Franschoek

Franschhoek delivers spectacular Cape flying above the vineyards, best combined with a mellow lunch and a glass of wine in the Alpine-styled town below. It's a thermal and soaring site, most reliable ahead of a weak cold front on a pre-frontal north-westerly. Be alert: the wind on such days typically strengthens rapidly through the morning, often peaking around 13:30, and then usually softens after 16:00 before dying at sunset — with the tail end sometimes blowing downhill at the base of the pass. The launch sits just over the crest of the Franschhoek Pass, a few metres into the nature reserve on the seaward side of the road.

Launch & conditions

Just over the crest of the Franschhoek Pass, there's a parking area on the left of the road; a fence runs towards the cliffs from the car park, and the launch is at the end of that fence, a few metres inside the nature reserve.

Getting there & local rules

Head towards Paarl on the N1; take the R44 turnoff to Wellington/Klapmuts/Franschhoek and turn immediately right under the bridge. After the 4-way intersection, take the 2nd road left towards Franschhoek. Follow signs through town to the T-junction, then left up the pass towards Villiersdorp. The landing field is on your left as you begin to climb; at the top of the pass, turn left into a gravel viewsite road and park near the fence.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Franschoek, 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 Franschoek with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.