Dune
du Pyla, France - As with the majority of modellers with a companion,
I find that I have many difficulties in taking care of both our desires
for our holidays: My wife loves the sunny lazy days on the beach whilst
I get bored and continuously dream of a good slope soaring session! I
have found an ideal site to combine both needs: the highest dune of Europe,
the one near Pyla-sur-mer near Arcachon (in the region of Bordeaux - France).
My wife gets a sun tan and myself, not far from her, fly …
Location
Located on the French Atlantic coast,
65 km south of Bordeaux, the Bay of Arcachon is well known for its oysters.
The Dune du Pyla, nearby (10 km), with its 102 meters high, 2,7 km wide
slope, facing the westerly winds, overhangs the exit of the bay in front
of the Cap Ferret and its sandbanks. Most of the time the flying conditionsare
ideal and the panorama is superb…Click
for Map
Flying site The "tourist" side of
the dune (i.e. on the North, towards Arcachon) is a "no fly"
zone because it is very crowded due to the good road signs, parking and
access … but opposite on the South end of this sand dune, there where
it goes down to the level of the coast road is our heaven!
The
amateur slopers have built there a launch site from where they learn to
take-off. When airborne they usually leave this place, moving away to
the South following the edge of the cliff. This headland has got another
point of interest for the flyers, it includes a permanent windsock that
is visible from the Panorama Camping.
The modellers usually climb the gentle slope (but "gentle" is
all relative when the sand is so sluggish!) up to the top where they can
expect to find better lift and, above all, take some distance from the
parapentes as well as from the trees edging along the dune. On one day,
with a distinct lack of lift, my handlaunch Cumulus did manage to stay
hung up in the top of a 15 meter high tree!
Even when you fly from the southern end of the dune, from where you can
oversee all of the surrounding area, care must be taken with frequencies,
especially 35 Mhz, as other modellers stay in the other camping areas
as well, which are situated further north, behind the dune. They have
also direct access and they do not fly near you : but their transmitters
still transmit all around! As there is no "peg" board it is
the accepted procedure to have the basic courtesy to try to contact them.
If they do not speak your language, a lot of German modellers do so, but
not all, just show them your transmitter where you should have attached
a label with your frequency AND your channel number. Sometimes it can
happen that some "irregulars" turn on their transmitter shamelessly
and without prior control on, they are badly looked on by the local French
modellers whom are usually very welcoming.
The
slopes: by normal west winds, you launch towards the see. The lift
comes in two levels: immediately but moderate from the launch, and later
when you overfly the rocky edge on the beach. With a "4 meters"
it is possible to go out a long way above the sea, the visibility there
being excellent.
By Southerlies: even when there is a strong south wind, the lift
is minimum (the slope is too gentle) and those capricious holes in the
sand, care must be taken in respect of a possible tipstall !
By Northerlies: you have to go to the north end of the dune. It
is more than 2 kilometres distant and the tourists are numerous! I do
not recommend it to you unless you have been in severe flight withdrawal
since a few days …
By Easterlies: no way to fly anywhere. The back slope is too inclined
and you would have to overfly the deeply forested area.
The Landings: not from behind because the slope is too steep 50° at
least and in front of the slope the lift is too strong to slow down your
model. Fortunately at the top, there is a large hollow with a flat base.
It is well suited for landings as it is out of the lift, as well as to
our companion, who can get tanned in the shelter and out of the sand that
blasts your legs.
How
to get there?
Go to Bordeaux on the A10, go around this large city to the south exit
number 15 towards Biarritz/Arcachon. At exit 22, turn off to Arcachon.
At the entrance of Arcachon (at the "La Teste-du-Buch" traffic
roundabout) follow direction Pyla-sur-Mer clearly which is sign-posted,
drive pass the Tourists Parking which gives access to the North end of
the dune, and continue on the D218 for 2 km towards Biscarosse. On a flat
hill, on the right side of the road (just before the Camping Panorama
and between the 2 camping) there is a small path which goes through the
forest. A short walk of 300 meters and you arrive at the base of the headland.
Accommodation
This is a very touristic area which abounds in hotels. But I am a lucky
modeller who owns a camper (and above all a companion who loves camping).
There are plenty of camping areas behind the dune but no view of the sea,
only to a sand wall 100 m high. This is the reason I choose the one located
at the south end of the dune, the Camping Panorama. It bears its name
well and is also frequented by the slopers with whom it is fun to chat.
Conclusions
I love this place, for its unique views, for its flyability, and above
all for its combining of the leisure time " sea , sand, & soaring
" for the whole family. The only "fault" of this exceptional
site is, by strong wind, that sand that gets into everything! In the model,
which can get unbalanced, in the transmitter of which the sticks do not
care for it too much and in your flying bag, … A good vacuum cleaning
is a "must" at the end of your stay but it is all very worth
while!.
- Philippe Cambier
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(Click
the photos for an enlarged version and accompanying caption)
Dune
du Pyla, France - As with the majority of modellers with a companion,
I find that I have many difficulties in taking care of both our desires
for our holidays: My wife loves the sunny lazy days on the beach whilst
I get bored and continuously dream of a good slope soaring session! I
have found an ideal site to combine both needs: the highest dune of Europe,
the one near Pyla-sur-mer near Arcachon (in the region of Bordeaux - France).
My wife gets a sun tan and myself, not far from her, fly …
The
amateur slopers have built there a launch site from where they learn to
take-off. When airborne they usually leave this place, moving away to
the South following the edge of the cliff. This headland has got another
point of interest for the flyers, it includes a permanent windsock that
is visible from the Panorama Camping.
The
slopes: by normal west winds, you launch towards the see. The lift
comes in two levels: immediately but moderate from the launch, and later
when you overfly the rocky edge on the beach. With a "4 meters"
it is possible to go out a long way above the sea, the visibility there
being excellent. 
How
to get there? 
Conclusions
