Another bright but cold start with a reasonable forecast. We watched the cumulus popping around the valley while we were lined up waiting for a launch as the tug pilot was off on a joyride in a microlight. Just before launching we noticed a hissing noise in the Duo - was that the radio, apparently not as it stopped when we turned off the freshly fitted oxygen. Undeterred, Adrian and Merv were soon climbing well in the Duo to 9500’ over stage 1 attempting to sniff out the invisible wave. 431 containing Bob and Bob joined the Duo and then headed of to the east under a super cloud street south of the main peaks climbing to 12000 in thermals. Adrian, who had just about recovered from his newly acquired treeophobia from yesterday’s flight was about to develop rockophobia as he was directed to fly towards the high peaks still in search of the elusive wave. After 2.5 hours it was a struggle to get down 60kts with full airbrake and still climbing at 6kts. A quick turn round was effected but what a difference 20 mins makes. The strong reliable thermals had disappeared and Peter had déjà vu in the Duo as we slide down the slopes of stage one after Merv encouraged him to release too early but we eventually scraped away. Roger enjoyed his second flight and after a brief visit to stage 3 was expelled much lower back towards the valley. On the ground a mysterious 15kt northerly crosswind had returned that again provided some more entertainment, could this be from the wave….
Tomorrow looks wet interspersed with more wet but there may be a brief southerly wave slot available - perhaps not for the faint hearted.
Merv
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