My reaction to such a clearance would be to remind the controller of my position.
I don't know of any controller who would require a VFR flight to fly past the airport and make a 180 degree turn to come back to almost where they were in the first place before turning base. Most ATC units use holding to delay traffic and everyone previously pointed out the dangers of going against the flow downwind.
If the traffic situation precluded a base leg join then I would expect to be given a zone entry clearance via a position that was appropriate to a downwind join. Anything else and then I expect that either I have made an error i.e. joined via the wrong VRP fro example or ATC have made an error and think I am somwhere else. Bothe situations require clarification rather than blind obedience.
Regards,
DFC
Last edited by DFC; 28th Jun 2005 at 21:54.