Monksdown 17th June

Wind NNE-NE 10-22 mph   Steve Gale and I turned up with Jamie Cannon already there. His glider was out of action so brought his models along. The wind was quite off the hill but I figured the bowl section would be fine, Steve chose not to fly.   Soon after launch I found out why Steve kept his glider on the car, the wind seemed to be almost running along the hill. Well below take-off I figured that was the end of the day but got a blip to put me level with take-off.   Jamie launched his model and searched for thermals for me. What a help he turned out to be, after scratching then getting up to a more comfortable height Jamie found a good climb well out in front of the ridge. I headed to it and bingo, a nice steady 3 up.   As this was a consistent thermal I left the hill and went over the back. Climbing out I see Compton Abbas and light aircraft doing circuits to the North of me. Peaking around 3800ft ASL I headed off on a glide.   My route took me right over Okeford Hill which was directly into the wind (I guess we should have gone there) and then I continued to Bell hill.   Climbs were slow and broken with no Cu's for pointers, complete blue sky flying. At times I could see hazy stuff that can imply thermals and flew to them and they generally worked.   The coast was coming up fast despite cross winding at every opportunity. With thermal tops no more than 4000 ft ASL and often lower, it gave me little time to find a new thermal. I had 2 or 3 low saves as a result before getting low one last time that was just too much and I landed at Whitchurch Canonicorum, some 5 km NE of Lyme Regis.   The view was great looking at the coast line, especially fossil beach. Shame I was running out of land forcing me to crosswind it as it was hard enough doing a downwind dash. I recorded my first 'open' distance flight of the year with some 64 km.   Thanks goes to Steve Gale for retrieving me and Jamie Cannon for getting his model out and finding that thermal for me.   Tony