Arriving at the hill a little later than planned (the downside of getting a lift), I was keen to get off with minimal faff, after a few very quick hello's I got setup and took to the air after an inelegant launch…
Moments after taking off I heard a whistle, but couldn't see anything, so I headed off and almost immediately up away from the hill, I then saw a couple of gliders a few clicks upwind, so pushed off towards them on my newly retrimmed Agera which I already loved because of RAST, but in spite of its sketchy handling. The wing is transformed and still has incredible performance, but has lost its spinniness and is now much better in light lift. Anyone considering a C should have this as a contender!
I waited for half an hour or so for my friends to launch as I wanted some XC companions to help find thermals. None appeared and as there was no H laid out or any obvious grouping around someone assumed that this was because of a lack of thermals, wind shift or the usual UK groundsuck…
These thoughts were dispelled by the all too familiar sound of an inbound helicopter. Knowing that I would be of no use on the ground and possibly a hazard getting there, headed off xc.
Drift was excellent, so even if in zero's I merrily kept turning thanking my lucky stars that I had bought some chemical hand warmers the day before. Once a good cloud had started to form ahead or to the side of me, I headed over and started turning again…
My goal was Petersfield, but once landing at Lasham was an option I replanned to land there as it'd guarantee a quick ride to basingstoke and a fast train back to London.
As ever, my plan changed when I saw a glider well below me turning in good lift on the far side of the airfield, so with the help of the 25kph wind, found myself entering the thermal still well above him and climbed a reasonable way before seeing other sailplanes at about the same level, climbing together.
Not wanting to miss out on the chance to socialise with our fixed winged cousins, flew over and joined them, turning inside them and keeping station for about 1000ft of gain (the lift was bitty and they were going around into the best bit), so i couldn't core up past them. Eventually that climb petered out, the gliders headed off to a better looking cloud, I followed and this time got the core and within 3 or 4 turns was well above them and a few turns later had my vario warning me that I was approaching London TMA…
So, off on glide I went, now pushing south to try and make Petersfield (I like fast trains). Again I hit lift, which I took for a couple of turns to help ensure I'd make my goal. The landing options were plentiful, but most had big trees at the upwind end of the fields, which with 20kph of wind could be sub-optimal, but tempting due to their proximity to the station.
Exhibiting an unusual degree of common sense (for me), I rejected said options and landed at the sports pitches, giving myself a 1.3 mile walk to the station.
Unfortunately, the pilot who was injured at Combe was seriously hurt (in ICU at the John Radcliffe) which took the sheen off an otherwise perfect day.