Sunday 29th June - ICL North Hill

'A day of much anticipation and optimism, and then the weather took over...'

With the first day of the Inter Club League having been 'scrubbed ' yesterday the weather forecast suggested a much better day for flying, for both the ICL and also general Club flying.With the wind forecast to start as a North Easterly, albeit predicted to change during the day to a North Westerly, there was little alternative but to set up the launch point in the South West corner of the field with the K21s and a Junior being 'walked down' whilst a steady convoy of private owners planning to take part in the ICL set off with their trailers to set up a suitable rigging area at that end of the field.
With the skies not suggesting anything other than, potentially, extended circuits, there was little enthusiasm for the ICL pilots to get into the air so Club flying got underway whilst Pete Smith started to work with the digger on the new trench for the communications line at the Westerly end of the field.
Various light rain showers interrupted the morning's flying and at one stage the rain set in to the extent late morning that a tea break was called for.
However, as is often the case, no sooner had the tea break started then the weather improved and with a potential start for the ICL task(s) declared for 1pm following the rebrief, it was soon a question of seeing how much Club flying could be completed before the ICL took precedence for launches.

As it happened the afternoon saw good teamwork in and around the launch lines with both Club flying and ICL launches being completed together. And then, with everything going (too) well,  the wind decided to change to the previously predicted North Westerly and so it was 'change ends time' - following which Club flying continued until around 6pm and the various ICL gliders 'out on task' started to return home. 
not an inspirational sky!
 And. as ever,  the weather decided to improve just as all the gliders were being put away or de-rigged with the tea and biscuits discussion in front of the Clubhouse, about how the day had been, completed in bright sunshine under a blue sky.
Still, there is always next time... - Mike S

How did North Hill team do?
Met was a little tricky initially with models differing, but after a later briefing, Assigned area tasks with Taunton and Chard turnpoints were set.
Traces and scores are still being assessed, but Matthew W in SF27Novice turned Taunton and Chard landing near the turnpoint.
James in ASW20 flying Intermediate and Simon M in ASW20 Pundit both completed the tasks. 

Matthew's tale
Whilst 2/3 of team NHL sat drinking tea, their gliders still in their trailers, the pundits convinced Matthew W to make a leap of faith in the SF. After a few weak thermals I took the decision, at 2500ft, to go through the start line and probably land out on the way to Taunton but clock up some mileage, how wrong was I. It was streeting all the way to Taunton. Unfortunately around Chard the sky wasn't co-operating and ended up in a field! Joined an hour later by another glider!
SF27 & Matthew selfie near Chard
Considering the weather in the morning and early afternoon a fantastic time was had, thanks Muggles et al for organising! - Matthew

James review
ICL Intermediate - Good over Taunton, Good over Chard, Rubbish over BEA and got low over CHA coming home, managed to pick up the sea breeze and shot home. - James

Competition Enterprise Day 2
Pilgrims Way Out and Return, 7 turn points were set out towards the east, CLP, RIV, FMA, PAR, ENW, ADS and WDP. The idea was to do a out and return to a waypoint and then do another one closer in. I set myself the task of Parham (about 250k) and then leave out the second o/r with a fall back of going to Rivar Hill and then doing another to Clyffe Pypard (about 200k). The start was very scratchy with some massive blue gaps that the pointier gliders breezed through. I managed to get to RIV and decided not to push on, so began the run home. I had underestimated the strength of the wind drastically with a 15 knot headwind and a massive gap in front of me near CLP I scratched around for a while hoping for the gap to close in a bit. However it didn't, so I got bored and went on a suicide mission across it, ended up in a field near CLP and am now currently awaiting someone to collect me. 
 
Comp Ent Field number one -Ka6 - near Swindon

Not a great start to the comp but I was reasured  by control who said 5 other gliders landed out very close to me, and one of them was a Ventus! - Liam