The sun came out first thing, but didn’t bring the warmth with it! So in chilli? conditions the gliders were taken out and the airfield set up, with the handful of ever hopeful members who turned up!
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| Crystal clear skies over Devon (Stuart Procter) |
The launch rate was slow due to challenging conditions, and problems with the winch. But good use was made of the time in between, with Josh Funnell giving Jayden Pavy-Errington a thorough safety briefing.
Most flights averaged 5 mins, until Ruth Comer took her turn with Peter Smith, and she then set the bar high with a 16 min and 18 min flight!! The instructors, Stuart Procter, Simon Minson and James Flory then all had a go, but still couldn’t manage more than 8mins!
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| Cheryl's first flight for 8 years (Rowan Smith) |
The only one who came close was Cheryl Smith in her booked training slot with Mark Courtney, with 13 mins, welcome back to gliding Cheryl, girl power!!!!!!! With so few wanting to fly everything was packed away by 3:30pm. Thank you to the Juniors for helping on the airfield and not even getting a flight, especially Dan Hender who winched all day. - Logger blogger Sally Hender!!
Denbigh
Day 1 of the Autumn 2020 Denbigh expedition and it was the usual, “you should have been here last week” messsge from the locals! Chris Gill did his briefing outside in the car park to a socially respectful set of visitors but there was not much to cheer. A northerly with convection but not what was ordered really with scant local ridge soaring opportunities. Pete S in 230 was the first NHL team member off whilst the rest of us took on board tea and biscuits and watched the very first glider launched struggle.
In a moment of rashness I asked Chris G about the hills at the bottom of the valley near the Llantysilio club. He assured me they were amazing and would work a treat so a plan was hatched for a one way trip for the Blue Eagle. Following the Duo into the sky, the Eagle towed south and fully committed to a run to the hills up to the Horse Shoe Pass. On arrival they had none of the obvious steepness of the hills up the valley and Ben and I struggled until a consistent run up and down a lower but steep set of hills allowed establishment of a base camp within striking range of the Llantysilio club. News was in that the Duo with Phil and Nick was back on the ground at Lleweni, Pete and JB was wearing a groove in 50 metres of the Bodfari pass slope so the game was on to stay up.
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| The Eagle heading south (John Pursey) |
As a sign of the times and the benefit of flying a 2 seater, Google had already produced the local club phone number and a text conversation was under way about the best bit of the ridge!
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| Blue Eagle and refurbished trailer (John Pursey) |
Several hours later AXJ arrived into the NWGC field with the trailer enroute. The locals were very friendly having packed up because it was a little sporty but waiting to see the arrival of the blue visitor.
For those not minding a retrieve, the north facing Llantysilio ridge is an interesting option for Denbigh expeditions faced with a northerly. Not as epic as the aerotow selling Chris G would have you believe but at least it gave us ridge soaring on Day 1. - John Pursey
Condor Racing
Following another successful exploration on Friday afternoon - this time - the mountain area near Lake Garda. Stewart Henshall with a new slant on 'Lead and Follow' with Dan Hender and David Clements, the next Sunday evening race is planned for a ridge task at the Long Mynd. Trailers ready! Join us if you can. - J&P
