Because of a large bank of cloud we could not launch at the planned time of 1215 and ended up launching at 1355. I started as soon as I could -- 1501 -- after the gate opened at 1455. I had good height at 5000' and was pleased with my start. I didn't see anyone else start. Apparently the Germans and the Poms started at the same time at the other end of the 8 km start line. I didn't see them until I was at the first turn point. I had had a good run up the first leg with the help of a tailwind and the second leg looked good. I joined the Poms higher than them and pushed on. I wish now that I had stayed with them. They took a slightly different track into the turn and got a bit of a jump on me. It was at this point that I should have backed off and stayed high to keep in contact with the clouds. It wasn't until half way down the second leg that I realised that the clouds were not working well even though they looked good -- water sacsā they call them, maybe the same as a Kingaroy floater.
I would have liked some company at this stage but no one was around. I nipped into the second sector and turned for home. I was desperate to get back up to cloud base and was willing to take anything to get there at this stage. At 80km out and still with a bit of height -- 3000' -- I knew I just needed to get to cloud base and I would get home. By this stage it 1630 and the clouds just were not connected to the ground anymore. The ground was wet and there was just not enough umph to keep a thermal going it seemed. I floated on between 2000' and 3000' for a long time looking for something and then found I was working a height band between 800' and 1400'. I did this for about an hour and then 50km from home I put my lovely LS8 down on the ground on the nice soft green grass of an airfield and called my crew.
I feel a bit disappointed that I didn't manage to get home or further, but there is still a long way to go. Two lessons learnt. Be ready to back off very early even when it still looks good and stick with others a little more.