As so often happens when there’s a pretty grim weather forecast, only a handful of stalwarts from ‘the backbone of the club’ turned up - hopefully to fly, but otherwise to apply their teamwork and good humour to various chores essential to the smooth running of Dartmoor Gliding Society.
Well done to John Bolt for his ongoing efforts to repair the Zugvogel, and to Chris Kaminski for continuing to spruce up the Pirat and the K7/13. But the greatest effort of the day was expended by Phil Hardwick who, after three hours of mowing the airfield, then a couple of hours on the winch - followed by a brief flight of his own - ended the day leading an hour-and-a-half long fence repair project (see below).
Between the early low cloud and rain later in the day, a paltry eight launches were achieved in total; the majority by Mike Keller in the K13 (followed by Martin Broadway), then Andrew and Phil exercising the Astir, and Ged getting familiar with the Pirat.
But just as Bob Jones and I were about to engage in some preparatory antics for his BI course, a message came from the winch driver pleading for help after a cable which had drifted in the crosswind had destroyed a section of fence. At the same time the rain started to fall.
The worst of the rain skirted the airfield, but once the fence had been rebuilt no one had much stomach for flying and the toys were packed away.
Fingers crossed for the weekend, after which Carol and I will be in sunny Portugal while no doubt Brentor will enjoy the best three weeks of the 2011 soaring season.
Bob Pirie
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