WWGC Monday 8 August 2022 - Non-Official Practice Day

 WWGC 8 August 2022

Well, today didn't turn out to be a rest day at all.  In the end, I found myself talking on camera to a BBC South News Reporter (Joe Campbell), being filmed taking my glider to the grid and launching behind the tug!

In between, I attended the morning briefing, planned my own task, programmed the glider and various other instruments and readied myself.  With cumulus cloud clearly developing which was a vast improvement on yesterday, I decided to attempt a 300Km racing task - Naseby East - Grantham - Westcott - Lyveden - Lutterworth - Husbands Bosworth.  

The weather was perfect - I took one climb to cloud base of 3800ft above the airfield and started the task. The visibility was brilliant and I found climbs of 3-5 knots beneath the clouds to Grantham.  I turned that TP and all of the TPs at my lowest points for some reason, it wasn't planned that way, however it didn't affect the speed of the overall task which I completed at 101Km/h.


Today's declared task.


Rutland Water on the left hand side of this photo, a a good solid amount of cumulus cloud at around 4500ft


I took this photo, because this was the only bit of green land I saw on the whole flight in the middle and right hand side of the picture, and the dark coloured fields are broad beans which appeared t hold more heat and produce better thermals.


View forward from the cockpit of the JS3


This was at 19:00 in the evening showing that the thermals were still going strong.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sunday 14 August 2022 - WWGC Day 1

Image
Sunday 14 August 2022 - WWGC 2022 - Day 1   Definitely excited 😀 The weather forecast for today was incredible - Hot - up to 30C, cloud base across England and Wales up to 10,000 feet - unheard of in the UK! The organisation set a 3:30 hour Areas Assigned Task (AAT) which is a speed task to cover as much ground in the defined areas within the 3:30 hours for the 18m Class:- NAW-Naseby West - CWA-Chipping Warden - CIN-Cinderford - BUG-Burley Gate - CHN-Chipping Norton - NOS-Northampton South - RNE-Rugby Northeast - HBX-HB Finish I was launched behind the mighty Wilga tug to 2000 feet and 'waved off'.  I immediately contacted a thermal and quickly climbed to over 5000 feet in 5 knots.  I was waiting for the Start to be opened, when Steve called me on the radio to say that my FLARM had stopped working about 15 minutes previously.  Sure enough, when I checked my main instrument, the LX9000, it had no GPS information.  A few minutes ensued before I could think throug...
Read more

Friday 12 August 2022 - Official Practice Day

Image
Friday 12 August 2022 - (Glorious 12th!) Unofficial Practice Day It dawned another beautiful, clear and hot blue day again.   Knowing that we have the Opening Ceremony tomorrow and that we would be unable to fly, I decided that I would fly the practice task today. Today's set task was a 201Km Racing Task with a PEV start.  I placed the JS3 on the grid and prepared to launch. It was a cracking fight even though it was predominantly blue, on occasions, there were wisps of clouds which meant finding thermals relatively easy.  The task was purposely under-set to ensure that everyone made it home in time for the mandatory safety briefing that evening. I made it around the task at 96Kph, and the day 'winner' completed it at 122Kph, so I need to make sure I step up the speed somewhat during the competition proper! There was a briefing during Friday evening covering most of the points we had already been informed about, but also covering safety aspects.   Mandy, th...
Read more

Thursday 11 August 2022 - Official Practice Day

Image
Thursday 11 August Yesterday was a very hot day with relatively low level thermals in the blue, and not many took the opportunity to fly on the first official training day.  Although I spent time getting the glider ready, I also elected not to fly. Today's forecast was a little better with thermals predicted to be at around 5000ft.  A racing task of 211.4Km was declared for the 18M Class - HB Start East - St Neots - Swalcliffe - Northampton South - Rugby Northeast - HB Finish Ring. I attended briefing and programmed the Oudie and then had to take the glider for Scrutineering which covers multiple checks on the glider as well as documentation. Here the glider is being weighed to ensure that the glider fully ballasted does not exceed the specified reference mass.  It also had the wingspan checked,  instruments inspected and cockpit contents verified.  I too was weighed along with clothing and belongings that I would normally take on every flight.  Everything ...
Read more