Report from Lisa Trotter ("Trotts")

Day 6, 2 August 2004

On the grid the day looked like a classic gliding day with well formed evenly spaced cumulus. With a 368km task ahead of us, we started as soon as we could. As we approached the first turn point we could see the conditions had deteriorated ahead – so we slowed down.

About 15km out from the first turn we took a climb to cloud base at the last cumulus cloud. Our track into the turn and for a long way on the next leg was overshadowed by upper level cloud. Not even any clouds to divert to. We continued on slowly towards some spots of sun and a quarry. The sun went and there was nowhere to climb – so we were soon on the ground. Five or six made it around the task and I asked them after how theyt crossed this large overcast area. They parked under the last Cu for 30 mins – 1 hour until the conditions changed. We need to learn more about parking.

Outlanding was also eventful. Turns made it to a nearby airfield. I was not sure I could get over the trees to get there so I landed in a field close to the airfield. 100m after touchdown my undercarriage collapsed. Damage was minor, so OK to fly another day.

-Trotts.

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