Sailplane & Gliding 1966 - Lakes Gliding Club

would also be possible.
Pilots were on the ,grid by 11 a.m. but
as the sky was rather dead, launching
was delayed to 11.2.0 for first take-olf.
There was., however, only time to launch
12 competitors before we were enveloped
in a heavy shower. Launching resumed
at 12.16 and from then until last take-off
at 17.56 towing never seemed to stop,
the pilots landing out within a IO-mile
radius. most of them from straight
glides. A weak form of wave was Ci)n·
tacted by some pilots in the late afternoon
but this did not extend far enough
to be of any help.
David Ince from his second launch
covered one af the best distances against
quite a strong headwind. lan Paul damaged
the tail of his Skylark 4 and had
to retire.
Ninety-two contcst launches were
carried out, but .only one I'ilot passed
2 X so a No Contest resulted.
FRIDAY, 5TH AUGUsT.-The forecast
Olil the whole was very similar to yester'
day, with only one extra disadvantage to
cope with-a Purple Airway,
Peter Wickham was not having an
easy task with this very unpredictable
weather. as timing it was almost impossible.
'Those who flew yesterday." he
said, "will know what the weather is
likely to be today." Blustery. Cloudbase
about 2,000 ft. a.g.I. rising to 3,000 by
noon and 4-5,000 ft. later in the day,
except near showers. Thermals fairly
widespread but cu-nims. less severe ex·
cept in East Anglia where conditions will
be more like yesterday.
Task: Race to Seething. 151.5 km.
X=30km.
Launching commenced at 10.58 but
soon most of the first starters were reduced
to ridge soaring. with the odd
exception like Chris Wills who crossed
the line at 11.11 and Bernard Fitchett
30 seconds before him.
Obviously a lot depended on finding
lift immediately after release: tht hill
worked quite well, however; now and
again a bundle of gliders would dislodge
from the traffic jam and cross the start
line.
At around noon aero-tows seemed to
connect again more easily, so several
pil01s, including Jane Warter. John Bren~
ner, Gordon Camp and Peter Scott, decided
to land for re-lights. No sooner
had they landw than the hill decided
to throw off a good thermal which gave
Peter Nielson, David lnce and Rika
Harwood the chance they had been
waiting for.
In the meantime Chris Wills reported
conditions good although cu-nims. and
showers were about. He climbed to
10,000 ft., which was too high, and then
like others found it difficult to find
Seething. Many pilots also made climbs
to between 8-10,000 ft.• but they might
have done ~tter had they broken off at
freezing level at 6,000 ft as icing was
severe, and heights were lost accordingly.
L. 10 r.: A /1/1(' I nee, Fluff
and Fred Slingsby. Con­
/lie Hen'e}', DQvid fnee
ana crew member, Cedrie
,vernon.
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