WWGC 2022 - The excitement is building!

 Saturday 6 August 2022

Arrived safely and rigged the glider to make sure I had everything required for the Women's World Gliding Competition.

I wasn't initially planning on flying today, but the weather was looking particularly good, and Ayala (fellow GB Team Member) and Jeremy (GB Team Captain), were already rigged and planning flights.

The flags were up and flying as I entered the Clubhouse for the morning's unofficial briefing - a lovely sight.  It was wonderful to meet the one other female who also took part, along with myself, in the Women's European Championships in 1991 at Husbands Bosworth; she has travelled all the way from Ukraine to take part!

I quickly drew the same task on the map that Ayala suggested and was launched a good 45 minutes after Ayala and team mate Fran had already headed out in their LS8s on their way to the first area of the task.

I found the conditions particularly good on the first leg with 4 -5 knot thermals to 4500ft under cumulus cloud.  I flew to the end of the sector then turned along a street towards the second sector, and ahead I could see there were very few clouds to mark the thermals. I turned in the sector close to Downham Market, then headed West into sun, making sure I stayed clear of the Chatteris parachute zone.  

From there, I just kept the wings level and gently climbed in the areas of lift.  I couldn't resist one climb of 6 -7 knots though, which certainly guaranteed the final glide home.

JS3 802 rigged and ready

A rather hurriedly drawn route on the map for a 2 hour AAT (Naseby West - Osbournby - March - HB East - Husbands Bosworth.

Blue skies and blue water - Over Rutland Water
I completed 241Km at 112Kph

Back home safely, glider cleaned and covers on ready for whatever tomorrow brings





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