Motovun Flying - The Tightest Urban launch ever

http://www.skyadventures.com.au/ Have been looking at a possibility to launch from the old town of Motovun, Istria for some time now. It was the trickiest launch challenge for me ever. Apart from "launch" being too narrow (about 3/4 of the wing span), a big rock in the middle of the lines, a bush covered wall and a drop on the right hand side of the wing I was also standing on the very edge and in the corner of a wall over a drop and was unable to make a single step back or to the right. But the conditions were just perfect: 5 - 10 m/s wind above launch and just enough wind on launch so I was able to pull the wing up without touching the brakes such that the wing tips didn't come out. 3 Spanish guys who happened to pass by in just that moment gave me a hand holding the wing up and I did the rest to keep the lines snag free. What you see is the second go. In the first attempt a line got caught on the right hand side bushy wall where the hole is. A dream come true for me. On Valentine's day. I thought the rest of the flight was going to be a half an hour of ridge soaring due to the late hour but as it turned out (as I was exploring the air further and further away from the hill) there was a convergence over the valley which enabled me to climb up and fly away from the hill. P.S For all benevolent safety conscious dudes: I did wear a helmet. ;) Only took it off up high to film my bald head flying over Motovun. Music "Motovun flying" by Airie Sol.

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