The Flying

Of course we will try to fly every day! Each day will offer an interesting, and possibly challenging, but fun task. The goal of the tasks is to ensure everybody has a nice time in the air, a good opportunity to get to know the area, and all of this in a safe setting that allows everyone to learn something new.

Gréolières offers very reliable weather conditions, with approx. 300 flyable days per year. At the time of the festival sunny, stable, weather with light winds is the norm. In the late morning thermal activity starts to break the stability and it is possible to get and stay up.

The main launch faces south. It is an easy clear launch, but one should avoid launching in westerly gusts. The launch is approx. 230 m above the landing field (but is called the "300"). The landing field is huge and right next to the village, and almost straight under the launch. You can't really miss it. The prevailing wind in the landing is from the south-east. Indeed, if the wind is west in the landing field, severe turbulence can be expected. When the wind turns west one should no longer launch and land as soon as possible. Listen for warnings on the radio (frequency to be announced).
Access to launch is by 4-wheel drive or walking. There will be transportation to launch every day, but we recommend to walk up, and save the environment. It takes a normally fit person some 30-35 minutes to walk to launch. If you do decide to walk up, take extra water along, and perhaps also a dry shirt.

Flying Gréolières can be technically demanding. As the launch is only halfway up the mountain, lift is often weak, and a mixture of thermal induced ridge lift and a real thermal coming through. So at times you have to scratch really close to the mountain, but recognize a real thermal in front. Higher up and later in the day lift is usually stronger and well-defined, and there very interesting convergence bands develop frequently.

In the interest of your own and others' safety please observe the following advice:

• Don't fly on the day of arrival from abroad
• Don't try more than one new thing at a time. If you're new to the site don't bring a new glider or harness; try those out in a familiar place first.
• Adhere to ridge rules, and yield clearly. Realize that many participants in this festival may have little experience with a busy hill, strong thermals, mountains, etc. Don't fly aggressively!
• Refrain from acrobatics near launch or over the landing field. We can expect several gliders coming to land at the same time. In that situation all pilots should fly predictably, with calm turns, and seek eye contact to ensure non-crossing glide paths.