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As part of my reward for crewing at the European's Mike promised me a flight in 72, a privately owned [[Duo Discus]]. So on the morning of the 16th we eagerly set out to the airfield and started rigging. The day didn't look promising, but first impressions can be deceptive. Other club members looked on in surprise as we merrily stuffed water into the wings and were perhaps shocked as Mike declared a 400km task - Devizes - Olney - Bury St Edmunds - [[Gransden Lodge|Gransden]]. The day started looking more and more like it ought, and before long we were on the winch queue ready to go. We're off, screaming up the winch wire, not pulling quite so hard, and remembering the day before when I broke the cable. Before long we hook our first solid climb and then head off down track to see what it's like. We fly as far as Bedford and back without turning. It looks pretty good, certainly the best day I've flown on so far, with 7,8,and 9-knot thermals. The [[ASH25e]] "IM" is flying the same task as us. They start before us.

The ASH has leapfrogged us while we were in the weeds and is ahead of us once again. We follow in hot pursuit. Taking a weak climb over Cambridge ("look that's my college down there" "shut up and concentrate on the flying") and abandoning it for a better one near Duxford we make good time. We climb in 5kts just before the downwind turn point, which we reach still behind the ASH. "Right then, I'm going to shut up now; see if you can get back without turning" says the voice form the back. Ho hum, here we go then. Seemed rude not to top up in the 5kts we'd just left, then I headed off homewards. Going south of track (again - must be gravity) I find a nice line of lift in the evening thermals. Throwing a few turns in ruins my chances of not turning, but does put me 500' above glide. Is that enough? Fingers crossed. We pass Cambridge and I start looking for the landmarks around Gransden. I've never seen it from this low angle before, but I know it's got to be there somewhere (hasn't it?... HASN'T IT?). My nerves make me fly a little too fast (why does that always happen?). I've now only got 200' over glide. Mike starts briefing me on the finish. Trees and fields start whizzing by under the wings, I can see the finish point now. I quickly check around to see if there's anything else in circuit and as we cross the line, I pull up and pull the water dump. BIG wobble as I forget to trim before changing hands to lower the wheel. A steep approach and we're back on terra firma. 10 minutes later the ASH showed up. "What happened to you?" "Ah, we went the direct route and spent 10 minutes scratching over Newmarket" TINSFOS? I think not. There Is No Substitute For ... ... water in the wings and a national champion in the back seat. Hmm doesn't quite have the same ring. (439km, 101kph).

[[Category: Reports]]