A shout out on the WhatsApp group and Google Groups for a good soaring day only garnered interest from just 2 participents, 230 and DD3, and with Ian Mitchell offering to tow once he had finished some scheduled maintenance on the Pawnee.
Task decided on was an out and return to Wantage, 307km to take advantage of the fact that it's possible to get across the Somerset Levels in the light North Easterly wind direction and avoid any possible problems caused by sea air from the South in the afternoon.
Started well at 3000' agl but by the time we got to Shepton Mallett we were down to 2500' agl which progressively got even lower. Spent the next 2 hours working a height band between 2000' and 3000' agl - you get quite used to it after a while! The only thing that kept me going was hearing a glider ask another what the conditions were like in the area and the reply was 'It's low, bluing out and the climbs are feeble - but quite consistent'! I eventually rounded Wantage (where there's a Sea Venom on a pole on a roundabout - yep, that low), and back to Keevil. Somebody there switched on the Maxi thermals and from there back it was a real blast, 93km at 90kph.
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| Glastonbury after the party(JB) |
JB and Stirling in DD3 got as far as Melksham and decided to return to Devon given the poor looking conditions ahead(probably the sensible option but partly my fault as I said I may turn Devizes and return but didn't update them that I'd decided to carry on after hearing the message above -sorry guys). But they then had a fine old time exploring sea breeze convergence along the South coast.
Later on one of Chairman Nick's colleagues from Supacat got a chance to sample flying in sea air convergences with JB which he really enjoyed and I hope we'll see him back again.
A good ad-hoc day but where was everybody? The Summer's disappearing fast and there are Silver distances and durations to be done! I know it was late shout but you need to be time flexible to make the most of the UK Summer. - Pete S
