Today we had to improvise. It turns out that the plans during the week was to meet in the Hatillo North Park. The idea is that the pilots/students of the Team who wanted to fly were safe at all times and Hatillo was the place. But as the saying goes, “one plans and God disposes.” We arrived at Hatillo early in the morning and found that the strong swell that has affected the north coast throughout the week had also brought many debris to the shore. So, the activity could not be there. Our immediately Plan B was “Criollas” Beach of Barceloneta. We notify the group and go to Barceloneta.
Pilots and students presents from all over the island:
Pablo Cruz and his wife Millie
William Nadal and his wife Maribel
Luis Ruiz, his wife Jessica and son Noah Enrique
Chelo Meléndez and his son Marcos
The brothers William and Antonio Rivera
The brothers Danny and Joseph Cintron, along with niece Luvi
The brothers Toly and Leo Román (visiting)
David Silva and his wife Elsie
Rubén Franco
Michael Diaz
Fernan Lassalle
Chey Sánchez
Alex Diaz
Randy Tirado
Sao Cruz
Juan Carlos Correa
Gregory Santiago
Robert Rodriguez
Rafa Guerrero
José Villanueva (new student)
Upon arriving in Barceloneta, we found good flight conditions. The waves did not affect the place, however, we need to be careful with the flights since there was no shore to land in case of any need. The grass was high, but there was always room for take off.
The first thing we did in the morning was deliver his new paramotor to the pilot Alex Diaz, a new ParaJet Maverick with Vittorazi Moster MY19 engine. And yes …, we are now distributors of the ParaJet line in Puerto Rico and the region. But this is story for another day, (which we will do with details during the course of the week).
https://www.facebook.com/LuisRuizParapentePR/videos/10157997611875229/
After checking everything that ParaJet and Vittorazi had included in Alex’s boxes, we started preparing for the flights. Barceloneta has always been more challenging in takeoffs and landings than the laminar flights we make on the beaches. The trees and constructions block the winds, making turbulence in the area. A challenge situation for many of the pilots and today was no exception.
The pilots, JC, Grego, Chey, Rubén, Danny, Michael, Randy Fernan, and Alex, all made the trip to the Statue of Colon in Arecibo, where some even arrived at the Lighthouse. And back to Barceloneta, they followed him directly until they flew to the beach of Mar Chiquita in Manati. That was a long cross fly. While this was happening in the air. In the practice area, Chelo and William were preparing to fly, but because the wind conditions and turbulence had increased, Luis postponed their flights for a better occasion. Chelo and William only have one flight in their history, and it was to ask them a lot in those conditions.
https://www.facebook.com/rahhiii/videos/10157690152032463/
https://www.facebook.com/rahhiii/videos/10157690164722463/
But two who took advantage of these conditions were the new student José, a native of Quebradillas, who spent the whole day giving hard time to inflation practices and young Marcos, who already took his feet off the ground when Pablo made some small flights in Towing with the help of Marcos dad, Chelo.
https://www.facebook.com/LuisRuizParapentePR/videos/10157997879760229/
Rafa and David arrived at the end of the afternoon. Rafa went flying around, as always demonstrating high level and David simply went to pick up his paramotor and take it in his new transport vehicle. By late afternoon it was time to pick up and some went to dinner.
Thank you to everyone who said present. And as always, we thank God for these experiences that he allows us to have 🙏.