bellemene

Bellemene sits in the heights above Saint-Paul on the west side of Réunion Island, a private hillside school-slope that also serves as an official take-off for local and international competitions. The 713 m launch is west and NW facing, with access free for all qualified and insured pilots. Pilots can stay on the school-slope for gentle repeat flights, or push out to soar the cliff before landing at Savannah or Tour des Roches. Without any thermal help, reaching the cliff from the top of the school-slope is not possible on some wings — plan the transition carefully. The site's north-west orientation means you fly leeward when the meteorological wind comes from SE or E. During the June–September trade-wind period, confluence can set up on the left with S/SSE flow, aligning nicely with the cliff orientation.

Launch & conditions

West/NW-facing take-off with a medium-tension power line running just below — a factor to keep in mind on any low soaring. When the trade wind is S-to-SSE, expect confluence on the left; when it's E-to-NE, confluence sets up on the right. Otherwise, expect a pure sea-breeze regime.

Getting there & local rules

The main landing is Tour des Roches at the foot of the cliff — easy to spot. Because this is a cross site, other sector landings are open to you. Beware that ground between the cliff and the four-lane road, which looks like beautiful green fields from above, is actually a marshy zone — plan approaches accordingly.

Local rules & hazards

Medium-tension electrical line runs just below launch — factor it into any low soaring pass. Reaching the cliff from the top of the school-slope without a thermal is not possible on some wings, so read your glider's glide before committing. The 'beautiful green fields' between the cliff and the four-lane road are actually marsh — do not land there.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to bellemene, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open bellemene with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.