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The first one in the series is the magical route from Signal Hill to Kommetjie. This may not be the longest flight in XC standards, but it definitely boasts as one of the most spectacular flights in Cape Town, with absolutely breathtaking views all the way.
So, let’s start with the basics, the weather. The best wind forecast would need to be a NW going W, preferably post-frontal or even in between fronts. Try to stay away from the nasty pre-frontal NW winds.
1) We start at Signal Hill, turn right after take off and try to get up. Don’t waste too much time trying to get high. Once you are 80-100m above take off, turn left and run all along the ridge to the NW face of Lions Head.
2) Work your way up the NW face of Lions Head. Be careful of the Venturi effect on the sides of the Mountain. Once you are above the summit of Lions Head, you can make your first crossing. Do not go straight over the back. Veer to the left and then run downwind along the SW face of Lions Head towards Table Mountain.
3) Aim straight for the Western face of Table Mountain. This area often goes up at 3-4m/s, woo-hoo!!! Work your way up to the Cable car station.
4) Once you are above Table Mountain, you can take the most beautiful ridge soaring run that you have ever done, “The Apostles Run, glide all the way to the last peak, Judas Peak.
5) At Judas Peak, you have to make sure that you have sufficient height to cross over to Karbonkelberg via Little Lions Head (depending on your altitude)
6) You will probably arrive at Karbonkelberg quite low. Work your way up till you are at least 80-100m above ridge height. If you can climb higher, please do so. The higher you can climb, the bigger your chances of making the Hout Bay glide crossing.
7) Take the gap between Karbonkelberg and Little Lions Head, worst-case scenario, you will end up landing on Hout Bay beach.
8) Back to some hard work, this area is not always going up nicely, but if it is still NW, you can scratch and ridge soar all the way to the top.
9) Now you can glide to Chapsmans Peak, be careful of the rotor if the wind is still NW. Try to glide out towards the ocean first and then down to Chapman’s Peak.
10) Once you are on Chapman’s Peak, you need to maximise your climb. Try to get as high as possible, even if it means squeezing the last o,5m/s out of the lift. The higher you are here, the bigger your chances of making the Noordhoek beach glide to Kommetjie, unless you’ve got a Two-liner, then it’s a piece of pie!!!
11) Now you can glide all along Noordhoek Beach to Kommetjie.
12) Congratulations, you have reached Kommetjie. There are plenty of landing areas all marked in red and cold beer waiting for you!
When flying over Lions Head, paragliders should be cautious of the Venturi effect on the sides of the mountain. This effect can cause unpredictable wind patterns and turbulence, making it essential to navigate carefully. After reaching the summit of Lions Head, pilots should veer left and fly downwind along the southwest face towards Table Mountain.
Pilots navigate from Table Mountain to Judas Peak by flying along the western face of Table Mountain, where the area often provides lift at 3-4 meters per second. They should aim to reach the cable car station on Table Mountain before continuing. From there, they can embark on the scenic "Apostles Run," gliding along the ridge to Judas Peak.
Upon reaching Karbonkelberg, pilots often find themselves at a lower altitude. It's crucial to work their way up until they are at least 80-100 meters above the ridge height. Climbing higher increases the chances of successfully making the Hout Bay glide crossing.
When gliding to Chapman's Peak, pilots should be cautious of rotor effects if the wind remains from the northwest. It's advisable to glide out towards the ocean first before descending to Chapmans Peak to avoid turbulence and ensure a safer approach.
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