Day after Task Week!
Amongst the first to rouse were Andrew and Philippa Mugleston, visiting family locally. A former member and club stalwart, Muggles helped unpack the hanger and get things going. With a gentle Southerly wind a relief from the previous gales, the field was set up with both winch and aerotow. Stirling Melhuish took to the winch and CFI Stu after doing the first tow handed in to Simon “bone dome” Jordy.
The Junior staying up encouraged the Muglestons to take the K21 and a launch line developed. Pegasus, Open Cirrus, Duo and Eagle were all out. Brentor’s Richard Roberts attempting a flight home after yesterday’s outlanding at NH, needed a relight tow and this highlighted that actually it was trickier soaring than the clouds suggested.
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| Heading off to Cornwall (Nick Jones) |
Nevertheless DD3 headed off west with Phil Morrison and Nick Jones and worked it’s way to Barnstaple and then Bodmin needing only a short burn on the way home to save the blood pressure. Great views along the N coast of Cornwall by all accounts and judging by Phil’s quietness later, very tiring with climbs that were never consistent and not very high.
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| Davidstow airfield (Nick Jones) |
Local soaring in the Eagle with JP was Dan Hender who ticked off some firsts with nearly 5 hrs and having to deal with a full bladder! Better cushions and bigger pee bags next time... A meander round some local TPs should give him something to put on the ladder so well done Dan.
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| Dan enjoying the Blue Eagle with JP (John Pursey) |
A good day but not brilliant locally with achieved average climb rates never really as high as it felt they should be. Some convergence effects across the Blackdowns kept the sky better behaved in a small area but not enough to encourage distant travel for those with trailers still at the “project” stage.
A reasonable end to an unfortunately disrupted task week. Fingers crossed for early September and a jetstream that has moved. - JP
