A few more instructors took advantage of the Instructor Recency flights this morning before the rain arrived, thanks to the local helpers for running the field.
Condor Racing
The sky was a brilliant blue with white puffy clouds in Condor (as usual), The 189kms task set by Stewart was a downwind dash from Lands End to North Hill via Bodmin. There was a reasonable northwesterly wind and variable thermals and all the normal airspace with Dartmoor danger areas active.
The Sunday team was a little depleted today with some on family duties but 6 +spectators lined up for an aerotow out over the Atlantic Ocean. Not long after the start a couple of technical glitches meant that Pete completed in stealth mode, Mike restarted completely and Geoff had a battery failure of Quest.
The Cornish peninsular gives striking scenery and very easy to navigate with sea fairly close on both sides. There was only an odd cloud at the start so close to the sea, so some pressed on quickly, while others milled around a bit.
The conditions were variable (just like for real) with some getting good climbs to cloudbase and others missing the cores and struggling to get up into the working band. Passing the claypits at St Austell decisions on whether to go north or south of Dartmoor were being stated.
It just depended on timing as to which route looked the most tempting and so the field was split although upwind would normally be the choice. Final glide was straightforward with a minimum of 2000ft at Hembury Hill set, but plenty of clouds to route via.
Nice task - great scenery and good company for those waiting to get back to the real thing.
In the evening Stewart and Dan competed in a 250kms AAT in the Alps for Race #20 of the Condor World Cup, AATs are tricky at the best of times, both achieved more than 800points so still well-placed in the top section of the leaderboard with 4 more races in total (best 17 count) - J&P
