13 Logbook 2013

Date

Pilot

From

Task or Route

T/O

Land

Time

Kms

IGC

Pics

01-Jan

566

Rob

R Colbeck

Kiripotib

Golschau-Kamelduin-Kreub-Kalkrand

11:23

18:39

7:16

1023

The day itself was quite similar to Dec 31st. but the showers a bit more widespread. We did get some fast runs mainly running the shelf in front of thunderstorms and were lucky at the end to find a route through the middle which gave us the kilometres and allowing an early finish. Just as well because half hour after landing the worst storm we’ve had since I’ve been here erupted overhead with some spectacular thunder and lightning. The wind also swung from a benign Easterly that we had for landing to a 30kt gusting Westerly. One glider had to make an approach in these conditions and Roger captured it perfectly just before touchdown. For the flight itself we did 1023km at 147kph. (Any slower we would not have done the distance or ended up landing in the thunderstorm!)

03-Jan

567

Rob

R Colbeck

Kiripotib

Droeplass-Reheboth-R3-Reheboth

11:10

18:38

7:28

764

Messy because the weather was not obvious what it was doing, messy because I couldn’t make up my mind which way to go, even the cloud we came across seemed to be telling us we were going the wrong way. In the event we struggled to thermal at all at the beginning then having chosen SE, we found ourselves with lowering cloudbase, when it subsided to 8000′ asl we headed NW. By Pokweni it was blue ahead but showing signs of spawning a few high based cu. This gave us route to the SW but the thermals were still ratty but at least we were a long way off the deck. Took an early shower!

06-Jan

568

Rob

R Colbeck

Kiripotib

Bush Breaks-Nossob-Morester

10:40

18:43

8:03

913

The briefing this morning was full of great promise including “probably the best day of the season”, needless to say it was OK but not terrific. In fact we had a very good area but it was rather too small for the likes of high performance gliders. The initial route took us to the NE, we found good conditions when we reached the cu 60km down track (13,000′ cloud base) as we proceeded further the cloud base dropped until we could stand it no more and did a U turn. Back to Kiripotib, then a nice route to the SE, this took us to the Botswana border, beyond which, few cu and those with rather low bases. Back to Kiripotib once more and a delightful 70km of running which we did twice. So having run out of further ideas we landed early to taste the beer. (which I’d been deprived of for the last two days of course)

07-Jan

569

Rob

R Colbeck

Kiripotib

Kreub-Aus-Gollschau-Giant

11:11

19:12

8:01

1174

I like it when you take-off, switch off the engine, stow it, whilst continuing to climb at 5kts to 11,000′ then set off never going below oxygen height until final glide. This was one of those days and the pilot was very happy. We did the tourist route of course (full length of the escarpment and back), why not when there was some expectation of the famous Namib convergence working today. It did, but only in places, however, the cloud runs and the 16,000′ cloud base made up for it. Some nice photos today taken not far from Aus in the southern part of the gliding area. We did a reasonable 1175km at a more reasonable 148kph.

2736:35

30-Mar

570

Rob

R Berry

Dunstable

Little Rissington O/R

13:54

16:47

2:53

176

Dribbled out to the West, with a strong NE wind, then back in to lowering cloud base. Something from nothing really.

2739:28

31-Mar

571

Steve

S Astley

Dunstable

Ashbury-Pendock

09:19

12:57

3:38

288

Nice early start to reasonable conditions, which slowly clagged over as we got out west, causing us to abandon near the Malverns. Some variable conditions after that with a few surprising good climbs on the sunny side of clag. Stefan Astley was my excellent P2.

2743:06

03-Apr

572

Rob

J Rose

Dunstable

Bedford-Frome-St Neots

11:43

16:21

4:38

420

Excellent air and high cloud base. Recorded 11% circling with some very long runs. The thermals we did stop for were remarkably strong. The pain was the subzero temperatures, which won over completing 500km.

2747:44

05-Apr

573

Steve

R Birch

Dunstable

Woburn-Littleport-Swindon North

12:14

16:15

4:01

360

Strong wind, and a narrow workable band with high level cloud to our south and blue to our north, encouraged us to abandon the task and follow the weather. Some great streeting, and good climbs to max 5800' made for a lot of fun. Difficult with the wind around the airspace from Aylesbury, but expertly guided through by Rhoan Birch.

2751:45

06-Apr

574

Steve

C Anderson

Dunstable

Downham Market-Framlingham-Evesham

11:08

16:32

5:24

515

Operational delay to launching reduced the optimum task distance, but at least a start in good conditions. As forecast, much better conditions in E Anglia especially at the 2nd tp. One climb 11 knots there! Good fast running back west until Banbury when it rapidly went blue and weaker. so getting in & out of Evesham demanded caution. Great to complete a declared task at last.

2757:09

19-Apr

575

Steve

V Blaxill

Dunstable

Droitwich O/R

10:48

14:15

3:27

254

Conditions were improving to the west, until it became a confused sky, difficult to read at Droitwich, where we abandoned the declared SHO o/r. Prospect of rain at home encouraged us back too.

2760:36

20-Apr

576

Rob

P Warner

Dunstable

Brecon-Llangollen-Worcester

11:04

17:42

6:38

530

Decided Wales should provide clouds which it duly did, though the Severn crossing with a low cloud base did make me wonder if we doing right thing. In the event the run to North Wales provided some good thermals and 6000' at one point. Final glide with 1000+ at 80k didn't work, broke to Bicester for a climb, cost 10kph!

2767:14

21-Apr

577

T Pridgeon

Dunstable

Docking-Halesworth-Sackville

11:43

16:25

4:42

416

Good run out to Docking with energy lines. Went blue after the TP, Norwich friendly and allowed short cut. Bit low and weak at Halesworth but improved 40k after the turn. 6,200' base and strong lift for the next 50km but met cirrus overcast at Cambridge. Wind picked up from light to 17kts and sky cycled rapidly under the overcast, not a bad final glide eventually.

2771:56

26-Apr

578

Steve

P Rackham

Dunstable

Bradford on Avon O/R

09:48

13:35

3:47

326

Significant showers at Keevil required an engine start, after which we were just dodging more showers

2775:43

03-May

579

Steve

T Hughes

Dunstable

Colsterworth-Bungay-Bedford Bridge

10:07

15:37

5:30

418

Good forecasts from Rasp, Topmeteo & Andy Roch selected a run north initially with some cu, then turning east into the blue. We thought the leg back from Bungay needed to align with the wind, which was helpful. Even more helpful was Tony Hughes picking out the hotspots which generally worked. Back in the cu at Cambridge, where conditions at the end of the flight were better than we had expected.

2781:13

05-May

580

Steve

R Oliver

Dunstable

Cheltenham-Shipston

11:04

14:48

3:44

230

It took ages for cloudbase to get to more than 2000' over DUN, so we hung around. Then went off on an undeclared bimble in the excellent company of Ed Johnston (who had tried to task us to the east!).

2784:57

06-May

581

Steve

Dunstable

Fakenham-Trowbridge

10:03

15:43

5:40

552

Went to the extremities of the weather. was a bit blue at Trowbridge. A day of variable but generally good climbs.

2790:37

07-May

582

C Manning

Dunstable

Menai Strait O/R

11:29

16:09

4:40

581

Nearly didn't bother today as looked like it would be blue and windy. TopMeteo said some clouds to the NW, so declared Menai Straits as wind should be off the land. Blue-ish to start but better clouds as we went NW with a 15kt tailwind. Base 5K with 4kts, bit of a gap downwind of Corwen, went around it then convergence from Snowdon to the TP with 7,000' base. Turned into-wind and only needed one climb of 1,000' at Banbury to get back the 280Km to LGC, the rest was running - rare to experience weather like this in the UK.

2795:17

12-May

583

Steve

R Berry

Dunstable

Grantham O/R

08:45

12:14

3:29

236

Ryan Berry's 3003rd flight, so we declared 300.3k. Unable to reach our first TP due to pre-frontal high level cloud, so took a burn before the return leg just ahead of the real front.

2798:46

16-May

584

I Reekie

Dunstable

Chard-Gloucester South-Bangor on Dee

10:03

17:15

7:12

671

Forecasts looked showery but dewpoints reasonably low. Decided to go into the area that was forecast to go foom first, not a bad run down, wouldn't have wanted to go much further W as base went right down. Bristol very accommodating, let us across the ILS between airliners - bit of moist air up the Severn then a good run to about 80Km from BAG where it became obvious that a huge shower had wiped out a large area and created a sort of inland (pseudo-) sea breeze front. Ran until abeam the TP then max glide in and out and just connected with the lift again. Fairly straightforward after that but the clouds that had held off for most of the day all decided to become cunims.

25-May

585

Steve

E Tillett

Dunstable

Burn O/R

09:51

14:46

4:55

433

Choice of task was either north or west, and we chose north. It never really got going, and after a slow period with Doncaster (they had a 737 movement!), it blued out completely, and we abandoned at Burn.

27-May

586

Steve

A Harrison

Dunstable

Westcott-Fakenham

09:57

14:48

4:51

308

Windy SW, was due to improve to the east, which it did later than when we were there! En route Cromer Pier, we lit up in the circuit at Little Snoring for a slog into wind to 7k', and then glide to reach cumulus in the Littleport area.

31-May

587

Steve

M Buckland

Dunstable

Upwood-Ollerton-Lyvedon

11:03

15:41

4:38

331

My slowest 300?! Very low damp bases until Upwood, then slowly improving until a big blue hole past Newark. A couple of good climbs southbound after Saltby and a long careful final glide under medium layer cloud.

02-Jun

588

Steve

T Rose

Dunstable

Ripon-Melton Mast-Gainsborough

09:17

18:03

8:46

656

The day was going ok until we got into Yorkshire, when we couldn't make sense of the conditions, got stuck too low a couple of times, which really held us up. Improved back in the Doncaster area again. Remarkable to have such a long day, landing at 1900.

03-Jun

589

Rob

Dunstable

Iwerne Minster-Dursley-Carmarthen-Blaenau Ffestiniog

10:48

19:07

8:19

770

Nice downwind to Iwerne, lots of gentle running. Little bit congested on the leg north but improved near Nympsfield - Bristol accommodating as usual. Vis not great until we passed Rhigos then gin clear. Little bit of a sea breeze on the south coast then joined a convergence 10Km from Carmarthen and ran it in bits and pieces all the way to Snowdonia. 5,000+ base and a fair amount of cloud making leg home great and looking like 100+kph for the task until Evesham where it became trickier. Last decent climb near Moreton then blue and much more stable. Found some last-chance stuff between BIC and LGC and was told 'final glide established' but it was not to be. Very interesting flight in areas we seldom (or don't) visit.

19-Jun

590

Rob

Dunstable

Nuneaton O/R

12:35

15:32

2:57

208

Long glide to Towcester to find weak lift which improved over a small area benefitting from full sun. Looked unsoarable beyond Nuneaton so returned. Probably just as well as more high cloud swept in and killed most lift.

25-Jun

591

Rob

Dunstable

Bishop Auckland O/R

09:44

17:06

7:22

670

Bit damp to start with, improved past Grantham but thermals always difficult to pick cleanly. Ran out of inspiration past Durham as mid-level spreadout extensive. Would have been possible to reach the TP but I doubt to come home as too slow. Interesting run in sea air convergence down the east coast back to a rather cloudy LGC.

01-Jul

592

Rob

Dunstable

Dursley-Malverns

10:31

15:36

5:05

315

Attempt at a wave task but in spite of our best efforts couldn't transition to wave. Thermal soaring to Bridgenorth wasn't an option with too much cloud. When the sky opened up later thermals became more difficult to use than they'd been under the overcast!

05-Jul

593

Steve

Rob

Dunstable

Littleport-Chedworth-Northampton South

11:01

16:17

5:16

397

Started well and then went milky to our south-east, with weak cirrus which encroached onto our 2nd leg, until it all finally blued out almost totally. Then, getting weaker apart from hot spots, we eventually abandoned our final TP.

06-Jul

594

Steve

Dunstable

Brecon SW-Long Mynd

11:47

18:23

6:36

466

We crept slowly out West always expecting improvement, which didn't really come. Once into Herefordshire, I would have gladly given up, except that it would have meant flying back through the same. Ed Downham in the back managed a low save, before some improvement over the Black Mountains. The task (next TP Burn) wasn't going to be on at such slow speed, so we abandoned at the Mynd. Blue most of the way home til Stratford.

12-Jul

595

Steve

C Rowe

Dunstable

Local

14:31

15:36

1:05

Desperation

13-Jul

596

Rob

Dunstable

Rougham Field-Eyebrook Reservoir-Ashbury-Thrapston

11:32

17:39

6:07

514

We were expecting great things or at least high cloud bases, so topping out at 3000' around Cambridge was pretty disappointing.There was a small pocket of 4500' bases around Corby, then blue to the South, initially weak in the blue but then started working well around 4pm. Just when we thought it was in the bag, our last turn at Thrapston was in sea air, which required a slow glide in and out. No real problems and nice to get round a declared task.

14-Jul

597

Steve

F Sleigh

Dunstable

Swindon-Glasbury-Devizes

12:50

18:01

5:11

425

Task well set (thanks Ed) to keep us in the cu and reasonable conditions til the Severn Valley, which was a bit troublesome, after which it took a while to perk up, with a low point at Ross. Nice conditions after that, one brief glimpse of 7kts on the averager, more of 5kts. Best height c 5k'. The day died surprisingly suddenly putting us on a long cautious glide home.

16-Jul

598

S Haley

Dunstable

Cottam-Abbot's Bromley

12:20

17:23

5:03

402

Set off with hope in our hearts and a fair wind from the port quarter. Conditions deteriorated up the first leg, nice over Mansfield then blue and poor vis. After the 'n'-th low save and grotty climb, went back through the gap between Brum & E. Mids.

17-Jul

599

E Tillett

Dunstable

Soham-Stretton-Salisbury-Bicester

12:30

17:59

5:29

510

Good out to Soham then dead blue glide to Coningsby. Cumulus after that but twisty thermals and many dead clouds. Improved on the way south to 6,000+ bases beyond Didcot and good climbs under towering cu. Easy run back from the last turn.

18-Jul

600

Rob

S Henson

Dunstable

Cheltenham-Wincanton-Cheltenham

13:12

17:08

3:56

413

The forecast (topmeteo) was broadly correct today, which was a pleasant change, the flight itself was a romp with some good climbs to well over 5000'. Seemed to soften as the day went on and good climbs became a bit elusive. Great racing flight with Sam Henson.

19-Jul

601

Steve

N Perren

Dunstable

Old Radnor-Cwmbran-Hay Bluff-Cwmbran

11:59

18:01

6:02

513

Was meant to be a ridge running exercise with Nigel Perren, under Trevor Stuart's supervision, but I guess I spent to long on the ridge bits at thermal height. Thanks anyway Trevor! Overall a really fun flight, nice initail downwind run, then the ridges, and a pretty straightforward return into wind.

24-Jul

602

Rob

Dunstable

Westbury-Ledbury-Edgehill-Downham Market

12:22

18:22

6:00

534

Waited for mid/upper level cloud to clear then not a bad run down to WES, base fell quite a bit near the TP so glad we turned north there. Good by NYM then failed to connect with much until we left the Severn valley. Thought we might run out of time as thermals were weakening off but some of the best ones were after 5pm. Bit of spreadout on the way home but not a problem in the end. Still seemed a bit hard fought-for over the whole flight with a lot of shearing and pulsing climbs.

26-Jul

603

Steve

C Rowe

Dunstable

Barnard Castle O/R

10:43

17:50

7:07

616

High remote start needed to reach the cu at Northampton, giving an initially good run until Rutland area. Top cover on and off looked like it would spoil things, but apparently kept the showers away. Good through Doncaster & Yorks, but it looked appalling behind, and the reports of other LGC pilots were not happy! However, we were really lucky on the run south as the top cover cleared for a nice run back, finishing high at LEZ.

02-Aug

604

Steve

C Sorace

Dunstable

Warboys-Gransden Lodge-Ramsey

13:56

16:26

2:30

204

Late clearance, windy downwind run, but low (3k max) cloudbase dropped sharply by 1k just past Wyton, not anticipated! So abandoned on first leg, & flew the rest as planned.

03-Aug

605

Rob

Dunstable

Great Yarmouth-Bicester-Northleach-Stoney Stratford

10:13

16:10

5:57

536

Declared double o/r into E. Anglia, after first o/r decided against another visit to the coast as it was overdeveloping. Followed the edge of the rain out to NLE then a rapid return to LGC. Conditions killed very fast by the showers and medium cloud, so glad we cut it short.

04-Aug

606

Steve

N Claiden

Dunstable

Harpley-Bedford-Wisbech

10:52

16:06

5:14

423

Nice up & down wind task, but we were always on the edge of the sunshine. Until Wisbech, where there was no sunshine, and it rained, and we had a bit of a struggle to reconnect :-( Last leg largely under 8/8, but several 4-5 kt climbs. A slow but rewarding day.

06-Aug

607

Rob

Dunstable

Pickering-Crowland

11:22

17:45

6:23

560

Forecast to be blue to start but sky filled with all sorts of cloud. Not bad for the 1st 60km then increasing spreadout until under 8/8. Somehow found lift and things improved past Grimsby with the odd patch of sun. Made heavy weather of the same area on the way back, thought about attempting the last turn but too much cloud, so abandoned near Crowlands, Some good climbs but a lot of slow gliding into uncertainty.

08-Aug

608

Rob

L Roberts

Dunstable

Cheltenham-Pickenham

12:42

18:05

5:23

445

Good run to Cheltenham and back to Edgehill but lots of cirrus, particularly thick to Pickenham making most thermals weak. Cirrus mainly disappeared on last leg but still managed to dig a hole at Wyton costing 20 minutes or so.

09-Aug

609

Steve

A Hobbs

Dunstable

Frome-Cerne Abbas-Bruton

12:57

17:23

4:26

388

Went just as the front cleared, probably a bit early as we almost had yo visit our friends at BIC. A day of infrequent thermals, but once found, normally not under the lingering cu but associated with sun on ground, they were astonshing, frequently 5-8 kts. Air downwind of the Severn was poor, with low cloudbase. Otherwise, a good afternoon

10-Aug

610

Steve

M Marshall

Dunstable

Melksham-Basingstoke-Leominster

11:30

17:12

5:42

517

Lots of spreadout, but some great climbs in the sunshine, similar to yesterday.

11-Aug

611

Rob

Dunstable

Old Radnor-Newport

11:00

17:07

6:07

433

Great wave profile, so a few hours in wave over Wales beckoned. In spite several attempts right up to and including the primary wave from Radnor forest, no wave was forthcoming. We gave up and had roar round the Black Mountain ridges, which was great fun.

19-Aug

612

Rob

T Walker

Dunstable

Saxthorpe-Devizes-Mursley

11:09

17:39

6:30

571

Planned a 750k, but it was only East Anglia that was good. Devizes was almost too far West with just a few tiny cracks of sunshine here. This encroaching blanket of cloud made our 3rd TP impossible. Nice flight nevertheless.

20-Aug

613

Rob

T Russell

Dunstable

Newmarket-Stoney Stratford-Wendling-Mendlesham-Olney

11:19

16:08

4:49

522

Cracking conditions in East Anglia but poor elsewhere. Amused ourselves by doing Newmarket and return before doing the Red Class task. Managed to overhaul most and enjoyed a stunning leg from Mendlesham achieving 1 in 93.4 and 115kph. 113.8kph overall. Tried to climb away at the end to give Tom a go but failed!

23-Aug

614

Steve

V Luscombe

Dunstable

Local

11:57

12:33

0:36

Appalling vis, local

25-Aug

615

Steve

P Boet

Dunstable

Olney-Graffham Water-Cambridge-Bedford

13:43

16:16

2:33

163

TP's approx as it was only a wander

26-Aug

616

Rob

T Pridgeon

Dunstable

Blandford-Pershore

11:26

16:30

5:04

418

Started with cu at Dunstable, but found it barely soarable around Benson, then around 1pm cu suddenly blossomed around Greenham Common and we were away with 5k cloud base. The leg North from Blandford was on the edge of soaring Westwards but although very gloomy kept going enough to get round Pershore and back to the good cu over the Cotswolds.

30-Aug

617

Steve

C Brown

Dunstable

Chipping Norton O/R

14:34

16:51

2:17

143

Well....it's what you do on a Friday afternoon!

31-Aug

618

Rob

S Hill

Dunstable

Horncastle-Nailsworth-Kingsclere-Oxford

10:44

16:40

5:56

547

A slow drag to the first TP into wind and 7/8ths, but then improved into a cracking day, even the blue around Kingsclere wasn't a problem with a smooth 4-5kts to 5300' at the turn. If the whole task could have been kept within the good band a bigger faster task was possible.

01-Sep

619

Steve

R Harris

Dunstable

Long Sutton-Wittering

11:34

15:58

4:24

237

I'm going to get a reputation! It was a bit silly heading off into the fens, with top cover & weak climbs. We ran into a sunnier patch north of Peterborough, but it didn't deliver much more. so we lit up at Wittering. The most interesting part of the flight was the weak wave downwind of Rushden & again near Cranfield. Probably the reason that the sunshine didn't deliver earlier. Was all good fun!

05-Sep

620

Rob

Connel (Oban)

Broadford (Sky

Oban-Isle of Skye

12:42

15:56

3:14

198

Rigged and launched out of Oban - very friendly. Some showers around and explored the Isle of Skye and the Cuillins with magical views. Ridge soarable on the western flanks and cloudbase up to 4,500' with 5kt thermals. Were allowed into R610B apart from a 1hr slot in the afternoon. Landed Broadford on Skye, nice 800m tarmac all to ourselves.

05-Sep

621

Rob

R Colbeck

Broadford (Sky

Skye local

16:23

18:16

1:53

127

Another tour of the Cuillins and the Skye Bridge. Stunning scenery and rarely seen (if ever) from a glider.

06-Sep

622

Rob

Broadford (Sky

Skye local

13:24

15:44

2:20

128

Local flight with NE wind, showers from the word go but nearly 5000' in places. Derigged glider ahead of heavyovernight and strong winds.

08-Sep

623

Rob

Milfield

Dunstable

11:56

18:15

6:19

448

Nice looking day, but thermals mainly weak and a real battle against a 10kt headwind. Reached 4500' over Mansfield and then joined a cloud street for another few kms. Ran out of lift near Sywell requiring one more climb to reach LGC. Scotland to Dunstable on 7 litres of fuel.

19-Sep

624

Steve

M Jenkins

Dunstable

Mundford-Peterborough

11:42

15:28

3:46

276

Going low & slow on first leg east, then initially a nicer run into wind with bases up to 3k until we ran into unforecast clag nr Peterbotough. No sun getting though, so limped home

10-Oct

625

Rob

T Walker

Dunstable

Usk Reservoir-Hay Bluff-Blorenge-Llyn Fan Fach-Hay

08:45

16:08

7:23

562

Wave, ridge run and wave plus some reasonable thermals to 4200', around Brecons and Black Mountains. Wave weak by afternoon and only reached 7000', used 2 starts for return.

19-Nov

626

Rob

T Walker

Dunstable

Chiltern ridges

14:43

16:23

1:40

100

Engine run and a bit of hill soaring

22-Nov

627

Rob

T Walker

Dunstable

Thame-Butser-Duncton-Butser-Firle Beacon-Butser-Firle Beacon-Butser- Chinnor

07:46

15:35

7:49

882

Thame to Butser in one just. 5 beats of South Dpwns, 729km in free flight.

29-Nov

628

Rob

M Barrowma

Dunstable

Local

10:33

12:14

1:41

Engine run and a bit of hill soaring

19-Dec

629

Rob

T Walker

Dunstable

Enstone O/R

11:17

13:11

1:54

125

Weak wave, mainly engine run

29-Dec

630

Rob

C Allen

Dunstable

Banbury O/R

14:19

16:00

1:41

120

Weak wave, mainly engine run

318:27

27460

Time

Flts

2013

Rob