Pilots from the Sky Surfing Club have tried to make the most of the few dry days in June.

Last Wednesday promised to be sunny with a very gentle northerly breeze, perfect for a stroll along the South Downs at South Harting.

Hang glider pilot Tim King was keen to make an early start, having planned an epic flight to the east – if conditions allowed.

Keeping an eye on building clouds and soaring birds, he launched around midday into rising air and began circling; 25 circles later he had climbed to over 2,000ft above the downs.

Heading towards the village of South Harting he found improving conditions which enabled him to reach more than 3,500ft. Turning eastwards, Tim set course for Devil’s Dyke near Brighton.

He said: “I was wearing fingerless gloves and my fingers got very, very cold. Despite donning three T-shirts, four thermal tops and a balaclava I was frozen – I hadn’t worn enough clothing.”

Continuing his journey, Tim found himself circling with a variety of sailplanes and seagulls when eventually Devil’s Dyke came into view.

Reaching the location at 200ft he found a further thermal lift back up to 3,300ft, with his aim now being the return trip.

But smoke from bonfires below indicated that the cool, damp sea air had made an incursion at lower altitudes, cutting off vital thermal up-currents.

Tim was forced to land, having flown 55km in a little under three hours, and phoned his wife to arrange the return trip by road. He added: “Bignor Roman Villa shows up really well from up there!”

Brian Parkins