The forecast was for a changeable gusty day with rain showers and that was what we got, although the wind strength was less than expected. Everything was readied early as the plan was to get everyone flown before the rain arrived, we almost made it but four unlucky people unfortunately didn't get to fly.
The Thursday regulars surprised themselves as the first few launches were before 10 am giving reduced launch fees! Flights were slightly extended up to 11 minutes and quick turnarounds were achieved thanks to the junior members willingness to retrieve the gliders without delay. As the first lot of rain fast approached from the South West, Paul Summers (solo in the K21) had to cut short his potential longest flight of the day as he air braked and side slipped down from 2000ft as he attempted to beat it back to the airfield.
The morning showed promise (Mark Layton)
With an enforced early lunch and much gazing out the clubhouse house windows to determine if we should restart to fly or not. Even the combined gliding experience of about 500 years (a rough guesstimate) of those present, couldn't work it out. After one failed attempt to restart it was decided to pack everything away in the dry before we all got soaked in the next rain shower. 
Interesting cloudscapes (David Clements)
The lucky few got to keep current but unfortunately some didn't get the chance, but that's gliding for you!Thank you to everyone for helping others to get into the air today, particularly those members who did not fly. - Mark Layton & Mike Sloggett
Lily and Benjie supervised by JB in the DSGC Simulator (Richard Lean)
Once the flying was called off for the day, Lily, Benjie, Arthur and Francesco decided to put into practice some of the theory about spinning that JB had gone through earlier in the day. As well as spin recovery, and practicing different scenarios it could occur in - they also did some launch failures and practised the recovery as you would in today's wind direction and conditions. It was a very fun and useful session in the simulator; it was ended with a few celebratory aerobatic demonstrations by Benjie! - Lily Sanders-Page
