Sandy Bay
SITE TYPE | COASTAL | LOCATION | 50.6177 / -3.3573 | |
SITE ACCESS | OPEN | GRID REF. | SY040806 | |
PILOT RATING | CP | TAKE OFF | ||
WIND DIRECTION | SSE - SE | PARKING | ||
BEST | SSE | HEIGHT | 215 feet (65m) | |
XC POTENTIAL | UNLIKELY | TOP - BOTTOM | 215 feet (65m) |
Site Rules​
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Park considerately in the campsite​
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Do not overfly Hawkridge Bird of Prey Centre
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Contact Hawkridge to confirm their display times
Hazards​
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​DO NOT OVERFLY RIFLE RANGE ON STRAIGHT POINT WHEN RED FLAGS FLYING (right of take-off).
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Sharp edged cliff take off
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Rotor on take off and if top landing
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Limited bottom landing options especially at Western end of bay under take off
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Erosion altering take off profile requires good pilot decission making
About​
Sandy Bay is a coastal site that has changed substantially over the years due to erosion of the cliff and beach below making this a site that should only be flown by experienced pilots.
Coastal soaring is often considered to be safer than inland, thermic flying however the club sees more accidents on the coast than inland each year. Robin Wallace (Wessex HGPG) has produced an excellent guide to the dangers and pitfalls of coastal flying which should be essential reading for all pilots:-
Access & Parking
Follow signs from Exmouth to Devon Cliffs Holiday Park and drive in through the main entrance. We have no right of free access, but it is unusual to be denied entry. Please do not park in parking bays allocated to the holiday homes and do not walk through the separately fenced West Down View residential caravan site.
Walk through the camp and then along the coast path onto the cliffs in the first field NE of the campsite. Take off should be possible from this field however erosion is constantly modifying the cliff edge and pilots will need to make their own decision of precisely where to launch.
Guidlines
Please park with consideration to the holiday park customers. You may be asked for a £5 parking fee so please pay this without protest. Parking should only be in the spaces up by the corral style fence and not anywhere by the caravans​.
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The site is closed in school spring and summer holidays.
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The take off is a sharp edged cliff and will inevitably generate rotor. Be prepared for collapses as you launch and to abort if necessary.
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The site is bounded on the Western end by the Straight Point Firing Range. This is an MOD live fire range primarily used by the Royal Marines. Under no circumstances overfly the range​
​​Pilots should make a good assessment of the beach landing options before launching. The beach has now been eroded down to bedrock and it is likely that no beach will be available unless on a low spring tide. At mid to high tide times there is little or NO bottom landing. Even if it is possible to land on the beach there are now large boulders strewn there and no access back to take off apart from a long walk back via Budleigh.
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Be aware that this site has suffered severe coastal erosion and, because there is no reasonable access to or from the beach, take off should NOT be attempted unless conditions will definitely allow soaring.
The site is not suitable for inexperienced pilots. If the true wind is only slightly off to the South i.e 170 deg., Beer Head or Branscombe would be safer alternatives.
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Never overfly the Holiday Park or World of Country Life or attempt to land there. The World of Country Life has animals easily frightened by paragliders & Hawkridge Birds of Prey within the site has a public demonstration arena with free flying hawks & owls. They train their birds, even in winter.
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Before flying it is necessary to check with the Hawkridge Birds of Prey office 07843098727, to confirm that your flight plan will not conflict with their activities. Please do not fly this site between 1300 and 1330 hours on any flyable day as the birds will definitely be flying at this time. If in doubt whether anyone has called ask on either of the Condors' Telegram groups. The Birds of Prey operator, Richard Beech, asks that we do not fly above the cliff top until we reach the golf course when his birds are training/flying, normally several times a day e.g. 1100, 1300 1500.​
Bottom Landing
Beach land near Budleigh & organise a lift back. Land away from other beach users (fishermen, nudists etc). There may be beach available nearer to launch if the tide allows but there is no way back up the cliff leaving a long walk to Budleigh Salterton
Top Landing
Top landing may be possible in the fields behind launch if not in crop however there is likely to be rotor generated by the sharp edged cliff. Be prepared to actively fly the wing to the ground and PLF if necessary.
XC Potential
Coastal ridge runs to Budleigh Salterton.​
Airspace
None
All pilots using Devon & Somerset Condors HGPG sites must be current BHPA flying members, hold a minimum rating of CP Hill and obtain a site brief from a pilot who regularly flies the site.
The information contained in this document is provided purely as guidance. It is not intended to be an exhaustive guide to the hazards that may be encountered and it is the responsibility of individual pilots to carry out their own assessment of the site and weather conditions before making a decision to fly.
Neither the Devon & Somerset Condors Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club, authors of this guide, editors of this guide, any official or member of the club in any way accept liability for any accident, injury, or loss, to any person, resulting from free flying activities or the use of this guide.