| Flight details: | First flight at 10.30 very lifty and just as expected. Potentially rather too lively for me and decided to land. Packed up then collected a couple of pilots from the bottom. Arriving back at take off conditions seemed very different with fewer ominous dark clouds and the possibility of another flight.
The second flight was a lot better. Good climbs to be had but still very dark to the north. Keeping an eye on development I found myself in a good climb with 2 others above Poynings. At slightly over 2200' the route east looked quite good with more or less open skies on a line direct to Lewes while the Ditchling ridge to the north looked more daunting with high banking cloud. I reckoned if I stayed a little to the south I could take advantage of the long bank of cloud which had begun to work in a similar way to the sea breeze front but in reverse. It worked well and keeping out of harms way and the possibility of an impending gust front coming in from the north, I continued east. The cropped fields worked well in the sunshine, the lift was good and none too threatening. I had hoped for Lewes but landed short, beside the petrol station, opposite the Newmarket Inn on the A27 where Grita picked me up on the way home. An enjoyable flight in a very active looking sky and thankfully nothing too exciting! |
