Becalmed for three days.




High pressure sitting over Scotland deprived us of the vital component required for wave flying. As it was clear that the wind was not going to blow for a few days most took the opportunity to do some sight seeing, shopping and even a type conversion.



Thursday. Four seasons in one day



Finally the BBC weather forecast gave some hope of a wind profile that should give us the chance of wave, but with the risk of showers and heavy rain later in the day. By the time we had got the glider to the launch-point a wave slot had appeared to the North and as normal the Lasham team were first to launch. As we approached the wave cloud it was obvious that the slot was getting smaller and by the time we were established in the climb the gap had completely closed and the only sensible decision was to descend. This set the trend for the second flight, as after half an hour the gap was closing again and the launch-point reported rain showers near the airfield, so time to get down on the ground.



The rain arrived at around lunchtime and lasted about an hour. When it stopped, the temperature had dropped about 10 degrees and it felt like winter had arrived. The wind had now coming directly from the North and the wave appeared to be setting up again so all the Lasham gliders were thrown into the air, and for a while it looked like things were working well. Once again a large shower moved quickly across the airfield and all but one glider returned. Hugh Kinidell and Clive Swain in the DG 1000 decided to head west and sit the shower out on a ridge near Ballater. This persistence paid off as the wave again set up over the valley and they eventually climbed up to 6500ft before the conditions deteriorated again.



Tonight’s evening meal was fish and chip, mushy pees and the opportunity to sample a deep fried mars bar, after that I now know why the life expectance in certain parts of Scotland is considerably lower than the rest of the UK.

Colin