Volume 1, Number 9
10PM EDST, Friday, January 18th, 2002
Seat 42F, QF653, 36000' over the Bight
"Gordo, I have a feeling we're not in Wylie anymore."

We're nearly done

Jonny Durand had another rough day yesterday landing 40k short, but he was cool about it. He spotted me in the coffee shop "Hey Spitey, was that you that flew by". I haven't corrected him on my surname, but am quite humbled he likes a chat. One advantage to keeping the same glider - everyone knows who you are.

This can be a disadvantage as I'm a little concerned about making a mess of the gaggle flying, just have to make sure I only annoy the French! Though there's 10 of them, and if they fight like they fly then they'll probably take turns kicking the crap out of me.

<Thud> "Think I've got a good spot here.."

<Wham> "Oui definitely got a good one"

<Crack> "Mon dieu, I've got 3- repeat 3 ribs, but they're broken up..."

The last day of competition, and we were all hoping for a race day and a chance to get to goal again - always a great way to finish a comp.

The task committee obviously had this in mind and after some discussion about where the goal should be we were set an out and return to Booligal, returning back past the paddock, with turnpoints 1 and 3 at one-tree so we would be flying along the road.

Total distance was about 140k, with the winds expected to be light. We were expecting a long day, you can work this out to be a 5 hour journey @ 30kph. But I felt confident we could get in.

Bomber was showing a higher than normal anxiety level and was obviously keen to go. I think I've tapered my passion for competing (slightly) with the other, obvious, influences in my life - I don't think he has, and he told me later that he was having concerns about bombing out, as I'd taken a slight lead on him. He needn't have worried.

The lads let me tow first today, as I'd been last on the previous 2 days. Getting the usual great tow from Paul I released in supposed good air at about 800 feet. This turned out to be crap so I headed over to an aerotow-er who was circling on the south end of the paddock at about 500'. I came under him at about 450' and started the day's climbing.

The drift was noticeable, but not that bad and we started topping out at 2800, then 3200 for a while. On about the third return over the paddock there were now 40-50 gliders in the air in 2 large gaggles 50-100m apart at the nearest point of the circle(s). Vertical separation was probably 200 feet, top to bottom - it was getting a little crowded.

By now I'd missed the 1:45 start, and wasn't confident to head out with the low and broken climbs. Then at about 1:55 the lid came off and I found myself coring 1200fpm up between the 2 gaggles to about 6500, but with about 3 minutes to kill.

My GPS had switched to TP1 and with all the traffic I didn't dare switch back to get distance from the start point. With my hesitation to go I missed the jump and headed off after the guns when I realised that the start had been made.

I wasn't alone. The lead group shot away - I couldn't keep up. Behind the leaders was a stream of hopefuls. From my vantage point it appeared to be the view from a comet's tail, looking towards the nucleus - pretty cool.

We seemed to make the first TP at one-tree in about 20 minutes. There was a constant stream of gliders circling so I kept topping up from about 4500 to 5000 and pushing on. Nothing less than 500 fpm.

Rounding TP 1 and the course had cleared somewhat with now a few stragglers and one defined gaggle in front of me with about 30 gliders - slowly pulling away.

Still racing and TP2 at Booligal came into view very quickly. I hadn't noticed, but the wind had increased to 15-20mph from the SW. In reflection obviously why the second leg had passed so quickly.

Coming into TP2 I noticed the guns heading back to One-tree (now TP3) and took a climb to about 6 grand before taking TP2 and heading back. Climbing again and I noticed Phil nearby, in bound to TP2. Strange - I'd drifted back over TP again, what's the wind doing? 15MPH - OK, we did this at Deni on the practise days.

I thought by now that I'd settled down, and had had changed gears for the upwind slog. In retrospect I was still racing somewhat - to the degree that I was getting impatient as I watched some people get away from me. Anyway I took another climb back to about 6500 and pressed on.

After about 3 climbs I'd reached 7000', but Booligal was still just behind my trailing edge. Distance to TP3 seemed to be hovering at about 22 miles. I soon took a long glide and found myself at 1500' and in survival mode - albeit 5k further upwind. I found some 200 up which very quickly turned into 600 up as Gordo came into view above. This climb was good and I came out 3km in credit after the kamikaze dive from 7000'. Gordo was nearby as we set off on glide. I chose a line slightly SW pushing into the breeze now that I was high.

Down to about 5 grand and I found some 300-400 up and called Gordo over. At about 5500 it seemed to drop to 200 up so I left and pressed upwind to where some gliders were circling. Bad move.

I was soon in 600 down and heading for the deck. Gordo had hung back and the thermal continued to work getting him back to 7500. After a brief acquaintance with 0-50fpm I landed about 22k from turnpoint 3.

Gordo continued on and landed about 10k further on. The carnage was becoming obvious, with most of the filed landing within 10K of turnpoint 2, having got round and then been stuck by the breeze.

Bomber and Phil kept going though. They'd past me during one of my lower spells and were now within 15K of TP3.

An hour later I'd packed up and we were loading Gordo's glider, they were now 10K from TP3. We drove to One-tree and inspected the ruins of the (apparently) famous pub, while watching Phil and Bomber start their run to TP3.

They both got round and Bomber pressed on to the final leg getting a climb further down the course while Phil circled up and back from TP3.

They were flying well, but the day had beaten them and they landed at about 7:45pm, 28K from Goal. A great effort (the bastards!).

We headed for Hay and the pub.

Davis won the day in about 5 hrs 12. We've come to the conclusion he's not just flying a hot glider, but is an OK pilot as well. Gordon Rigg won the class 1 race in about 5 hrs 20, pretty impressive. Rohan missed goal by 6k, Jonny by 1K and Craig by 2K. Paris, Gerolf and Mike Barber also made it in.

Paris was telling Gordo later how he, Mike and Gerolf were circling in 100fpm, gradually getting further away from Goal, at about 8pm when they scored 300up and made their dash for the line. Paris got a 1 hour penalty because his GPS track had wrapped around and overwritten his start time. I think Oleg also got in - he and others later said it was the hardest task they had ever finished.

John Durand Snr and Jonny jnr recalled their radio calls "Hey John, there's that rice paddy again."

We all agreed that those who landed early would have been disappointed to see about 600 gliders go over their heads - 30 gliders, 20 times.

"Man that was a popular colour this year..."

Craig won the Aussie title, Paris the Class 1 and Davis was the overall winner. Paris was stoked and soon appeared to be pretty pissed as well.

Bomber and I were pretty happy to come 32nd and 34th respectively - 8th and 9th Aussie's. Although Bomber was hoping on top 30. Shane helped the celebrations by adding that he was highest placed Irishman - The competition was tough.

Bomber once again took the Daz-Bomber challenge. Though I certainly gave him a run this year, and I'm pretty happy with my flying at present. I could be bitter and say that the difference was about $5000, but that's not very sporting.

Lessons learnt

I was obviously being too impatient today. I thought I wasn't but should have spent more conscious effort in slowing down and working the climbs. In the end it was a booming day with some 800-1000fpm climbs. Phil's best height was 8600, above the inversion where he said he was peering through the mist at the ground.

At height the glides were better, the inter thermal sink hasn't really got moving so the air is pretty friendly. It seems that leaving at less than 70-80% max height often costs you more because of this. I also noticed a decreased wind at times, which I (incorrectly) attributed to altitude. I'm guessing now that when in a street the thermals were blocking the wind. I read this in an article by Thomas Supercheck.

On a more general note - we've decided that 4 people per strip is ideal. You really shouldn't have any more. This becomes obvious when at the WA comps you see half of each team stuck in the paddock at the end of each day. Not good for them, nor for the promotion of XC competition.

Thanks for reading. Thanks also for the feedback from many people, not the least being Davis Straub.

I probably won't be at the state comps, so I hope you all have a good time.

And to those of you not competing - Haven't you figured it out yet???