Classic UK Comp weather today. Fog on the airfield as we prepared the glider (I’m crewing for one of the Open Class pilots), with briefing at 10:30. No task was set, and a fairly hideous looking weather forecast sheet for the day was distributed (see the Day 1 Photos). It looked like there could be a small window from around 15:00-16:00 where there would be the greatest chance of convection, but with a near 100 glider grid, something would have to give to get any class launched.

The 15s were scrubbed at lunchtime, with the Opens following around 13:30. Only the Regionals were left, with two classes making up circa 35 gliders. They re-briefed at 14:30, and were given the minimum possible task for any Regional competition of 80km, specifically Lasham – Petersfield West – Whitchurch Hants – Lasham for 80.7km. The fact that the minimum task of the Open Class is 150km appeared to be why they weren’t launched, a sensible decision in the small window.

First launch was around 15:30, with a few guys landing back after a short time – cloudbase was only 2,000ft QFE. Most people – I believe, as preliminary results are still to be released – got away, but everyone landed out or landed back.

I got the chance to fly in a Nimbus 3DT that wasn’t competing in the comps and had a go at the task. We managed to turn Petersfield West without huge trouble, getting 1.5-2kt averages, but only up to 1500-2000ft. By the time we made the turn, frontal top cover was blocking out any sunlight (the first photo shows the sky to our west on the first leg) . Making slow progress downwind, we ended up taking lift that was being flicked off hills below, being carried down track as we did. Within about 10km of the second turn scratching under some small and shaded Cu, we were unable to gain any more height, starting the engine at 500′, getting home having done about 50km.

An interesting first day, with a very bleak outlook for the rest of the week. Here’s hoping!