Geoff writes: ESE forecast, so off to the Malverns. We arrived about noon. A bit more wind than we expected, but nowhere near being blown out. People started launching, but no-one got high, everyone was on the ridge. We decided to wait until it got a bit better, rather than launch and spend hours ridge soaring before getting away. Also, it was a blue day, and we did hope that cumulus might begin to develop later.

A couple of gaggles eventually left, one very large, with what seemed like dozens of gliders in it. But whilst they managed to maintain, they never seemed to get more than 1500′ or so ATO, and just drifted back with that. There seemed to be an inversion at about that height, and that was confirmed by people who slope landed, rather than going with it.

And that was it for a few hours, every now and then one or two going, but never getting any height. Those who had gone and not got far started coming back for a second go.

We still didn’t launch, becoming more convinced that this was a late day. Eventually, at 3.30, I launched – by then Judith had more or less decided to have a day off. I climbed out fairly soon with a group of ten or so, but about half of them decided to go back to the front, including Martin and Frank. I stuck with it, and about five of us left the hill. It was slow going, still blue, the cumulus never reached us.

It helped enormously that there was a group of us, though as the first group gradually fell by the wayside, I caught up with a couple of others past Hereford.

My maximum height was only 3900, with a height gain of just 2800, and I don’t think anyone – at least whilst I was flying – got higher than that. So it was a very difficult day, and I honestly doubt if I could have done this on my own.

I landed just near Hay Bluff, having managed to fly right to the end of the day, at about 6.20pm, though I did take off late. 51km in total, so quite pleased with it on what was not an easy day.

And a brilliant retrieve from Judith, who, having decided not to fly, was already waiting for me as I walked out to the road. And this in spite of not being in radio contact from the air.

See photos of today.

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