A wavy sky, and it soon transpired that the wind was stronger and further off to the west than it seemed from the ground, also reasonably thermic. After gaining about 300' I realised I was parked - the wind was much higher at altitude. 1/4 bar got me forward and after half an hour of scenic but slightly bumpy ridge-soaring out front with plenty of height I decided to bottom land. Coming in to the apparently harmless landing field the wing was pitching about all over the place, and I took several little tip collapses - the air was very turbulent low down and it was gusting from nil to strong on the ground. Glad to be down, but also glad to have flown on a challenging day.

Al Wilson