The first day of the Club open week and it was a lovely day, the sun was shining and a number of members were onsite expecting great things.
The day started slowly with a few member trips in the Eurofox courtesy of Mark Courtney and Simon Leeson, taking place whilst waiting for some indication that the sky was developing and a good time to go. Private Gliders rigged and prepped, and towed to the west end in readiness with growing anticipation.
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| We've waited a while for white puffy clouds (Mike Sloggett) |
Then …. It all started with Ron and Dan Johns 711 and Pete Startup 230 launched and disappearing far afield in a westerly direction. The rest of the of the members with their own gilders Dave Perriam DG1, Mark Layton 477, John Borland FAJ, Stewart Henshall HMS, and Mike Sloggett FUN all lined up. All took flights and all exceeded 2 hour flight times in some lovely conditions into the early evening.
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| View from Eurofox (Stuart Procter) |
711 NH2 Roadford - Culmstock NHL 142kms
"Aborted full task because we wanted a cup of tea ..fabulous convergences " Ron Johns
HMS NHL - Cadbury X - Bridgwater - Axminster - NHL 132 kms
"A day when it took a long time for conditions over the Blackdowns to get going. I mistakenly chose to start downwind to Cadbury Cross but all the energy was to the South, CCX was in a big gap. Attempting to get there directly nearly got me in trouble. A diversion to the energy line to the South did eventually fix it, but any hopes of speed were dashed. Then a long trip upwind to Bridgewater with surprising good energy lines in places. Probably should have started back the same way as it was patchy going South. A good climb North of Axminster (where I met Pete S coming back from Salisbury) put me on final glide, which of course meant I then found the best thermal of the day near Honiton. It was too good to refuse so it was taken to ensure a quick romp home. Finally a proper XC day and flight! There should be more days like this.." Stewart Henshall
230 NHL Okehampton - Salisbury NHL 313kms
"Went West first as soon as we saw Cu towards Dartmoor as SS and RASP predicted the first convection that way. They were correct but it was lower and soggier than we'd hoped for and I spent way too much time faffing around OKE instead of getting out of there! Rest was OK but the sky really lit up at Salisbury(the Almighty always delivers a great thermal there), for a nice cruise home." Pete Startup (ed: qualifies for the earliest 300k flight from North Hill, but 20 May must be one of the latest ever!)
FAJ (ed:late entry)
"The thermals were slow to get going over North Hill so it took some time to establish some height then it looked better to the south so I set off round the south of Dunkerswell to the east trying to stay above 3000ft. Turned Chard, but it looked a long hop to go further east so tracked north and turned Taunton. Further East again looked a bit questionable so completed the circle turning Wellington, Cullompton and back to North Hill. Oudie said 95km distance, 76km triangle." John Borland
An excellent first day let’s hope the rest of the week works out the same !!! - Dave Perriam
