Lu – vecchia cava

Lu – vecchia cava is a low ridge-soaring site in the Monferrato hills of Alessandria province, Piedmont, launching from just 255 m and working only when there's a proper south wind — strong breeze to moderate gale, nothing softer. Once airborne, the read is straightforward but specific: get up and swing straight back toward the steepest part of the slope on the left, where the lift concentrates. It's a narrow-window site rather than an all-day one, so pilots typically watch for the right south-sector wind before making the trip rather than showing up speculatively. Flyable directions run south-east through south to south-west. Access from the north side is a private road, so the normal approach is to park near the south landing field and walk up to takeoff from there. Both the takeoff and landing sit close to cultivated fields, and the source is explicit that pilots need to respect that ground — crop damage is the one thing that closes soaring sites like this to future flying, so give the fields a wide margin on both ends.

Launch & conditions

Launch only in a proper south wind (strong breeze to moderate gale) — once up, head straight back to the area of greatest gradient on the left, where lift concentrates.

Getting there & local rules

The northern approach is a private road — park near the south landing field instead and walk up to the takeoff.

Local rules & hazards

Flies only with a strong breeze to moderate gale from the south sector — anything softer won't work here. Both takeoff and landing sit next to cultivated fields, so keep well clear of them on the ground and in the air.

Check conditions before you fly

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