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.

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.



Miles in May

Well sadly the whole comp can be summed up in one post. We had a couple days we flew short flights followed by a few days of rain. The weather to the east was looking better so not wanting to sit in the rain for another day I suggested heading to North Battleford towards better weather.

We stayed at Larry's cabins on the lake and did a little man towing on the beach with Timmy's paraglider. We found a tow road Just north of North Battleford which worked out great. The locals were friendly and didn't seem to have a problem with us using the roads. The wind was strong blowing from 25 km/h to 35 km/h out of the east. We were on a line of two weather systems. To the west it was over cast and to the east was nice looking Cu's.

Ross and Doug launched early and weren't able to stay up. I wanted to wait a bit any way for the over cast to push further west. After Timmy took a couple tows and started to drift away I figured it was time to go. I pinned off in good lift and slowly climbed out and drifted down wind. I was feeling pretty rust and not flying very well. After working hard to get to cloud base at 9000' it was easier to stay up. I stayed high for all of the flight until I started to catch up to the overcast skies. Perhaps it was just my perception that the lift should be shutting down. Their was some lift around which was hard to work low in the strong winds. Not wanting to end up with a challenging landing I turned into the wind and landed. Ross managed to stay up for another couple hours and flew 220km. Doug Keller also landed a little further than me at 100km.

We went back to Daysland on Saturday for another windy day. It was similar to the North Battleford day with the strong wind making getting up difficult. I drifted away from the tow road before I landed. Many pilots took several tows. Those that did get up made the 100km goal easy.

Sunday wasn't a comp day but was the best XC day I'd seen in a long time. Since we were heading home we just made a short 22km task back to the golf course. The winds were light and the lift was very good. It got awesome at about 2:30pm. When I arrived over the golf course their was plenty of lift and climbing out was easy. Would have been a great race day. Hopefully we will have some more great days this summer.

The wheels on the bus go round.

After leaving France Joseph the next stop was Makaraura or something to that effect. After dinner we did some Karaoke. It was a fun night hanging out with every one. Back on the road and a short stop in Wanaka for lunch. Then off to JB Hacket which is the first bungy jumper in the world. I've never had a strong desire to go bungy jumping but if I do it I will do it here in Queenstown where it all started. One last night with the gang from the bus before we split up. I have a few days here in Queeenstown.

I've started watching the weather back home and am glad to see it is slowly improving. I would be happy NOT to see any snow when I get back. Look forward to doing some flights on my own.

Friday would have been my last day but it rained so we didn't work. Saturday was a going away party for Fiona from sky dive. A few of us were leaving so it was a bit of an all in one party. It was a fun get together one last time with every one before setting out on my trip home.

Sunday I hopped on the Stray bus and we made our way to Barry town. Barry Town is a hotel and a few houses. It's a big party night and the theme for the night was dirty pirate hooker. You could dress up as any of them or combination of two or all three. It was a fun night getting to know every one. Four of us got up early to do some jade carving while the rest got to sleep in until noon.

Then we were off to France Josef Glacier. It was an early night as every one was up early today to do a hike on the glacier. The weather was perfect this morning for a hike. After lunch I've been trying to catch up on Internet stuff but getting very frustrated. The Internet connection in this country is brutal. managing to get a few things done.

Another Party

Launching rounds into the neigbours yard.

Roasting the pig.


We had a birthday party for Lee on the weekend. A friend that lives here in Mot. The guys were out pig hunting a month ago and got a small wild bore. Pig hunting is very common here. They normally go out with dogs and a knife and that's it. The pig was frozen until Lee's party and then thawed and roasted on a spit. It was very tasty. The theme for the party was Camioflauge which I didn't know until I got to the party. Didn't have any to wear any way. The guys set off, what seemed like a lot of fire works. Considering what we pay for them in Canada it would have been very expensive. They must pay a lot less for them here. The cops had been by three time before 9:30 to ask us to keep the music down. Seemed kind of early for people to be complaining As they boys got their party on they figured arm wrestling would be fun. Turned out not so much. Lee broke his arm and the ambulance came and took him into Nelson. He didn't even get any wild bore before he left. That will ruin his rugby season:( I headed home early as I had to work on Sunday. I only got a little lost walking home. Only a few weeks left before I head back to Canada.

East coast tour.

I've added some pictures to older posts. My last day's off I headed out to the east coast. I started off going to Hanmer Springs. It's a nice little city that has mostly newer buildings. The area around town reminds me a lot of the Kamloops area. They have some hot springs there which I spent a couple hours in relaxing. They have lots to do including bungy jumping, jet boating, quad bikes, rafting, horse trecks and more. I was going to do a trail ride in the morning but it was raining so I just hit the road. My next stop was at a seal colony. Can't remember how to spell the name of the town. I almost stepped on a seal which jumped up and barked at me from two feet away. Scared the crap out of me. After grabing some garlic shimp for lunch I headed north up the coast to Bleimner and did some shopping before heading back west and home.

They look a lot scarier from a couple feet with there teeth showing.

A few seal facts.

Most bridges here are one lane. They jump off this one.

Typical narrow Kiwi road but fun to drive.

Mariua falls created from a big earth quake in Murchison.