The comming weekend does not look too good and I can take a day leave today. We're going to the 'Oberi Wengi' once again. Urs Herzog, Alfredo Studer and I are at the launching site at 11 o'clock. Everything looks ok. But while we are preparing, the cumulus grow and grow... Just as Urs launches, the shadow of the clouds coveres much opf the valley below and kill the weak thermals. Urs lands after a short flight.

Alfredo and I wait, and wait... The launching site slowly fills with more and more pilots. All are waiting. In between there are some rain drops and even some, very wet snowflakes. Out over the flat parts of Switzerland it looks just perfect and the view of some paragliders above the next row of hills do not really improve our mude.

Finally, around 13:20 the clouds leave a gap for the sun and we launch. By this time, Urs has reached the launching site again and takes off just after me. I'm low and have no time to watch him. I need all concentration and all the luck available to get back up. Finally I manage to win height and get, together with an hang-glider to the base.

In the mean time the clouds cover most of the valleys. I decide to change to the front row of hills and fly over the flat area, the so called 'Mittelland'. After crossing the river 'Aare' I find a thermal and start turning. The thermals are weak and difficult to locate. I'm no longer sure if my choice was a good one. Most of the nice looking clouds seem to be dead. Where they get their humidity and structure from remains a question to me. Finally I land somwhere near Gerlafingen.

Urs is doing better, he flyes more to the west and lands after about 70 km near konolfingen. Alfredo run's it safe and stays on the main ridge. He flyes to Valorbe, more than 100 km.

Flown distance : ~20 km
Maximal height: 2200 meters asl
Maximal rate of climb: 4.0 Meters/Second
Duration: 1 Hour 45 Minutes