The results are in: Derren Francis the Bishop of Bicester 1st, Matt Cook 2nd, Dave Watt The Wizard (and probably still the best pilot of the three) 3rd. Due to a deft bit of one upmanship, having flaps, I managed to gain a few points on Howard and ended up 8th overall.
Pretty happy with that. No land outs and fairly consistent performance day to day. Best of all I can genuinely claim that the result was all mine. I made pretty much all my own decisions throughout the week and few duff ones.
Funny game the Nationals. It is not about winning, it is all about not losing. The best way to not lose is to attach yourself with a short umbilical to a great pilot and, starting a few seconds after, follow all the way around then lunge at the finish line to claim a few points each day.
Several pilots did their own thing and had both good and bad days. Double world champion Steve Jones had a mare of a competition as did British Team member and previous National Champion Ed Johnston who won the last day. Maxi Gat had two silly incidents and excellent pilot Steve Ell will be trying to forget the week too. I suspect that Leigh Wells will think he should have done better. Owain Walters should be happy with his week coming in 4th.
7 days out of 9 was a great flying week albeit without a single searingly good racing day. Roll on 2015.
Sunday 24 August 2014
Day 7 Sunday
Well, it is all over bar the results. As the weather was expected to close in from the NW they set us a short 180k task to the NW! ALT - BSN - RAB - OXS - KGS - MOT - LA5 - LA7 Yes, there really was that many turn points.
All I wanted to do was protect my position, so I decided to start early whatever and get round the task. Went well to start but as I approached RAB it was clear that the approaching front was killing the sun and the lift. I dropped a little ballast and was caught by the gaggle who started a few minutes after me.
We all trundled NE into the slightly better air and crept our way up to Abingdon. There the climb was OK but there looked to be better further East so I elected to do a long glide in and out of OXS towards Benson. Everyone followed me for a change!
Goodish climbs and very good runs going South put us all in towards KGS. The gaggle powered through the turn but I found a good climb behind them which gave me the option of pushing a little further S to let the wind take me to MOT. Good climb after KGS put me on glide with T4 just behind.
As it happened, we both had far too much energy and using the into wind lines was able to fly all the way home at 100kts+ crossing the line at VNE.
Will post the result later.
All I wanted to do was protect my position, so I decided to start early whatever and get round the task. Went well to start but as I approached RAB it was clear that the approaching front was killing the sun and the lift. I dropped a little ballast and was caught by the gaggle who started a few minutes after me.
We all trundled NE into the slightly better air and crept our way up to Abingdon. There the climb was OK but there looked to be better further East so I elected to do a long glide in and out of OXS towards Benson. Everyone followed me for a change!
Goodish climbs and very good runs going South put us all in towards KGS. The gaggle powered through the turn but I found a good climb behind them which gave me the option of pushing a little further S to let the wind take me to MOT. Good climb after KGS put me on glide with T4 just behind.
As it happened, we both had far too much energy and using the into wind lines was able to fly all the way home at 100kts+ crossing the line at VNE.
Will post the result later.
Saturday 23 August 2014
Day 6?
Completely lost track of which day it is. Is is Saturday? Funny how if you stay in the moment and concentrate on the right now, you completely lose track of time. I think it was a bit like that on task today. All I wanted was to stay up!
Seriously, we were set an AAT because the organisation was concerned about the Red Arrows display at Carfest which was scheduled for 19:30 and they reasoned that we would all be back before then. ALT MOT 2k MAM 20k DID 20k MEL 15k BSN 5k LA5 2k LA7
The really good soaring today was along the south coast. The forecast for central England was showers and shite. So we went North!
Waited around for the gaggle to start then went some 5 minutes later. Difficult to get through the first turn like yesterday then climbed to cloudbase at Newbury and on. Unfortunately showers wrecked the sky and I had to take a punt into the sunshine at MAR. There I got a weak climb off a combine in the sun and managed to creep into the MAM sector near Wroughton, on to a climb over Swindon.
Towards DID (I had planned to go to Watlington) there was a great hole so dipped into sector and back to Swindon. Then a nervy glide to the sun on the ridges towards Trowbridge. Decent climb to cloudbase but then on past a shower at Keevil (dumped big time) into a climb at Westbury very close to the Salisbury danger area and penalty zone.
Easy run home but early so took poor climbs to use the time and make the most of the last two sectors coming in 2 minutes over time. Others had come in early!
I thought I might have done well but in actuality I had not flown far enough and finished 13th on the day. Should have done better but I have the consolation that others did worse! Still 9th overall.
ps: There was a funny moment when the gaggle that follows DW was arguing over where to go in the showers. I thought of suggesting they do their own thing and let the result show who makes the best decisons! Of course they all let F2 / DW do the thinking. I am clearly not team material!
Seriously, we were set an AAT because the organisation was concerned about the Red Arrows display at Carfest which was scheduled for 19:30 and they reasoned that we would all be back before then. ALT MOT 2k MAM 20k DID 20k MEL 15k BSN 5k LA5 2k LA7
The really good soaring today was along the south coast. The forecast for central England was showers and shite. So we went North!
Waited around for the gaggle to start then went some 5 minutes later. Difficult to get through the first turn like yesterday then climbed to cloudbase at Newbury and on. Unfortunately showers wrecked the sky and I had to take a punt into the sunshine at MAR. There I got a weak climb off a combine in the sun and managed to creep into the MAM sector near Wroughton, on to a climb over Swindon.
Towards DID (I had planned to go to Watlington) there was a great hole so dipped into sector and back to Swindon. Then a nervy glide to the sun on the ridges towards Trowbridge. Decent climb to cloudbase but then on past a shower at Keevil (dumped big time) into a climb at Westbury very close to the Salisbury danger area and penalty zone.
Easy run home but early so took poor climbs to use the time and make the most of the last two sectors coming in 2 minutes over time. Others had come in early!
I thought I might have done well but in actuality I had not flown far enough and finished 13th on the day. Should have done better but I have the consolation that others did worse! Still 9th overall.
ps: There was a funny moment when the gaggle that follows DW was arguing over where to go in the showers. I thought of suggesting they do their own thing and let the result show who makes the best decisons! Of course they all let F2 / DW do the thinking. I am clearly not team material!
Friday 22 August 2014
Day 5 Friday
Today started a bit grey but promised good thermals later. Pete set 326k with lots of turns to get around Chris Evans' Carfest: ALT BSN AVE BLY MEM MOT LA5 LA7
The weather man, Dave Masson, gave us a very positve forecast but omitted to mention the wave or the top cover! We all started late and flew straight into a hole. So having turned BSN we were all in the dirt. I found a weak thermal at 1400ft but others flew down to 400ft or so!
Having got away at Newbury a good run in and out of AVE to the Oxford area where I got a great climb to cloudbase. Good job becuase next was a long 32k glide to Aylesbury. I closed the vents and flew at 65kts all the way holding my breath. Good climbs in and out of BLY and took a northerly line towards BIC before turning towards Oxford.
There some top cover appeared and I had a very edgy glide into MEM and then downwind to a combine which got me up from 2000ft onto glide for home. 8th today and 9th overall. Took at least one scalp!
If you take a look at the trace you will notice that I got the best glides crosswind. Pity I didn't clock this on task.
Tomorrow looks good.
The weather man, Dave Masson, gave us a very positve forecast but omitted to mention the wave or the top cover! We all started late and flew straight into a hole. So having turned BSN we were all in the dirt. I found a weak thermal at 1400ft but others flew down to 400ft or so!
Having got away at Newbury a good run in and out of AVE to the Oxford area where I got a great climb to cloudbase. Good job becuase next was a long 32k glide to Aylesbury. I closed the vents and flew at 65kts all the way holding my breath. Good climbs in and out of BLY and took a northerly line towards BIC before turning towards Oxford.
There some top cover appeared and I had a very edgy glide into MEM and then downwind to a combine which got me up from 2000ft onto glide for home. 8th today and 9th overall. Took at least one scalp!
If you take a look at the trace you will notice that I got the best glides crosswind. Pity I didn't clock this on task.
Tomorrow looks good.
Wednesday 20 August 2014
Day 4 Continued
We were set a 4 hour AAT with barrels at Hungerford North (15k), Finmere (25k), Chilbolton (5k), Yeovilton Reservoir (20k) and Bullington (2k) 528k possible.
Actually 528k impossible. Not a very sensible task as the first 3 barrels didn't really come into play because of airspace etc. Started just before the bunch and did my own thing which went quite well up to Brill where the air towards my target (NOS) was crappy and I ended up mouching around towards MK before turning south for a bit of a scrape until Chalgrove where I got back to cloudbase.
Several long glides and low climbs got me round CBN and into a fantastic street through Salisbury and Shaftesbury onto the plain beyond. There it got a bit trickier but I caught the bunch there, albeit a bit below them. They carried on, but I turned back with 50 minutes to run.
From there it all got a bit tricky and I found myself in the gloom at Salisbury with nowhere to go. I took a punt and headed over Boscombe towards Andover being careful to avoid Porton Down which was declared a penalty zone today. I found a 4kt climb from low down within the Wallop ATZ (they were very helpful) which put me on glide to Lasham to finish in 4:06 at 92Kph.
Still a bit behind the pace but I doubt I will be last. We will see later tonight. Update: 14th dropping me one place to 9th overall.
Ps: I believe that the traces are on Soaring Spot so I will not be posting this one on the ladder.
pps: If I thought I could have a better day, think of poor Chris Starkey. His wife drove their car over his wing this morning. Not good for marital bliss!!!
Actually 528k impossible. Not a very sensible task as the first 3 barrels didn't really come into play because of airspace etc. Started just before the bunch and did my own thing which went quite well up to Brill where the air towards my target (NOS) was crappy and I ended up mouching around towards MK before turning south for a bit of a scrape until Chalgrove where I got back to cloudbase.
Several long glides and low climbs got me round CBN and into a fantastic street through Salisbury and Shaftesbury onto the plain beyond. There it got a bit trickier but I caught the bunch there, albeit a bit below them. They carried on, but I turned back with 50 minutes to run.
From there it all got a bit tricky and I found myself in the gloom at Salisbury with nowhere to go. I took a punt and headed over Boscombe towards Andover being careful to avoid Porton Down which was declared a penalty zone today. I found a 4kt climb from low down within the Wallop ATZ (they were very helpful) which put me on glide to Lasham to finish in 4:06 at 92Kph.
Still a bit behind the pace but I doubt I will be last. We will see later tonight. Update: 14th dropping me one place to 9th overall.
Ps: I believe that the traces are on Soaring Spot so I will not be posting this one on the ladder.
pps: If I thought I could have a better day, think of poor Chris Starkey. His wife drove their car over his wing this morning. Not good for marital bliss!!!
Wednesday 20th
Weather today is looking good. If it is as convective but with less showers and less wind we should get a good day. What should one have for breakfast after 4 consecutive fry ups??
Tuesday 19 August 2014
Tuesday Day 3
Glad not to have spent last night in a tent. Apparently temperatures dropped to c. 5C on the airfield!! Nice and cosy here at Walnut Tree Barn.
Today's met was a bit ground hog. Same as yesterday but possibly less showers. We were set 247k BAS TRY BSW BLD CBN LA7 and I started well but that was about it. A bad day at the office. I lost the gaggle early on because I thought all those world champs were going the wrong way!
Caught them up again at BSW as they got stopped by a big shower but then lost them again near Andover when I decided they were fools going on and stopped to top up. The rest of the flight was on my own and whilst getting into Blandford was tricky everything lined up on the way home and getting back to Lasham was relatively easy.
A bit off the pace again.
Jim
Today's met was a bit ground hog. Same as yesterday but possibly less showers. We were set 247k BAS TRY BSW BLD CBN LA7 and I started well but that was about it. A bad day at the office. I lost the gaggle early on because I thought all those world champs were going the wrong way!
Caught them up again at BSW as they got stopped by a big shower but then lost them again near Andover when I decided they were fools going on and stopped to top up. The rest of the flight was on my own and whilst getting into Blandford was tricky everything lined up on the way home and getting back to Lasham was relatively easy.
A bit off the pace again.
Jim
Monday 18 August 2014
Monday 18th
Today was very busy doing not very much. Gridded early to find breifing put back to 10:30. Set task A to Brill via Treyford and Great Bedwin 247k. Juniors launched first into a congested sky and landed out. Then a rebrief to Task B to Bicester via Great Bedwyn.
The sky to North went to shite, then we rebriefed again for Treyford Great Bedwyn via Basingstoke and launched..... I was last to launch at 13:49. The start line was called for 4300ft at 14:05 giving me less than the requried 17 minutes to get to start height. I complained to no avail.
Was able to climb to cloudbase in front of a shower up the side of agreat CuNim then flew through rain to the start zone and back through rain down track. After a minute or two I decided it was a no hoper so returned to Lasham for a relight. There I found DW and F2 who had started and done the same.
Eventually everyone except Buster Naegli landed back and queued up for a relight behind me. Despite waiting for 520 (Naegli) to return and 17:45 (last launch 1800) the day never happened and we put the gliders away.
Fortunately no one passed Y so no points awarded and I did not have to protest the start time...most unpopular but would have prevented anyone from getting points.
25 minutes of interesting flying within a generally frustrating day. Anyhow, now comfortably lodged in the Walnut Barn B&B in Bentworth. Nice fillet steak in the Sun Inn. Bed.
Jim
The sky to North went to shite, then we rebriefed again for Treyford Great Bedwyn via Basingstoke and launched..... I was last to launch at 13:49. The start line was called for 4300ft at 14:05 giving me less than the requried 17 minutes to get to start height. I complained to no avail.
Was able to climb to cloudbase in front of a shower up the side of agreat CuNim then flew through rain to the start zone and back through rain down track. After a minute or two I decided it was a no hoper so returned to Lasham for a relight. There I found DW and F2 who had started and done the same.
Eventually everyone except Buster Naegli landed back and queued up for a relight behind me. Despite waiting for 520 (Naegli) to return and 17:45 (last launch 1800) the day never happened and we put the gliders away.
Fortunately no one passed Y so no points awarded and I did not have to protest the start time...most unpopular but would have prevented anyone from getting points.
25 minutes of interesting flying within a generally frustrating day. Anyhow, now comfortably lodged in the Walnut Barn B&B in Bentworth. Nice fillet steak in the Sun Inn. Bed.
Jim
Day 2
The day started quite unpromising but the director was keen and confident. At about 12 he asked us to rig and grid, then heavens opened and a deluge followed! Quickly on the grid after the rain stopped and into briefing to be given a 150k task into wind CAC CLP CHV WH2 LA7.
I was at the front of the grid, launched and fell back to ground for a relight. Second time was better as I crossed to Basingstoke where there was a stonking line. 6kts to cloudbase settled me down. I had to fly 14k to the start line, climbed and started on my own.
Some streets were booming some had had their day. I was nervy skirting the Southampton airspace to Andover where I got a decent 4kt climb back up. Then a long glide at 104:1 to MAR where I was bounced by LE, T6, VV, and 66. This spurred me on a bit and I turned CLP first on a 41k glide at 180:1. Amazing how a 30kt tailwind helps your averages!
A small climb at MEM put me on for a 63k glide home. This was twice now I had found a crosswind line W of Salisbury Plain. Only a couple of landouts.Well done Pete for sending us.
My slow start put me 15 mins behind the pace. Leigh Wells won the day in 1hr 30mins (or so) and as the top ten were only 5 mins apart I ended up 16th. A devalued day meant that I lost only a few points to the field and remain 6th overall just 7 points ahead of Leigh.
Today looks like another good one depsite the front overhead.
I was at the front of the grid, launched and fell back to ground for a relight. Second time was better as I crossed to Basingstoke where there was a stonking line. 6kts to cloudbase settled me down. I had to fly 14k to the start line, climbed and started on my own.
Some streets were booming some had had their day. I was nervy skirting the Southampton airspace to Andover where I got a decent 4kt climb back up. Then a long glide at 104:1 to MAR where I was bounced by LE, T6, VV, and 66. This spurred me on a bit and I turned CLP first on a 41k glide at 180:1. Amazing how a 30kt tailwind helps your averages!
A small climb at MEM put me on for a 63k glide home. This was twice now I had found a crosswind line W of Salisbury Plain. Only a couple of landouts.Well done Pete for sending us.
My slow start put me 15 mins behind the pace. Leigh Wells won the day in 1hr 30mins (or so) and as the top ten were only 5 mins apart I ended up 16th. A devalued day meant that I lost only a few points to the field and remain 6th overall just 7 points ahead of Leigh.
Today looks like another good one depsite the front overhead.
Saturday 16 August 2014
Day 1
We were set ALT HAR ILS BUC WAN BUL LA7 but by the time the Juniors had launched the weather to the S was all clagged out so the Director sensibly retasked ALT CHV BUC WAN BUL LA7 which was a bit shorter and into better air.
Off tow I found a thermal and before I knew it was joined by LE. I spent the next 40 minutes chasing Leigh around thinking that would a good thing to do. Of course he lost me just before the start! I started then thought I may have gone too soon but kept on after a short dither.
Flew most of the way to BUC in the company of Matt and Derren. Watty seemed to be doing his own thing. After BUC We were getting very low going into 20kt headwind and I didn't like the look of what they were doing. At that time I found a weak thermal which turned into 4kts to cloudbase and I zoomed past most of the pack into Oxford where I came under M2 and F2 again in a very weak climb at about 2500ft. I bravely left them and went a little NW. There I found a corker to cloudbase but it remained a bitch to get into Wantage against the 23kt headwind.
Finally around then fairly straightforward home but I went slow thinking that I had done the hard bit and it would be foolish to land out now.
DW, 900, M2, F2, and 10 all finished before me but I think I may have embarrassed one or two players! Trace will go up on the ladder in a moment. Results to follow.
Jim
Off tow I found a thermal and before I knew it was joined by LE. I spent the next 40 minutes chasing Leigh around thinking that would a good thing to do. Of course he lost me just before the start! I started then thought I may have gone too soon but kept on after a short dither.
Flew most of the way to BUC in the company of Matt and Derren. Watty seemed to be doing his own thing. After BUC We were getting very low going into 20kt headwind and I didn't like the look of what they were doing. At that time I found a weak thermal which turned into 4kts to cloudbase and I zoomed past most of the pack into Oxford where I came under M2 and F2 again in a very weak climb at about 2500ft. I bravely left them and went a little NW. There I found a corker to cloudbase but it remained a bitch to get into Wantage against the 23kt headwind.
Finally around then fairly straightforward home but I went slow thinking that I had done the hard bit and it would be foolish to land out now.
DW, 900, M2, F2, and 10 all finished before me but I think I may have embarrassed one or two players! Trace will go up on the ladder in a moment. Results to follow.
Jim
Off and running
Tent pitched, fridge full. I can certainly recommend these new self inflating foam mattresses! A bit cold 9C overnight but we are promised good soaring for a short while today.
The 15s are gridded behind the juniors and we have been set 267k down to ALT the up to BUC via ILS and then home via WAN and BUL.
Just programming the computers. Must be off.
Jim
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| Camp site |
Just programming the computers. Must be off.
Jim
Thursday 14 August 2014
Another Year, Another Comp
Hi all
This year the 15's was due to take place at Tibenham. If you know where TIB is, then you know why I didn't enter. Only a handful of pilots did. So the BGA comps committee wisely moved the competition to Lasham to run alongside the Juniors and a flurry of late entries means we have a field of 24 including myself.
As usual, I will try to post the story of my week as it goes along. Hopefully I will get a better start than last year, but I do not expect to win this time. The field includes several World Championship medal winners, several of the UK team and untold previous National Champions.
I am sure, however, that the gliding will be fun and it also looks as though we will have some decent weather. The last time I flew from Lasham we had just one day and that was a mass landout!
Watch this space.....
This year the 15's was due to take place at Tibenham. If you know where TIB is, then you know why I didn't enter. Only a handful of pilots did. So the BGA comps committee wisely moved the competition to Lasham to run alongside the Juniors and a flurry of late entries means we have a field of 24 including myself.
As usual, I will try to post the story of my week as it goes along. Hopefully I will get a better start than last year, but I do not expect to win this time. The field includes several World Championship medal winners, several of the UK team and untold previous National Champions.
I am sure, however, that the gliding will be fun and it also looks as though we will have some decent weather. The last time I flew from Lasham we had just one day and that was a mass landout!
Watch this space.....
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