South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club Ltd
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South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club Ltd Document Title: Blorenge Site Guide Reference Number: SG0003 Rev: 1 Section Release/Amendment Summary Rev Date All Initial issue 1 08/12/2016 Created By: Steve Milson Date & Sign: Safety Officer Reviewed By: Chris Jones Date & Sign: Avon Committee Member Approved By: Date & Sign: Management Date & Sign: Representative: Page 1 of 7 South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club Ltd Document Title: Blorenge Site Guide Reference Number: SG0003 Rev: 1 Site Image: Page 2 of 7 South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club Ltd Document Title: Blorenge Site Guide Reference Number: SG0003 Rev: 1 Site Latitude: N51.804274 Height ASL Meters: 520m Site Longitute: W003.052774 Height ASL Feet: 1,700ft Wind Direction: WNW - SE Height Top to Bottom 480m Meters: Best Direction: NNE Height Top to Bottom 1,570ft Feet: Minimum BHPA BHPA CP rating Members Status: Open Rating Hang Gliding: Minimum BHPA BHPA New CP, must have brief OS Grid Reference and SO 274 123 Rating Paragliding: from experienced pilot/cc Prefix: after that CP+15 to fly unsupervised on Blorenge. Parking 1 Keepers Pond Parking 3 Viewing Point Car Park Latitude: N51.790259 Latitude: N51.792264 Longitude: W003.081824 Longitude: W003.059462 Parking 2 Antenna Parking Parking 4 Latitude: N51.790573 Latitude: N/A Longitude: W003.069620 Longitude: N/A Road Access: From Abergavenny on the B4269 or from Llanfoist or Blaenavon on the B4246. Parking: Park only in the car parks, do not park on the roads, verges or passing places. Parking on top of the mountain for key holders should be as far back from T/O as possible in lumpy ground behind hut. Page 3 of 7 South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club Ltd Document Title: Blorenge Site Guide Reference Number: SG0003 Rev: 1 Take-off: Take-off: Vehicular access to take-off is restricted to approved permit holders only. Access for all other pilots is by foot only (a long carry up). The SE take-off is shallow. There is a risk of not clearing the ledge. The NE Bowl is a committed take-off, for paragliders there is a significant risk of not clearing the ledge below and so the flat take off area should be avoided. When windy it is often turbulent behind take off. Beware of being dragged into the Hut, or parked cars! Hang gliders should use a nose man whenever possible. Hang gliders should always take-off from the very edge of the bowl, even in nil wind. The Northwest take-off is quite friendly. Landing: All top landings can be turbulent, land well back to avoid rotor. The SE top landing area (A) is difficult for hang gliders due to the angle of the slope. The NE top landing area (B) is rough ground, watch out for the craters towards the front. Paragliders slope landing in the NE Bowl should watch out for the trees. The NW top landing (C) is fairly smooth, but slopes gently towards take-off. Paragliders slope landing below the NW face should watch out for rocks hidden in the bracken. Paragliders can sometimes find the bottom landing field at Castle Meadows (D) difficult to reach. Once over the power lines there is no turning back if met by heavy sink. Paragliders in any doubt about making it safely to Castle Meadows should make an early decision to slope land on the side of the Blorenge. Top Landing General: South East Wales sites often have very large, undefined take off and top landing areas, which may change position according to conditions. To avoid the potential for collision, pilots making a top landing should keep well away from gliders taking off, who may in some cases have limited visibility. Flying: A committed site which can accommodate 30 plus gliders when conditions are good, but less than 5 gliders if conditions deteriorate. The site to go to in light winds. It also has tremendous potential for triangle and out and return flights. Hazards: Hazards: Beware of high voltage power lines in the valley and rotor behind take-off. Page 4 of 7 South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club Ltd Document Title: Blorenge Site Guide Reference Number: SG0003 Rev: 1 Other Rules: All enclosed fields on the mountain are strictly out of bounds. This is a site of Special Scientific Interest - please treat it with respect it deserves. Dogs are not permitted on the hill. Site Status: Open site - This site may be flown by all suitably insured hang glider & paraglider pilots. Site Owners: The Blorenge is owned by the SE Wales Hang Gliding & Paragliding Club Ltd. Site XC Potential: The Blorenge has some amazing XC potential for those light wind thermic days. Guy Anderson 2015 British Paragliding Champion managed to rack up 258.2 points with a 3.3 multiplier on the UK XC league with this 30km Triangle on the 13th May 2015. This flight took him 4hrs 42mins. Guys turn points were TO Blorenge, Hay Bluff, Pen Y Fan then back to the Blorenge before cruising down to Castle Meadows for a cool beer in the Bridge Inn. See page 7. Page 5 of 7 South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club Ltd Document Title: Blorenge Site Guide Reference Number: SG0003 Rev: 1 Mapping / Imagery: All rights belong to Google Inc. SEWHGPGC is a nonprofit making organisation. General notes: If you require further advice about a particular SEWHGPGC site please contact a Club Coach. Please report all accidents to The Club Safety & Training Officer Steve Millson and the BHPA. Please visit the BHPA for the most current Incident Report Form. This document is a guide only. We advise that anyone Hang Gliding and Paragliding conduct a dynamic risk assessment prior to flying any site. This should be continuously re-assessed due to the changeable conditions of the outdoor environment. All individuals are advised to take the following into account when making their dynamic risk assessment: Paragliding and Hang Gliding are dangerous sports that can cause serious injury including bodily harm, paralysis and death. Flying SEW sites is undertaken with the full knowledge that Paragliding and Hang Gliding involves such risks. As the pilot you take exclusive responsibility for all risks associated with your part taking in the sport. Any liability claims towards the club are excluded. If you are not sure. DO NOT FLY. Who to Call in an Emergency in the UK: In the Mountains/Rivers/Lakes Dial 999/112 and ask for the Police and then Mountain Rescue. If you are away from the road side then dial 999/112 and ask for the Police and then Mountain Rescue explaining your circumstances. If you cannot make voice calls, you can now contact the 999 Emergency Services by SMS. NB you must register this prior to an emergency. In an emergency 999 need to know: Who is Calling? Your name and mobile number. What? Briefly, what is the problem, including the state of the casualty. Ensure you use the buzzword Fall From Height and Remote Location. Where? (see page 3 for location details) Description below: The Blorenge Mountain 3.4km SW of Abergavenny Town. Near A40/A465 interchange. Page 6 of 7 South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club Ltd Document Title: Blorenge Site Guide Reference Number: SG0003 Rev: 1 XC Potential Continued: Hay Bluff Pen Y Fan Blorenge Page 7 of 7 .