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Technique Day
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Jutte's view is that the day after a mistral
is often tricky, and so it proved today. An afternoon launch onto l'Hongrie
started well with a good climb, and I headed for Trainon with high
expectations. By the time I got to Authon I was down in the weeds at
4,500ft, so I ran away along the Vaumuse towards the security of St Auban
airfield. Thirty minutes later I had
managed to scratch back some altitude and worked my way back up the Vaumuse
to Authon, where a good climb got me away to Auribeau, Blayeul and the
parcours proper.
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Vaumuse
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Surely I would now be able to get to the
cumulus over the Ecrins and the Queyras? Well, no, actually. While I was
able to use the ridge to maintain altitude, I think what was happening was
that the thermals pumping up the mountains were being sheared soon after
reaching the ridge tops, due to the northerly wind. The parcours was also
very busy with gliders all at the same altitude, which reassured me that I
wasn't the only one having a hard time of it. I did make a break for Morgon,
but I soon managed to work my way below its summit, which encouraged me to
backtrack.
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Parcours
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Back on la Blanche I headed for the Trois Eveches, looking
for a way through to the Barcelonnette valley, but my gut feeling was that
any mistake would put me on the ground at its airfield, so I contented
myself with a bit of local soaring, exploring the evening thermals closer to
the club. As was mentioned after landing, it might just have been a
technique day, but it's all money in the bank; my bag of luck is lighter,
and my bag of experience, heavier.
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Behind les Trois Eveches
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