As a precursor to Portmoak, and its on the way, Pete 230, JB KJW and Matt M5 headed up the motorway to NYM expecting a couple of trips down the ridge to Bath race course BAT and back. A quick de-rig, cup of tea and continue north to Scotland. Simples! Pete threw a spanner in the works by saying, "The last thing we need to happen is for one of us to land out!"
Trevor Stuart said there was enough north in the wind to include the ridge north to Lower Clopton, LCL, but we would need thermal assistance to get round the turn point. So the 3 North Hillers and 4 dudes from NYM set off north in crystal clear air with good wind and strong thermals in attendance. It all went pear-shaped at LCL. The group became separated and "Every man for himself" was the call over the radio, which got a few nervous laughs in response. The route back into wind included many low scrapes and parking on a little ridge waiting for that ever more elusive thermal. The final straw was a massive shower that moved over NYM and effectively killed the thermals in an even bigger radius and backed the wind so that the ridges became useless.
Matt, Pete, Steve, Gregg, JB and Fred
Here's a question, How do you retrieve 6 gliders with one retriever. Get JB's van and go and fetch the pilots, come back and set off again with with trailers in tow. The upshot being that it was 730pm before Pete and Matt closed the farm gate and started the 8 hour drive north.
De-rigging in the dark
