The Interclub League 2017
The first ICL of the season was last weekend and the Mendip gliding club have
set the bar high for the next one. They had great weather sorted, great
organisation in both launching and morning briefing and as we all know the most
important thing of the weekend .... the BBQ. Oh and the flying was good ,a
respectable pm start for the teams.
The gliders ranged from the trusty K6 up
to the asw20's and ventus b's; a great spectacle and worth the trip just to
see how it all works at other clubs.
Mendip is probably the most similar to
Dartmoor gs and just as friendly.
Day 1- task was 125km see below.
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| Day 1 Task Declaration |
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| Day 1 Task |
As the team of one representing Dartmoor I felt the added pressure of putting
in a good account. It helps to concentrate the mind with 1700ft low points and the sky
going blue. However, best thing about flying in an ICL is everyone is so helpful
you know you won't get left in a field on your own (as long as you leave
the keys in your retrieve vehicle.)
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| How could you resist flying with a sky like this |
I made it around ,but in rather slow time as
I got stuck over Shepton mallet and had to 'park up' over the sunny picturesque
town and wait for a thermal to break free.
Only one land out and a good day
had by all.
Day 2- It was an even longer wait to get the thermals today. I
launched at 2pm and the task had already been knocked back to the plan B
task (task A was over 165km and very daunting with a late start and the
promise of an early shut off)
The task of the day was then to be 132km.
Ouch!
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| Day 2 |
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| Day 2 |
I was here and rigged and although I had written the day off, why not give
it a go? And what a great thing to do. I knew I had to go quicker just in case the
forecast was right and the wether wind reaaly was that short so I tried to stick to all the tips you are given and read
about.... and do you know some actually work!
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| Is my Cross Country Speed high enough? |
So update on the results, (lesson one) , get the hang of the loggers/oudie
before you set off on task. My lack of technical knowledge appears to have cost Dartmoor points. I have
found out I missed a turn point halfway through the 2nd task so my (what I
thought was a great average speed) will now only be scored to that point and
show as incomplete. Please use this lesson to get up to speed on your kit,
(lesson 2) and go a little bit deeper into the turn point just to be sure, it may
cost you extra time but is better than the amount of points it cost me.
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| More good looking clouds |
The good thing is I still had a fantastic time, and the points are a secondary
thing in the ICL. Its all about the flights and smiles you get and helping each
other.
Next ICL is Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th May. It's on our doorstep at Northill
, what better chance to come and see what it's all about without traveling far.
We still have a space if your a willing pilot wanting to give it ago (a first
50km flight was done at mendip while we were there last weekend)
If you are
not quite ready for it but want to pop in for the day or the weekend please do.
Never know if you get there sharp and get your name on the list you could also
fly as we have a reciprocal arrangement with Northill
Hope to see you there
Richard Roberts
