COMP DAY 4....and the wind blew.
The clearing (supposedly) front had
left a soaked camp site and uninspiring skies but the brief was upbeat
unless the prospect of 30kt winds put you off. Gridding
duly happened but the local sky was resolutely dogged by the back of
the frontal cloud.
 |
| Gridding (JP) |
Team 711 decided that the thermals wouldn't be ASH
sized and went to York looking for treasure with young Georgia.
Justin
Wills popped into see Nick and admired the Eagle
as she sat pegged and trestled under an increasingly lively looking
sky. The decision was made to launch and the front row of wood was
depleted as the T21 and a Capstan decided it was all too lively.
And so
it was...a two handed job on aerotow through what
felt like extreme rotor. Dropped in sink JP and Nick had to burn half
their height going into wind to find a useable thermal. I say useable
but it was shredded and constantly changing. The extra layer put on to
keep warm on the ground seemed like a bad idea
as sweat poured off during the ensuing wrestle.
Back at launch height
but further downwind than being dropped highlighted the challenge of the
upwind task...Never the less the Eagle started and despite the cloud
looking like a street it just wasn't playing
the game and a repeat saw tooth cycle of push forward, sink, then climb
reversing back down course.
At this point the glider driver and the Master Mariner in the back both concluded that JB had entered the first
TP GO2 (entered by hand) some 30km off its true
location! Luck favoured the brave when a good climb was followed by a
good energy line vaguely on track. The Master Mariner agreed on the
river to follow and Goole hoved into sight. Not knowing the exact TP
hurt when trying to clear the furthest motorway jnc
to be sure rain ended the flight.
 |
| Colour co-ordinated stubble field (JP) |
Two police men and a press
photographer were quickly on hand to interview the crew. The best 4x4 by
far was needed as the trailer sank into the very soft, soggy stubble
field. Hopefully a best wood day for BBB and may be even
in a podium overall.- JP
