enjoyed some good stick time on my E-Flite P-47 whilst I pointed the camera, and Rez got 3 good flights in with his large Airbus A380, a 6-foot span foamie built from the Windrider kit.  Both models flew on in these conditions until 6pm when we decided we'd had enough sun for one day and we returned to our B+B to put the batteries on charge.

Sunday morning arrived and as forecast the wind had changed direction to the South, meaning we would be flying from the well familiar Cim Farm site.  However, unlike the forecast, the windspeed remained calm, in fact if anything there was less wind on Sunday than on Saturday!  We again headed off to the slope, all hoping that the wind would pick up to the forecast 15mph and that we were in for a great days flying.  Sadly, it did not. 

As a result, little flying was achieved on the Sunday, a few desperate circuits were attempted with the P-47 and at times the lift was just manageable, but again the majority of the 11 PSS models on site remained static in the cars.  This was particularly disappointing as there were 2 brand new models awaiting test flying.  Alan had brought along a new Fairey Fulmar, built by a colleague to Alan's O/D plan, and Rez had an unflown BAe Hawk from the Conway stable.  Both aircraft still await their maidens...

By 1:30pm there was no evidence that the conditions were changing for the better, and with a 4-hour car journey ahead of me, I agreed to call it a day.  Once again I was sad to leave this part of the world in brilliant weather, albeit it for the lack of wind required to fly our preferred type of model!  Next year I will definitely be taking some electric stuff with me to combat this problem!

Although the dominant high-pressure and low wind speeds had grounded us, of equal disappointment was the lack of attendance with only 3 PSSA members travelling to the Lleyn.  Admittedly, the forecast had not been good, and this, combined with the required travel (distances and costs) I think must have been mostly responsible.  It's worth pointing out - there is just 1 planned event left this year on a coastal site, The Great Orme, Llandudno meet on 11th/12th October.  I do hope that the weather is forecast more suitable for this weekend and that the resultant attendance grows in strength accordingly.

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