Friday 14th - Out to the flats to avoid the wind

Today the task and safety committees have a dither before we go up to take off and then another one on the hill.  The outcome of this is rather inevitable considering the wind is forecast to increase but I'll come back to that topic later.

Today its a straight race to goal at Cahors airfield out in the flats.  We are warned to get a good climb at the end of the ridge line and then another before attempting to glide to goal as the terrain on the plateau behind the low ridge that leads to goal does not look good for landings.

Down both ridges and out into the flats following the plateau

A none too marvellous start but a good climb behind the first ridge before the gap and another on the far side sees me heading out to the mountain in front..  The cloud is decidedly decaying so a 5up climb just past our normall turnpoint at the end of the valley is good  A good looking cloud lined up along the valley and vultures flying past me convince me to to switch to the south this rewards me with an 8 Up and fast glide under the wisps towards the next set of active clouds.

This gives an equally good 8 up (Dave Mathews late said he'd had 9up peak).  Its then a case of just heading for the next set of active clouds.  However by this stage people who'd got low before that last climb we're discussing the increasing wind and turbulence and the very unsafe looking terrain downwind.

Four more climbs and goal is on.  However the task has been canned but at least I should have a good score for this one....even if it was taken back 20 minutes from the stop point.

Unfortunately it was stopped before 1hr 30mins and with no one in goal the task becomes invalidated so no score for anyone.

A good climb before the gap

Approaching base.  Think I'll try to get into wind a bit...

Well that clouds not working.  Where now?

The last bit of ridge which kicks into wind...

Time to run under this nice little cloud

Good job we're not going that way

Lovely U bend and ridge and an even better climb to start the flats with

Doesn't look like a good place for landing back there

On glide with Steve B...

Mike A joins a climb

That looks like the field...complete with retrieve driver