Today looked a better day for the Malverns than Corndon, with higher cloudbase and better thermal strength. When we got there we discovered that half the XC flying population of northern England seemed to agree. It was packed, with locals, visitors and the BCC comp there too. It was clear that it wouldn’t be too early a day, since there was high cloud around, although people were climbing out and getting high from the start. The problem seemed to be where to go once you left the ridge.

I did some chatting and then got ready to launch when the first cumulus started forming out front. Helen, Simon and others managed to climb out in a thermal before me, so I waited for the next cycle. Geoff launched, but forgot to turn his vario on, and by the time he had done fiddling with it he was below ridge height and he had to get a low save to get up and high. I tried to get into his thermal, but it was weak, so only took me about 500ATO. However, someone else’s temporary misfortune is often opportunity for others and Nick Le Gras had nearly gone down, but hit a boomer which I jumped into. It took us high, but not quite to base. I lead out to the next cloud, which was decaying as I got there, but Nick, Geoff and Dave Thomas had followed me, so we had to keep going to the next thermal source. Dave found it over a big area of polytunnels. Nick and I got into it too, but Geoff got there just a bit too low and landed. Martin had seen us climbing and hot footed it over, but hit strong sink and also didn’t make the thermal. Geoff gave him a masterclass in ride-hustling and they got a lift up to the hill for another go!

Our little gaggle caught up with Helen and Simon’s gaggle and we merged to form an even bigger group. As the flight continued, some split off or went for other climbs, so I ended up with Nick, Dave, Ben Friedland, Mick Guppy and a few others I didn’t recognise. We got a really weak climb which we worked in a left hand turn. I can turn the Vega left (unlike the Aspen), but prefer to turn right, especially in really light, scratchy, center-or-sink thermals. I was blundering about and decided I was probably more hindrance than help to the others, so I decided to head for the next cloud. I was sure I could make it, but as I got closer the cloud started decaying and had gone by the time I got there. Damn! I did get a blip and as I turned I realised that Nick and another person had followed me.

My plan B was to fly over a polytunnel field. It didn’t work. Then I flew over some dark plowed fields. They didn’t work. Then I flew to a tractor which was plowing a field. Most unfortunately, he stopped plowing to watch me fly. So that failed as well. However, there was a buzzard thermalling just beyond the field so I headed to him. He did one turn, flew off, then came back and did another. It was then that I realised he was just a youngster and was just testing out how it all works. And at that point I landed for 25km. Too impetuous again. Lots of lessons again, some of which I will try to add to the XC tips later.

And thanks to Gill for the great retrieve.

See Mick Guppy’s video of our flight.

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