A few members have gone to Sid's Task Week at Nympsfield and a large detachment with the DG505, a Junior and several private gliders have left for a Club Expedition to the Long Mynd. Those members who were left had a pleasant gently thermic day. Nothing epic, just a nice day culminating in a very enjoyable birthday barbeque for Cheryl and Steph attended by thirty or so family and friends.
News from Nympsfield
With a forecast of spreadout to the South and East and a sea breeze incursion up the Severn valley in the afternoon(sound familiar?) , Sid set a task of 241km, Buckingham - Newbury and back.
The forecast was pretty much spot on. Pete in 230 got round but slower than a tethered tortoise after struggling under spreadout at Newbury and then making a meal of the into wind leg home, blaming the increasing wind and the sea air - well that was his excuses anyway!
Matt in 477 on the other hand, went round quite quickly until Cricklade on the final leg when he decided to ignore 230 and several other gliders scratching in a weak thermal and go for the next(and last before the sea air) cloud.Sadly it didn't work and he ended up landing out 20km short at the small airfield of Oaksey Park and got an aerotow retrieve.
John Bugbee flying off the back of the grid as a non-comp, decided he wouldn't bother with the fantastic conditions in Oxfordshire and dropped into Enstone for a cup of tea and a bun! Pete and Matt did the retrieve and found a fantastic fish and chip shop in Chipping Norton with a glider trailer sized lay-by right outside - bonus!
Phil and Gill took off last and sailed round the task with ease in just over 3 hours wondering why all the fuss - damn those big wings (and a little bit of skill)! - Pete S
