Flight

The day started with a steady 8 -11mph wind straight down the E-W runway. While rigging, it quickly became apparent that it would be an interesting day for flying or, worse, flying for the day would be over. It was sweltering hot with a clear blue sky and the wind started to switch around as the sun heated the ground. The general wind direction had switched more SE to S, but at times was switching to NE. I took the first line and launched into a steady S wind, at 90 degrees to the runway. The tow-up was very slow and I barely got to 600ft ATO. The ride back to launch was in sinking air and I barely made it back. Two other pilots followed me with a similar flight back to launch. The second flight again much the same, back to launch in no time. By this time streets of wave clouds had started to form 90 degrees to the general wind direction. Clipped in for 3rd flight and decided to fly toward the farm to the south of the launch. The sink wasn't as bad this time and I gradually found some weak lift. I persisted with the weak lift and was slowly going up, drifting toward Mendlesham mobile tower. The tower was getting closer and looking like I didn't have enough height to clear it. I was determined not to lose the thermal and remained focused on flying, and not the tower. I eventually cleared the tower but not by much height. Drift and, climbing was slow but the lift was relatively consistent. As I climbed nearer to cloud-base lift became more broken and turbulent. Over Mendlesham village at around 3000ft, I went on a glide but found nothing but sinking air. North of Bacton village, I hit some lifting bubbling air. The cores were small and I was struggling to maintain height. I stuck with it for about 8 minutes and was getting closer to the high-voltage pylons. The field behind the pylons had hay bales scattered all over, so decided the best option was to land in the cropped field in front of the pylons.