Yesterday we were set 249k HB3 NWK STT SIL LUT HUS and launched at 1300. I climbed then fell down to about 1400ft near the airfield and scratched for 30mins to get back up. Despite the cufr (cumulus frivolous) it was tricky to locate the thermals and they were very tight. Soon after I got up I called a start and set off to MAH to see what the air was like there - better. So I returned and started again just before the big gaggle.
I had a good run out but with modest thermals. I got caught by the gaggle just short of NWK but by going direct into the turn I kept up with Watty who was flying like the legend he is! A good climb at the turn kept me in touch but as usual I found it very difficult to work the thermals in the gaggle and preferred to be finding my own climbs. Consequently I chose a slightly different line and made similar time in improving conditions with thermals up to 5kts and 5000ft down to NOS. They got away from me in and out of SIL but a climb onto glide near STS and a better line gave me an fast and easy final glide around LUT to a 140kt finish.
Any day I fly a task over 100kph I am happy but my 105 was somewhat behind Ed Johnstone's 113 leaving me in 14th place for the day. Hoorah. I am no longer bottom!
Steve Brown has gone home now, so no crew again. Thanks for your help Steve. Looks blue today.
Thursday, 18 July 2013
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
Apologies for late posting. Been busy. Monday's task saw us go up to Grantham then S and East. Set off well on my own and had really good climbs going North. As I passed MAH I saw a fire on track which got bigger and bigger. Turned out to be McCains chip factory burning down. I found a climb quite near and by the top was right by the smoke. Reckoned that a cloud climb would have been spectacular but judging by the blackness of the smoke I didn't want to go too near.
(later the fire service said it was good as the cloud was full of asbestos!)
In to Grantham and was surprised to meet the peloton coming out. Turned and went back to the fire getting there lowish. Like a fool I rejected a climb and ended up 15 mins later on the ground at Cottesmore. Bummer.
Yesterday however was much better. NAW WCB PIT RUT HB5 HUS 245k. I was determined to fly my own flight and mosied around happy to start up till 3pm. I got back to a large gaggle about 300ft lower when they started. I decided to follow despite being lower but about 2k down track I spotted a nice looking climb that the gaggle was flying left of. I turned right and took the climb. When I next met up with the gaggle I was at the top having made about 800ft on them.
I was again tempted to fly a long glide to near the Cotswolds edge but the gaggle went S and I thought "hmm..there is some good guys in there, I'll folow". As it turned out the next real climb I took was where I had intended near the ridge! In and out of WCB OK and back to a decent climb on the ridge.
Soon after I caught up with Watty who had started 20 mins earlier than me. He was about 200ft above me but I was finding his thermal a bit tricky to centre and when the gaggle bombed me I decided to leave. Wrong! After failing to get away well I set off towards Edgehill which was on track. The computer said I would get there at 500ft. I did!!! Fortunately the Church was on my side and I got a climb back up off the church. Onwards.
Good climb at Banbury...joined by the gaggle again. On the way to PIT I climbed on my own off a tractor and climbed high. Surprisingly the gaggle (good guys in there) went well south over Northampton?? I went straight to PIT and met up with T6 climbing in nothing. Left for Kettering and Corby. Good climb at COR and well into RUT at about 3000ft.
I reckoned I was just on glide home, but the gaggle felt otherwise and went straight back to COR. I decided to try the direct line to HB5 reasoning taht if I got a couple of turns I would have made straight for the finish. Didn't work out, gaggle correct! I flew towards them at Corby and found the best climb over the race track. 3kts onto a generous glide and whizzed home, finishing in a line with T6, 10, and 565.
Overall 8th...should have done better but happy with that. So pleased to get home that Steve Brown and I went out to a gastropub and had a jolly nice grub.
Hot again today. They are gridding us at the W end as there is a bit of E in the wind. This should keep the temperature down a bit in East Anglia and avoid the showers there. I trust we will get a task.
(later the fire service said it was good as the cloud was full of asbestos!)
In to Grantham and was surprised to meet the peloton coming out. Turned and went back to the fire getting there lowish. Like a fool I rejected a climb and ended up 15 mins later on the ground at Cottesmore. Bummer.
Yesterday however was much better. NAW WCB PIT RUT HB5 HUS 245k. I was determined to fly my own flight and mosied around happy to start up till 3pm. I got back to a large gaggle about 300ft lower when they started. I decided to follow despite being lower but about 2k down track I spotted a nice looking climb that the gaggle was flying left of. I turned right and took the climb. When I next met up with the gaggle I was at the top having made about 800ft on them.
I was again tempted to fly a long glide to near the Cotswolds edge but the gaggle went S and I thought "hmm..there is some good guys in there, I'll folow". As it turned out the next real climb I took was where I had intended near the ridge! In and out of WCB OK and back to a decent climb on the ridge.
Soon after I caught up with Watty who had started 20 mins earlier than me. He was about 200ft above me but I was finding his thermal a bit tricky to centre and when the gaggle bombed me I decided to leave. Wrong! After failing to get away well I set off towards Edgehill which was on track. The computer said I would get there at 500ft. I did!!! Fortunately the Church was on my side and I got a climb back up off the church. Onwards.
Good climb at Banbury...joined by the gaggle again. On the way to PIT I climbed on my own off a tractor and climbed high. Surprisingly the gaggle (good guys in there) went well south over Northampton?? I went straight to PIT and met up with T6 climbing in nothing. Left for Kettering and Corby. Good climb at COR and well into RUT at about 3000ft.
I reckoned I was just on glide home, but the gaggle felt otherwise and went straight back to COR. I decided to try the direct line to HB5 reasoning taht if I got a couple of turns I would have made straight for the finish. Didn't work out, gaggle correct! I flew towards them at Corby and found the best climb over the race track. 3kts onto a generous glide and whizzed home, finishing in a line with T6, 10, and 565.
Overall 8th...should have done better but happy with that. So pleased to get home that Steve Brown and I went out to a gastropub and had a jolly nice grub.
Hot again today. They are gridding us at the W end as there is a bit of E in the wind. This should keep the temperature down a bit in East Anglia and avoid the showers there. I trust we will get a task.
Sunday, 14 July 2013
Mass landout
We finally launched at 2:35 on the fall back task of HB3 BRL WSL COB HB7 164k into the blue. There were one or two reasonable climbs to about 3200 before the start unless of course you were in a big gaggle when you mostly ended up going down in the climbs.
I got up pretty well on my own and started first at 3:40ish. I set out South in the blue but didn't bump into anything in the first 10k. Still not having a crew and not fancying another landout, I decided to return to base. As I have already blown the comp I didn't have to go. The others did.
I expected the gaggle to do it but as soon as they started a band of cirrus appeared that made it impossible to return. The entire field landed out between Brill and Northampton. So far the winner is on 97 points. I get 9 for 11.3k!!
Steve Brown has arrived to crew for me for the next few days so hopefully I will be able to report better things.
I got up pretty well on my own and started first at 3:40ish. I set out South in the blue but didn't bump into anything in the first 10k. Still not having a crew and not fancying another landout, I decided to return to base. As I have already blown the comp I didn't have to go. The others did.
I expected the gaggle to do it but as soon as they started a band of cirrus appeared that made it impossible to return. The entire field landed out between Brill and Northampton. So far the winner is on 97 points. I get 9 for 11.3k!!
Steve Brown has arrived to crew for me for the next few days so hopefully I will be able to report better things.
Day 2
I am a bit happier this morning, not because it turned out alright - only 68 points, compared to 600+ for the rest of the field, but because I have slept on it and have determined to enjoy the flying and the company for the rest of the week rather than worry about points.
Today has started with a persistent mist. I have rigged, cleaned, and ballasted the glider and write this from the briefing room. Briefing has been postponed until 11 (or the mist clears).
As I write today's tasks have turned up: HB3 ILS WSL COB HBFE 235k with fall forwards and backs....
Today has started with a persistent mist. I have rigged, cleaned, and ballasted the glider and write this from the briefing room. Briefing has been postponed until 11 (or the mist clears).
As I write today's tasks have turned up: HB3 ILS WSL COB HBFE 235k with fall forwards and backs....
Saturday, 13 July 2013
Day 0
Well, we made it to Hus Bos and checked in to my luxury accomodation behind the toilet block.
To be fair the caravan is clean and tidy and has a proper shower and loo. Unfortuantely the owner's alarm clock was preset to 6am and woke me early today. The good news is that I had rigged, read the paper and had two breakfasts before 9am, all in the cool of the morning.
Expecting good climbs, cu, and maybe sparking later. Task A takes us to ILS via Norman Cross and NOS 297k. Task B turns a little shorter at WES. Will update later
To be fair the caravan is clean and tidy and has a proper shower and loo. Unfortuantely the owner's alarm clock was preset to 6am and woke me early today. The good news is that I had rigged, read the paper and had two breakfasts before 9am, all in the cool of the morning.
I write as we wait for the briefing to start. Most pilots well behaved but one intent of being different....he probably will end up on the podium as is his usual style!
Friday, 5 July 2013
2013 Campaign gets under way
Hi all
Once again I will be throwing myself at the sky in the 15M Nationals. This year we are at HusBos starting on 13th July. There is a smaller field than last year at Lasham where we got just one day's flying, but all the best pilots are in the comp. Doing well this year will require some skill and luck!
Positive comments and support welcome. Watch this space.
Once again I will be throwing myself at the sky in the 15M Nationals. This year we are at HusBos starting on 13th July. There is a smaller field than last year at Lasham where we got just one day's flying, but all the best pilots are in the comp. Doing well this year will require some skill and luck!
Positive comments and support welcome. Watch this space.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
