| Flight details: | The forecast was for light and variable winds to start but becoming SW after around midday.
I think there were pilots at most sites but I opted for the Dyke as it's closest. The general plan was to get high, stay high and then wait for the SW'ly and go for a short XC and be back home for 3:30pm in time to get to work later :-(
Hugh Miller was climbing out nicely at about 10am when I got there so didn't hang about getting ready. The wind was pretty light and off to the N - NNE. It looked like people were having more success in the bowl on the NE facing slope. Waited for a cycle then headed over and climbed out with Kevin. Got nice and high and then decided to head over to Truleigh as the wind was very light and I thought I'd try a triangle instead. Got drilled over the woods in front of Truleigh (sea air coming round from Shoreham I think) and got back to the ridge too low to climb out and landed in Nigel's training field.
Climbed up to the top and waited in the nil wind for a cycle to get off. Luckily timed it right and joined a rook in a thermal that took me to 3500' amsl and the base of the sea breeze front. Decided just to have a play with it and drift back towards the Dyke and then follow it round towards the A23. Had to pull out of very strong lift over the A23 (3500 airspace ceiling). The SBF had come in over the Dyke so headed west along it back to Small Dole to try and complete the triangle. Played in the climbs on the edge of the front and then got below ridge height in front of Truleigh. Drifted back with some rough climbs towards the better clouds inland and over Singing Hills Golf Club. Was getting pretty cold so headed back to the Dyke but got drilled in the sea air. Got one little climb that got me back into the bottom landing field where Craig very kindly picked me up from.
A good day but SW'ly never came in so a triangle seemed the better option but was made harder by the 3500ft ceiling and the SBF coming in so strong.
Driving to work about 5pm |
