The early birds had got the kit out ready following the optimistic forecast from Pete. It was soarable by 10:30 although the bases were still a little low. John Davis was top of the flying list and had 3 flights with Pete before being asked if he would like to do another.... Congratulations John on your first solo.
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| Congratulations John |
Meanwhile with an empty launch point, the private owners formed a large grid, but with variable success at getting away, and some taking several attempts.
Nice sky - private owners grid (Stewart Henshall)
Training flights continued all day by Chris and Pete with a short break for lunch, Chris attempted a short cross-country with Shaun Dayman in K21, but cut it short just past Exeter when the clouds got too far apart. Robert Lee and Pete Harmer looked after the Trial lesson visitors who both enjoyed their flights.
And the Lads were celebrating finishing their exams and being available to glide all summer.
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| Charlie Broderick, Josh Batchelor and Dan Hender (Jill Harmer) |
Cross-countries
230
NH2 - OKEHAMPTON EAST - BLANDFORD - NH2 258kms
"Messy day - messy task setting and at times a messy sky! Originally task was Okehampton-Fordingbridge for 300 but wary of potential gotchas in the forecast, we decided by committee on the fallback task Okehampton-Cerne Abbas for 200-ish. The run round OKE and to CER was ok with a bit of scrappy convergence in evidence - in fact quite quick given the fairly low cloudbase. But then I thought the sky looked ok beyond CER and decided to carry on with the original task to FOR but on reaching Blandford the sky further East looked decidedly uninviting(b awful), so I turned Blandford and had a nice run home. The best conditions today were around North Hill but task setting away from there was tricky - with hindsight task setting we could have squeezed a 300 out of it. I should add that there were some cracking climbs around and not always where you'd expect them. Another day of what-ifs but an enjoyable flight with a few of the NH Nomads in hot pursuit." Pete Startup
W7
NH2 - OKEHAMPTON EAST - CERNE ABBAS - NH2 211kms
"Another cross country attempt with a cloud base less than optimal. Conditions were good when I could centre in a thermal, otherwise was a bit challenging. Got mixed up in some convergence near the coast which was very messy , and I had to abandon and run inland to more conventional climbs. Relieved to get back. " Wyn Davies
M
NH2 - OKEHAMPTON EAST - CERNE ABBAS - NH2 154kms
"Set off from NHL with about a 3000ft cloud base which lowered on approaching Okehampton and the thermals didn’t seem quits so good. Things improved on the second leg until I was approaching Chard where I didn’t seem to be able to find any good climbs so decided to cut my losses and returned to NHL." Andy Davey
JDP
NH2 - OKEHAMPTON EAST - AXMINSTER - NHL 135kms
no words again - Dan Hender
HMS
NH2 - DULVERTON - CULMSTOCK - WIMBLEBALL - NHL 100kms
"Finally a flight to start the season! A modest 100k but to some TPs that had proved hard to reach before - DUL and WIM, out in the blue today.. Nice to complete it, even if not very quick. Took a trip to KNO later with half an eye on a club 100 but conditions to the South looked poor, so just ambled back to NHL and numerous local TPs with a number of club gliders. Great to get out and about!" Stewart Henshall
