The forecast was a little better today. Not crazy hot. Better lift. Light winds but still blue and base is still at 5500'. The task committee decided on a short 130km task given the low base. As it turns out pilots got to over 7000' and over 70 made goal.
I got a bit of grief today for staging in the wrong line. I moved from the back of one line to the back of the other. My entire team was at the back of the other line so it was just a pain in the ass to be on the other side with no one to help me. Corinna didn't want to battle the huge gaggle for an hour and forty minutes so she came to the back of the line. I was towed into a light thermal and after a minute or so the pilots towed about the same time as me came and joined me to find the better part of the lift. I was with Jamie, Corinna, Tyler and most of the Guatemala team. Corinna left us right away and the rest of us headed out together. Pilots dropped of until it was me Tyler and Jamie. Then just Jamie and I until the first turn point when she skied out above me and I spent most of the rest of the flight by myself. I was trying mostly to just stay off the ground which meant I wasn't going very fast or making really good choices. After landing after only two thermals the first two day's I was happy to be in the air for over four hours today. Another day like this and I will be ready to start working on going faster. Landed 35km short of goal.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Day two, another tough one.
Today's task was 163km dog leg north of Forbes. The forecast for today was for low cloud base at 6000'. Weak lift and strong wind over 20km on the ground. I put my name in for the early launch but I just didn't think I was going to be able to stay in the start circle for 2hrs. So instead I went to the back of the line. Jonny and Craig also waited until late to launch. This seem to be a good idea as about 40 pilots landed and had to relight. I towed to about 300' and broke a week link.
After landing, having some water, I got ready to go again. I managed to hang on the second time but was the roughest tow I've ever had. I was towed into a great thermal and climbed out to 6100'. The air was very smooth and I was really enjoying my flight. My plan was to stay conservative and try and stay as high as possible. I was turning in light lift and drifting along in the strong wind. I was alone as most of the field was blown out of the start circle at the first start. On my second glide I wasn't able to find any lift and was soon landing. I made 40km of the task and as it turns out the farm I landed at wasn't that easy to find. My driver had to circle around before they found the road to get to me leaving me waiting for 2hrs. The wind is forecast to be lower tomorrow so looking forward to better days ahead.
After landing, having some water, I got ready to go again. I managed to hang on the second time but was the roughest tow I've ever had. I was towed into a great thermal and climbed out to 6100'. The air was very smooth and I was really enjoying my flight. My plan was to stay conservative and try and stay as high as possible. I was turning in light lift and drifting along in the strong wind. I was alone as most of the field was blown out of the start circle at the first start. On my second glide I wasn't able to find any lift and was soon landing. I made 40km of the task and as it turns out the farm I landed at wasn't that easy to find. My driver had to circle around before they found the road to get to me leaving me waiting for 2hrs. The wind is forecast to be lower tomorrow so looking forward to better days ahead.
Monday, January 7, 2013
First day a tough one.
The first task was 158km dog leg. The forecast was for 7000' top of lift but 5000' turned out to be closer to the truth. The lift was disorganized with brisk wind made it hard to stay around the air field. The launch order was randomly generated today and I was third in my line. I thought I was dropped off in a good thermal but couldn't get into it. After 25min I landed for a relight. Along with Tyler and 20 or 30 other people. Waiting for my second tow the pilot in front of me didn't pull in and ended upside down in front of me, breaking his keel, and perhaps his helmet. Swearing in some language I didn't understand. Well I won't finish last today at least.
I managed to climb up on the second go around and tangled with the death gaggles. Thermaling with 50 other people isn't so much thermaling as it is flying through general areas of lift and trying hard not to run into any one.
I ended up waiting for the third start time which wasn't really my plan but ended up following the wrong gaggle that was waiting for a later start. Finally after getting a bit of organized lift I headed on course with Tyler and one other pilot. We glided for a long way before I hit some thing and stopped to turn. Down to 2000' I should have dug in here and worked at getting up. When I wasn't really climbing well. I charged forward to three other pilots low ahead of me and arrived at 1000' just below them. Never really connected with any thing and soon was on the ground.
About 50 pilots made goal. Impressive given the difficult conditions. Would have been a good day to stick with a large group.
The spot is working great. Mike has an Ipad with spot buddy and our links to our spots. They update every ten minutes and shows our three track logs each with a different color. Hit the OK button when we land and send a text just to confirm we have landed. Every one was picked up before the glider was in the bag. What a great retrieve tool.
Hoping for a better flight tomorrow.
I managed to climb up on the second go around and tangled with the death gaggles. Thermaling with 50 other people isn't so much thermaling as it is flying through general areas of lift and trying hard not to run into any one.
I ended up waiting for the third start time which wasn't really my plan but ended up following the wrong gaggle that was waiting for a later start. Finally after getting a bit of organized lift I headed on course with Tyler and one other pilot. We glided for a long way before I hit some thing and stopped to turn. Down to 2000' I should have dug in here and worked at getting up. When I wasn't really climbing well. I charged forward to three other pilots low ahead of me and arrived at 1000' just below them. Never really connected with any thing and soon was on the ground.
About 50 pilots made goal. Impressive given the difficult conditions. Would have been a good day to stick with a large group.
The spot is working great. Mike has an Ipad with spot buddy and our links to our spots. They update every ten minutes and shows our three track logs each with a different color. Hit the OK button when we land and send a text just to confirm we have landed. Every one was picked up before the glider was in the bag. What a great retrieve tool.
Hoping for a better flight tomorrow.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Practice day.
We had a pilot meeting at 9:30am for a safety, weather and task briefing. Today's weather...hottest day yet. Climbs to 10,000' later in the after noon and lift averaging 800'/min. The task was set as 140km triangle to the north then back SW of Forbes and finally back to the air field. Jonny durand, Attilla Bertock and Zac Majors are our task committee. Pilots had requested a short task for the practice day so Jonny informed us this 140km task will likely be the short task we will see.
I'm doing retrieve with Jamie Sheldon and Linda Salamone. Mike Mcfadden is our driver and doing a great job. Jamie is absolutely miserable in this heat and doesn't want to go out to the field til late. I have a concern that we will not be able to drive out to the line after the towing has started and I am not going to carry my glider out to the line. Jamie assures me it is a very short walk so we head out about 1:30pm to start setting up.
A little over half the competitors are flying today. We drop our gliders at the back of the line and check out how the towing is going. It doesn't seem to be moving to fast so we sit under the red bull tent for a while, drinking red bull and listening to the music they are playing. We wait for the line to get shorter because once you set up your glider you can't leave it. The dust devils are fierce here and your glider can be destroyed if you leave alone too long. After about 1/2hr Garnet helps me set up my glider. I'm one of the last few to tow up and Davis gives me a lecture while I'm on the Dolly as he doesn't like how pilots ahead of me were launching.
I have an uneventful tow and get waived off at 2000'agl. The tug pilot flags me off in a good thermal but it stops at just over 4000'asl. I wander around the field for over an hour trying to get high before I head out and finally get a strong climb to 8000'. I figure it's a bit late to try and tackle the task and probably a bit much for me today any way. No sense getting burnt out before the comp even starts. So I decide to head to the second turn point to see if I can meet up with the lead guys at the turn point and race back with them. A couple other gliders have the same idea and we fly off to the turn point together. The lift seems a little better away from the air field and we climb to over 10,000' on the way there. I never really get low and it's a pretty easy trip out and back for a total flight distance of 50km. I take a climb 15km out to 9000' and should make it in pretty easy. My instrument shows I have 1100' to spare and when I switch to my final glide page it's a 6.5/1 glide into goal. Man 11100' over the field I'm going to look like a fool. As I fly through lift on the way in my numbers only get worse. 1900' above goal. I'm going to look like a total amateur. I cross the line going fast, about 1000' over the field. Only a couple gliders there so no one really notices I'm in orbit over goal.
As I get low it's still way over 40c at 6:00pm. My landing is better than many, right in the middle of the field leaving me a long walk to tear down. Garnet comes out and helps carry my glider back to the hanger.
I was very happy with my practice day and now I'm ready to head off on some massive task for tomorrow.
I'm doing retrieve with Jamie Sheldon and Linda Salamone. Mike Mcfadden is our driver and doing a great job. Jamie is absolutely miserable in this heat and doesn't want to go out to the field til late. I have a concern that we will not be able to drive out to the line after the towing has started and I am not going to carry my glider out to the line. Jamie assures me it is a very short walk so we head out about 1:30pm to start setting up.
A little over half the competitors are flying today. We drop our gliders at the back of the line and check out how the towing is going. It doesn't seem to be moving to fast so we sit under the red bull tent for a while, drinking red bull and listening to the music they are playing. We wait for the line to get shorter because once you set up your glider you can't leave it. The dust devils are fierce here and your glider can be destroyed if you leave alone too long. After about 1/2hr Garnet helps me set up my glider. I'm one of the last few to tow up and Davis gives me a lecture while I'm on the Dolly as he doesn't like how pilots ahead of me were launching.
I have an uneventful tow and get waived off at 2000'agl. The tug pilot flags me off in a good thermal but it stops at just over 4000'asl. I wander around the field for over an hour trying to get high before I head out and finally get a strong climb to 8000'. I figure it's a bit late to try and tackle the task and probably a bit much for me today any way. No sense getting burnt out before the comp even starts. So I decide to head to the second turn point to see if I can meet up with the lead guys at the turn point and race back with them. A couple other gliders have the same idea and we fly off to the turn point together. The lift seems a little better away from the air field and we climb to over 10,000' on the way there. I never really get low and it's a pretty easy trip out and back for a total flight distance of 50km. I take a climb 15km out to 9000' and should make it in pretty easy. My instrument shows I have 1100' to spare and when I switch to my final glide page it's a 6.5/1 glide into goal. Man 11100' over the field I'm going to look like a fool. As I fly through lift on the way in my numbers only get worse. 1900' above goal. I'm going to look like a total amateur. I cross the line going fast, about 1000' over the field. Only a couple gliders there so no one really notices I'm in orbit over goal.
As I get low it's still way over 40c at 6:00pm. My landing is better than many, right in the middle of the field leaving me a long walk to tear down. Garnet comes out and helps carry my glider back to the hanger.
I was very happy with my practice day and now I'm ready to head off on some massive task for tomorrow.
Opening Ceremonies.
The parade of nations started at the bowling club and went along the river finishing up at the Rugby club. It was a short walk but was still near 40c when the parade began.
I think 23 nations are represented here and just about all the best pilots are here. Should be a very competitive meet.
After all the nations were introduce we had some orderves before the speeches started. The FAI president, Vicki Cain, the mayor and a few others gave speeches. Following that was a welcome BBQ put on by the town. The food was awesome. After that they had some live music and we danced into the night. It was a very nice warm summer evening. Meet some new people and had a great visit with lots of people.
I think it was a Colombian was the first to grab his flag and start dancing with it. This inspired a bunch of to grab our flags and join in. I must have had a few too many rums as I some how managed to grab the Austrian flag by mistake. I'll have to look at my glider to remind me of what our flag looks like.
I think 23 nations are represented here and just about all the best pilots are here. Should be a very competitive meet.
After all the nations were introduce we had some orderves before the speeches started. The FAI president, Vicki Cain, the mayor and a few others gave speeches. Following that was a welcome BBQ put on by the town. The food was awesome. After that they had some live music and we danced into the night. It was a very nice warm summer evening. Meet some new people and had a great visit with lots of people.
I think it was a Colombian was the first to grab his flag and start dancing with it. This inspired a bunch of to grab our flags and join in. I must have had a few too many rums as I some how managed to grab the Austrian flag by mistake. I'll have to look at my glider to remind me of what our flag looks like.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Flytec Race and Rally task 2
Today we were supposed to fly from Lake Wales but due to some issue with the airport there we got a message we would be flying from Quest. We haven't moved the trailer from Quest and stayed here every night so far. This was great news. We had our gliders set up before the rest of the rally got to Quest. The winds were much lighter today but due to strong winds forecast further north for tomorrow the task was three turn points then back to Quest for a total distance of 101km. We'll head north tomorrow as the winds will get lighter to the north over the next couple days
My ordered launch position was in the middle part of the line so I decided not to go with the early launch. Well the top 15 pilots were all in the last part of the launch order so almost all of them went during the early launch putting me near the back of pack. Towing seemed a bit easier today and I was less stressed knowing my glider would fly after getting off the ground yesterday. I had another auto release at about 800' and had to land for a relight. Now I was at the back of the pack.
Steve Kroop told me my early release had to be my barrel hitting my base bar. I didn't pitch down so far and the tow worked out much better. The tug pilot waved me off in a good climb and I climbed up to what was forecast to be the top of lift. It was a blue day all day which I prefer any way. Clouds often lie here.
I was up five minutes after the first start and not near the edge of the start circle so hung around for the second start. I head out for the first turn point just after the second start with plenty of pilots marking lift in front of me. Top of lift was about 4500' which was more than Forest. I felt very rusty. Floundering around and not climbing well. I did manage to pick some good lines on the way to the first turn point staying high all the way. Still not feeling very confident and hitting big sink on the way back. I got low but another pilot ahead of me helped dig me out in a strong climb back to base. Again I was sinking fast and when I saw Quest, I got beer suck. I made a b-line for Quest and hung out over the field finding some lift but never getting high. Watching the wind socks switch 360degrees didn't inspire me to land. How ever I was soon pounding into the field (ungracefully return to earth some one told me).
The good parts of my choice was one: I don't have to break down or set up tomorrow and I got to see every one race into goal.
My ordered launch position was in the middle part of the line so I decided not to go with the early launch. Well the top 15 pilots were all in the last part of the launch order so almost all of them went during the early launch putting me near the back of pack. Towing seemed a bit easier today and I was less stressed knowing my glider would fly after getting off the ground yesterday. I had another auto release at about 800' and had to land for a relight. Now I was at the back of the pack.
Steve Kroop told me my early release had to be my barrel hitting my base bar. I didn't pitch down so far and the tow worked out much better. The tug pilot waved me off in a good climb and I climbed up to what was forecast to be the top of lift. It was a blue day all day which I prefer any way. Clouds often lie here.
I was up five minutes after the first start and not near the edge of the start circle so hung around for the second start. I head out for the first turn point just after the second start with plenty of pilots marking lift in front of me. Top of lift was about 4500' which was more than Forest. I felt very rusty. Floundering around and not climbing well. I did manage to pick some good lines on the way to the first turn point staying high all the way. Still not feeling very confident and hitting big sink on the way back. I got low but another pilot ahead of me helped dig me out in a strong climb back to base. Again I was sinking fast and when I saw Quest, I got beer suck. I made a b-line for Quest and hung out over the field finding some lift but never getting high. Watching the wind socks switch 360degrees didn't inspire me to land. How ever I was soon pounding into the field (ungracefully return to earth some one told me).
The good parts of my choice was one: I don't have to break down or set up tomorrow and I got to see every one race into goal.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Flytec Race and Rally task 1
We travelled to Dunellon because we had strong winds forcast and it's a bigger more open airport. The task was 70ish km to Quest and then south to lake wales for a total of about 150km. I was near the end of the ordered launch and was fine with that. Having not flown for a long time I wanted stay out of the way and take my time. The first bit of the tow was pretty sporty and I auto released at about 300'. I skipped the bits of lift around not wanting to struggle to get up from so low. I landed a fare distance away from the launch area to stay out of the way but it was a bit of a walk. After getting back to the launch line I took off my harness and grabbed some water. The stress of towing and the walk takes a lot out of you. Soon after the sea breeze hit and killed all the lift. Every one that hadn't gotten away by then had to tear down and hit the road. About 15 made goal.
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