Hover trip diaries
16/5/10
Took the Prospector down to Berwick as a last check before the Scottish Hoverin in two week. Turned out to be a nice days - temp got to 16C compared to 6C easrlier this weeke!. Cruisied up river then along the coast for a bit. Only real problem was that the new heatshiled that I'd added to the exhaust outlet ddn;t work too well (melted a bit of skirt and split a seam!). Trip video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gahCzxM30HQ&feature=player_embedded
2/5/10
Took my UH18 up to Loch Fyne ready for the annual Scottish Hoverin at the end of the month. The Loch was flat calm and there was no wind so I couldn't resist a little 40 mile solo cruise! Video clip is HERE The UH18 behaved perfectly - I'd forgotten how smooth a cruiser it is on good water!
10/4/10
Time for the annual Hovercraft training weekend - this time it was held just south of Bristol on school playing fields. It was over-subscribed this year - TEN new craft and owners. The Sunday cruise was held on the Severn and passed off without incident.
21/2/10
Weather has been perfect for hovering for the last few weeks but I haven't had the chance to get out since early January (apart from some field testing). Looked good again today so I set off for Berwick. - it was -4C at 10am this morning but slowly warmed up as I got nearer to the coast (ended up at plus 5 
).
The sand launch ramp had a 2ft high pile of river debris (logs, trees and other vegetation) blocking it so I had to pick through it removing any spiky stuff that was stuck into the sand underneath (guaranteed to rip the skirt). Launched and set off up river - still snow on the ground and the wind chill was a bit severe! Stopped for a cuppa and a warm up on an island and had to remove a couple of layers of clothing eventually as it was very pleasant in the sunshine.
Returned back downriver to the bay and set out around the breakwater/pier. Changed my mind once I saw the waves 
- there was hardly a breath of wind but the waves were piling up onto the beach so a coastal cruise was out
Video clips are HERE
4/1/10
Travelled back up to Loch Fyne in freezing weather and deep snow - the main roads weren't good at all in places.
Cruised around the Loch for a couple of days. The winter scenery was spectacular but the air temperature was below freezing - there wasn't much standing up in the craft going on!
All of the streams flowing into the Lopch were frozen - you could also walk across the marsh areas as the ground was rock hard! The harbour at Lochgilphead was frozen over (salt water) with night time temperatures dipping to -16C.
Beautiful sunsets!
