Hi there yawingdog.... (you must hate your parents for giving you that name..... )
Think I'm in a similar position - 400hrs on fixed wing (licence lapsed 5 years ago) and now going to get flying again.
I've spent a few months researching and have come to the following conclusions (my own opinion only):-
1. The sport remains relatively unregulated with the CAA basically "maintaining a listening watch", but leaing regulation to some of the organisations that are developing.
2. Incidents cause them to look at it again and there was a report in Feb this year that suggested they will likely move control to a single entity - see http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources/Pa ... 002-09.pdf
3. I've always thought myself capable and have done bikes and kites most of my life so think this should be OK, but these modern wings are complex enough for me to conclude I need to draw on some the great expertise out there.
4. Due to the "newness" of the sport, training standards have yet to settle down. There are strong curricula forming (with this club leading some of them) and they seem to tie in pretty well to the PPL in areas of met, nav, law, radio, etc. I've concluded it's the practical stuff I need help with.
5. I'm in touch with Simon Westmore (SimonW on this forum) and am hoping that he can help me with getting the right balance between an "ab-initio" approach and a tailored training that will not only make me safe (that'll please wifey & kids) , but also mean I can get a "semi-ticket" that will give grandfather rights for when the sport does become fully regulated. (Which I'm sure it will - like most things from which people get freedom!)
Just my thoughts and ramblings anyway - hope that helps.
In closing I may say I'm very jealous of someone who lives in such a beautiful part of the world - I get to Lymington every year by boat - always a "must-visit" port of call.
I'm hoping to get to Lambourne next week-end and I get plenty of reasons to get down south, so perhaps meet you one day.
Mark (Marky) Johnson.