Monday 31 July 2017

Competition Summary

I thought I would try to summarise the week....

I went unprepared and wasn't ever 'in the zone'. In retrospect with the business and family pressures in play at the moment I should probably have stayed away. Better long range forecasting could also have helped!!

Well done Matt Cook for wresting the cup from the field.

See you all next year.

Saturday 29 July 2017

End of comp

Well I rigged, went to briefing, de-rigged then waited for the scrub. For a moment the sky looked better and I thought I might have to rig again but I held my nerve and the day was scrubbed.

Home now. Glider back at Booker and competition over. They might fly tomorrow but I think it a low probability and as I am pretty much last I have decided to scrub.

Maybe next year??

Saturday

Morning campers! Looking at the weather today it looks as though we shall get to the grid at least. Rubbish arriving mid afternoon from the South but hoping there is a chance to improve my lowly position. More later.

Friday

Day scrubbed. Went to Tintern Abbey.

Thursday 27 July 2017

Thursday

Day scrubbed. Went for a drive up to Great Malvern. As lovely from the ground as from the air. Home for pub grub and dancing!

Scrub Scrub Scrub?

Yesterday was scrubbed due to persisting rain. I went to see my mother in her new nursing home. Nice. Considered booking in to the room next door myself! If anyone needs to select a nursing home, talk to me first. It may prevent you making the same mistakes we did.
This morning is dry but the forecast is for heavy showers today and tomorrow. I expect to be sat around for two more days. We hope to fly Saturday.

Wednesday 26 July 2017

Day 2 Result

I was thrashed! Started too early as did Phil Jones and Paul Crabb who did a similar time. Those that started 50 minutes later romped around together.

Going looking for black paint on white cars today.

Tuesday 25 July 2017

Day 2 Outcome

The weather today was not as good as Nils predicted but OK never-the-less. We were set NAI BUG CHN CHE CLN TET AD2 for 240ish. We were first on the grid so launched at 1300 into the blue. Helpfully my tug took me the opposite direction to the drop zone so once again I found myself all alone!!

Getting a decent start height was difficult so as I was well established in the start zone at 2200ft wanting to go, and no one else was to be seen, I started and flew straight to some good air and a 4kt climb at Gloucester. Then on down track taking good climbs off tractors etc.

Got high after the first turn and headed for GT Malvern where I could see a glider turning which I assumed was C64 who had started a few minutes before me. I don't think it was. I had a good climb there then a straight forward flight round CHN and CHE before getting bombed by the open class near Cirencester.

Easy run into CLN and out for a fast final glide into the finish. Only ELL overtook me during the flight but I think quite a few caught me up a few minutes. We don't know because the organisations server has crashed and no one can upload flights for scoring!

Will report when things are known.

On the downside someone has trashed my car!! No note or apology yet.

Tuesday - New day

Tuesday is a new day. The sun is shining and a fine day expected. 23C with 5000ft cu and a good soaring area but closing down early. Hopefully we shall be on the front of the grid and away early.

Coming last yesterday was a bit embarrassing so today's strategy is to go for it! Hero or zero!

More later.

Monday 24 July 2017

Day 1 post script

I think I will find a bridge and throw myself off! It could not be a worse start - well possibly! We were sent on a 176k triangle round STP and ROS back via TET. 15s were right at the back so an early start was not a possibility and having missed the gaggle start I set off into a very poor looking sky.

Actually quite a good run out past Gloucester but then had a low point near Tewkesbury that took an age to get out of. Never really got high again and decided to retreat home as the sky now looked so bad a land out was a certainty on track.

Actually a land out turned out to be a certainty going home and I landed in a very nice flat field beside the Severn near Hartbury. Boris kindly came for me and I met some very nice people who were very helpful and understanding about my fate.

Back home now about to enjoy a Pizza in The Lamb at Eastcombe. Lovely pub with a fantastic garden.


More tomorrow.

Day 1 Mark 3

Yesterday we scrubbed again as the hail fell. Today there is more chance of a task in a slot up to Worcester and beyond. Going out to rig.

Saturday 22 July 2017

Today has been scrubbed. Crew deserted me and went for a burger without me!!

View from the clubhouse
Well good morning campers. Here we are at the 2017 15M Nationals and it is raining! This year the competition is at Aston Down near Stroud in Gloucestershire.

Aston Down is a former WW1 airfield operated at as gliding site by Cotswold Gliding Club. They have two tarmac runways and we normally launch and land on the 5000ft 021 runway.

Due to a small number of entries in the 15s and the Standards, this year both classes will be flown as one task group with the 15s being scored at 100 handicap and the Standards at 97. This could be embarrassing!

On this blog I will post various thoughts, comments, tasks, details of my flights, and results day to day. If you want to watch the progress of the comp then go to Spot The Gliders at live.glidernet.org and follow my Flarm which should show up as J1M.

More later.