A small, but eager group of members were at the Club bright and early, no
doubt encouraged both by the promising weather forecast for the morning
and also hoping to fly before the potential poorer weather forecast for
the afternoon. The launch point was set up in the North East
corner of the field and with the wind already brisk and forecast to
strengthen during the day daily inspections were completed on just the
K21s which were soon being walked across to enable flying to start.
 |
| Clear blue sky to start (Mike Sl) |
Under
a blue sky full of potential promise there was synergy in the form of a
Blue Card rating based on the anticipated "interesting" approach over
the Eastern end of the field. As the morning progressed the
flying list was gradually worked through - although the sky provided
some tantalising glimpses of wave bars and cumulus to the West of the
field either there was none close to the Club or the pilots were not
good enough to find it. The wind strength and direction provided some
weak lift along parts of the South ridge but not enough for anything
other than extended circuits to be achieved.
 |
| A few clouds appearing (Mike Sl) |
Then just around
lunchtime thermals became more evident and with what seemed to be weak
wave just off the Western end of the field the best flights of the day
were completed - John St and Martin B achieving just over an hour before
deciding to come down for lunch.
 |
| Some wave bars to the west (Mike Sl) |
With not enough members to keep
flying through lunch the gliders were carefully parked and food/drink
consumed to recharge everyone's batteries. By the time lunch was
over the sky had changed to a rather gloomy overcast grey as the
predicted front had moved over the field very quickly.
 |
| Sky has turned grey (Mike Sl) |
So it was
an afternoon of circuits and an opportunity for pilots to continue
practicing their approaches and landings in the 'interesting' wind
condition. During the afternoon Henry flew K6CR (HEB) for an extended circuit.
As
the afternoon went by the wind gradually abated and then just as it
seemed that the flying list would be completed a rope break together
with some light rain determined that it was time to put the toys away
for the day.
With the rope in question showing distinct signs of
'wear and tear', and with the first course week of the year imminent,
John St and James led a team who replaced a large length of the existing
launch rope with three new rolls of brand new rope.
A day of uneventful flying for which the statistics tell the story of the day's flying more simply than the above words.
22 flights all winch (21 dual, 1 solo), 21 flights less than 30 mins with just 1 flight of over an hour. - Mike Sl
