Sailplane & Gliding 1966 - Lakes Gliding Club

A high polish on Colin's Ka-6.
Colin Pennycuick, who won the day,
avoided eu-nims. as he found streets in
the form of large clouds with little ones
ahead. He found the masses of aerodromes
a navigational nuisance. Peter
Scott, who left Dunstable around 2
o'clock, seemed to be catching up quickly,
and in fact he found a street all the
way from base to Royston.
John Brenner decided to delay his
second launch and then to make a really
fast time. This did not work as planned
and he had to be retrieved before he
could start again at 17.I7-by which
time the wind had increased a lot aDd he
landed well e.ast of track near Colchester.
Jane Warter also hurried b:lck
for a late last launch and did well to
cover 97.5 km. before having to land
at 7 p.m. Eric Cunningham, who landed
at Lowestoft. had been out to sea for 3
or 4 miles and regained the coast again
at 1,500 ft.
At Seething Alf Warminger (who had
come over to see what was going on)
made himself very popular by driving
pilots to and from the clubhouse where
"tea on the house" was kindly olTered by
the Waveny FIying Group clnd greatly
appreciated.
Twenty pilots completed the task with
speeds between 93.2 and 57.6 km/h.
Sixty-one contest launches were carried
oUt.
362
SATURDAY, 6TH AUGUST.-Briefing at
9.30 a.m. was short. Weather forbidding.
No task, but launches available.
Anthony Edwards was launched soon
after 10 a.m. and found weak usable
lift. He announced over the radio that
he was trying to go to Cambridge. After
initial scrapes conditions improved considerably
and soon more pilots cottoned
on to the idea of some pleasant flying.
Peter Nielson. who had followed shortly
afterwards. was invited to come down
from 3,000 ft. at Cambridge to join
Anthony Edwards for lunch. and this he
did.
Bernard Fitchett, however. thought of
greater things and declared Newcastle
for Gold C distance. He took off at
12.22 and by J o'clock was on his way
with 3,000 ft. in hand, though after that
he had to scrape to Podington, when he
made a good climb to 8,000 ft. with no
icing. Near Scunthorpe he was saved by
a 6-knot thermal off the steelworks. but
after that conditions changed rapidly and
the scrape was on again. He finally
glided to Sulton Bank from about 15
miles out and landed at 18.20 p.m .• 20
km. sh.ort of his goal. A fine effort!
(Comment by Peter Wickham: A
warm front moved in from the S.W. and
the day was scrubbed at an early hour.
However, ahead of the main rainbelt
there developed a gap in the upper
cloud in which thermal cooditions
brewed up dramaticaJly for an hour or
so during mid-morning. Despite some
good individual flights in this clear patch,
the decision not to attemot a contest task
was probably justifiable':"'but only just.)
SUNDAY. 7TH AUGuST.-Brieiing would
be delayed as late as 2 p.m. if necessary,
and Prizegiving would be postponed!
However, to cut a long story short, the
tas,k was cancelled and Prizegiving took
place at 2.30 p.m.
A frustrating week, but how we enjoyed
it all the same. This small but
well organised band of officials did really
try to do all they could. and I feel sure
that everyone who took part will be
back next year. On behalf of all the
pilots. Thank You, London Gliding
Club, for having us and for your chairman's
promise of more "thermaliferolJs"
weather next time.
RIKA HARWOOD