Wednesday 21st May - Task Week

Another brilliant Wednesday  with four two-seaters out and both Juniors, they were quickly walked up to the northwest corner.

Ron and his cross-country week pilots were quick off the mark as well and assembled at the West aerotow point in anticipation of a good day.

The thermals were soon forming but it was difficult to get away from a winch launch, but all the aerotows got away without difficulty.

As the day progressed it became easier to get away from a winch launch, those who did soar were rewarded with a cloud base of over 4,000ft with very strong thermals and cloud streets.

Well done to Vince who converted to the Junior and had a flight of over an hour and sniffed the air at over 4,000ft on his first flight in it. - JSt

Having set three tasks, NHL- SAS - WHD -NHL 300km, NHL- SAL - NHL 200km, NHL SHB - NHL 100km, Ron the Tasksetter beat a hasty retreat (well he had to go to work anyway). There were 15 gliders lining up to go on task. So with a forecast for rapidly encroaching thick top cover from the south east, the early launchers got going heading east to Salisbury first. The later launchers decided to reverse the task as the sea air had started coming in from the south coast and there was a concern that it might wipe out Whiddon Down later. 

Thick cirrus over Salisbury, sea air at Whiddon Down

 Those heading east ran into the weaker conditions under the top cover at Sherborne. Pete St Discus 230, and Wyn in LS7 W7 persevered with some low saves and rounded Salisbury South and made it round Whiddon Down as well. Rowan and Nick R in DG505 JZK and Jack T (Mendip) Kestrel 19 turned just short of Salisbury to run back home.  

Congratulations to Wyn for completing his first 300km Gold distance and Diamond Goal.

Those going west first, had an easy run to Whiddon Down and back to Yeovil where they met the poorer conditions. Matt in ASW24 M5 and JB in Ventus both struggled just short of Salisbury, Matt struggled back, but JB had to use the engine near Henstridge to get back to the good air. 

Martin W in LS3 KMV decided to do a double O/R to Whiddon Down  for 176km. Pete and Jill in DuoDiscus OL, followed the energy from Whiddon Down to Yeovil and then back to Molton and Eggesford under some brilliant streets / convergences with 10 knots up to 5000ft at times for 270 km.

Mark L in Cirrus 477 after setting himself his Silver distance task, he ended up with 185km triangle Whiddon Down - Yeovil achieving his 100km diploma (Part 1)in the process. Congratulations to Mark for completing his Silver badge.

Phil M in ASW20 611 had a late start after trailer fettling, made up a task to see the jolly giant at Cerne Abbas and Sturminster Newton and Tiverton for 173km. Chris H in Libelle CLM completed Shaftesbury and Tiverton East for 170 km. Nick H in ASW20 LH  nearly completed O/R to Sherborne, by turning abeam the TP for 106km.

Ruth had her second flight in K6 and enjoyed 1:30 local soaring.

Well done Ron, and thanks to Robert and Pete W for tugging.

12 SeeYou traces posted on the BGA ladder (out of 50 for the day)