Matt put out a call for "epicness" for Friday earlier in the week, and a total of 13 gliders lined up for aerotows on our first "ad-hoc flying day" this year - a new concept to open the Club on good soaring days. The strong north westerly wind was forecast to ease, but it actually stayed at about 13 knots at flying heights throughout the day. Cloudbases to the east were 5000 ft but at Molton was down to 2500 ft. The sky was continually changing with streets forming and thermal strengths up to 8 knots average but similar amounts of sink.
Ron and Phil in ASH25 (711) were the first to launch just before 1200, Ron had wanted to circumnavigate Dartmoor for a long time and thought that today (although not perfect) might provide the right conditions. They completed NHL - Okehampton - Ivybridge - Dorchester- NHL, dawdling a little over Exmouth and the Exe estuary whilst Phil was surveying his house and boat from the air. 263 km.
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| Dartmoor Prison |
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| Burrator Reservoir |
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| Looking for Phil's boat |
Matt in ASW20 (M5) and JB in Ventus set off to Dorchester and turned South Molton and Cerne Abbas for 320 km, Matt tried to convince everyone that there was a convergence on the south coast, but ended up with a very low save on a ridge near Chard disturbing two buzzards in the hedge who showed him where the thermal was.
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| M5 arriving back - beautiful sky still! |
Pete St, Discus (230), completed Dorchester - South Molton 210 km but didn't fancy any more head wind.
James flew DG505 (JZK) solo and completed Dorchester - Tiverton 158 km and this is the first cross-country that James has got back home claiming his 100km Diploma.
Congratulations to Paul S who flew Cirrus 477 and completed an out and return to Dorset Club at Eyres Field for 150 km and had to work hard driving the empty Cirrus back into wind but achieved Silver Distance and 100 km Diploma.
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| Well done Paul |
Congratulations to Adrian P who flew Std Jantar FDX landing near Cerne Abbas after turning Dorchester 81 km for Silver Distance and first field landing.
Tom in DG100 (DG1), fresh from completing his Silver distance two weeks ago, attempted another 100 km flight but landed near Beaminster for his first field landing.
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| Well done Adrian |
Roly in Kestrel (523) completed the Club 100 Tiverton - Yeovil to claim his 100 km diploma (strangely after his 300 km).
Pete and Jill in Duo Discus (OL) (taking off two hours after Ron) decided to go upwind first turning South Molton and Dorchester, and completed their fastest cross-country for a long while 219kms at 88.8 km/h.
Meanwhile Eric LS7 (194) , Jeff T with Mosquito (380) first outing for a year, Peter Sm Lak19 (1UP) running multiple engine checks all stayed local.
A great day out and lots of achievements- thanks to all our helpers Mark C for tugging, Dave C and Malcolm V for wing running and retrieves. - Here's to the next "Ad-Hoc day".
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| Logger traces of a Jolly Fine Wheeze |
