"An ill wind blows no good" (or "Patience rewarded")
After yesterday's disappointing weather, it was somewhat surprising that with a reasonable forecast, and the potential for the West ridge to be working if the wind was as predicted, that there were not more members at the Club at the start of the day.
With the wind much stronger and more Northerly than forecast much consideration was given to whether to set the field up and get gliders out of the hangar or to wait for the wind to all being well abate and/or change direction.
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| LPV windsock horizontal (Mike Sl) |
With optimism that the wind would become more
helpful as the morning progressed the launch point was set up in the
South East corner of the field whilst both K21s were taken out of the
hangar and parked carefully at the launch point.
After a weather check flight it was decided that on the balance of "risk v reward" the gliders would be better on the ground than being launched - after the K21s had been left with a suitable quantity of tyres and parked vehicles to provide some protection from the gusting wind, hot drinks and brunch were soon being ordered
And then it became a question of whether members' patience would run out before the wind reduced in strength and level of gusts. With much looking out of the clubhouse windows an early lunch was called for...
And then the wind reduced in strength and levels of gust to the extent that the second launch of the day was soon underway and then the third and then the fourth...and by late afternoon everyone had flown.Whilst the flights were not particularly long (the longest flight of the day was 10 minutes) the afternoon provided the opportunity for members to fly in the Blue Card conditions including Mark C completing further work with Matthew on his BI training.
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| Wave clouds - so near yet so far (Mark C) |
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| Another sunset behind the beech trees (Mike Sl) |
Whilst some of us were having fun in the sun Ian M, Stu and James worked away in the tug hangar finishing off the work on the Pawnee. - Mike Sl
