50:50

Date: 12/08/07
Flight: http://www3.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=1487122943
Stats: 101FAI Triangle, 71.56km/hr; 2.2kt avg climb (39% Climbing); 32.3:1 L/D for 8.1km glides = not very impressive...

However, had a nice day out. Was a fairly straight forward sort of flight, however was challenging enough to keep me on the move.

Jo, Richard and I all crossed the start line together at approx the same height. I had a really good run up the first 33km. Again it was a blue day, however only light and variable winds for a strange change up to 3,500AGL. Nothing spectacular to talk about here, however, after 2 climbs I arrived at Dalby after doing 96km/hr!

Unfortunately, it turned pear shaped from there. I turned Dalby @ 2000AGL and went looking for my next big climb. At this point, I should say that there was thick higher level cloud in patches. So although a semi warm day, you still had to be careful to stay out of the shaded areas..

Anyways, I pushed on from Dalby and couldn't have had a worse run: 26:1 for 11km. It was from that point on that I lost out on big speed points. I grovelled from there on really, took me 15min to get out 640' up to 2000AGL again before I felt like I could press on.

Unfortunately, I never did connect with the big climbs that others were reporting again. This was a problem for me, as even though it was a fun club weekend, I still wanted to push on and go faster. Driving myself lower again, 2 x under 1000' saves I finally climb back to 3000AGL again. The last climb I forced myself to take high, as some major shadow was cast in front.

A couple of weak low down climbs later, and I was on a marginal final glide - so marginal that I rolled across the line! But I will explain how that happened, it wasn't that bad... I finished at 80kts on base leg, made a 90* left hand turn onto finals. Made a normal landing and rolled off to the hangar side of the field. Later on, I analysed my trace, and if I wouldn't have gone towards the hangars, I wouldn't have finished!!

For some readers, Sorry to get your heart rate up!

WPP

P.s. The subject is 50:50, as it's now the 2nd out of 4 tasks that I've completed! So who knows what'll happen next weekend...

WR completes a task!

Date: 11/08/07
Flight: http://www3.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=1403585972
Flight Stats: 117km @ 73.56km/hr; 3.0kt avg climb and 38% climbing; 28.7:1 L/D for 10.6km cruises @ 67kts..

I knew it had to happen sometime, but on Saturday the 11th a small task was set after a late start. DDSC - Brookstead - Cecil City - DDSC = 117km FAI Triangle. To spoil the ending, I MADE MY FIRST LANDING BACK @ DDSC IN WR!!!

The weather was dry, cool and windy, like every weekend in the past 3 months. I took the smoothest, easiest climb all day to base right off tow. Jo, Richard and Bob were working their way up, but I looked at my watch and said to myself - sorry to be unsociable, but I've got to start straight away!

20km down the first leg, I hear them start. I felt like I had a horrible run, stopping very regulary, however picking some reasonable climbs. The best climbs of the day felt, ANGRY. If it wasn't chucking you around aggressively, then it wasn't the climb to be in. After making the 1st turn, I soon realised that I was holding my own against the others.

This quietly put me in a good frame of mind, the pressure was off, and I was working a safe height band. I did however get down to 800', but picked off the riverline and managed to get away in a 2kt climb. I wasn't listening to too much of what they had to say, as I myself was talking BS on the radio. Sorry guys...

I had a textbook climb low over the 2nd TP, which drifted me directly back towards the finish. I left it rather quickly though, as I feel like I'm starting to get my confidence back (as well as getting to know the glider better). Sure enough, picked up a nice final climb to get me on glide - for my first finish from a task in WR!

I wont talk about my competition finish, as I'm sure it'll attract a lot of attention. But in a word, I would have to describe it as 'EPIC'!!!

George Lee came for a competition preparation talk at DDSC, so all in all, a great Saturdays soaring..

More ordrinary weather...

I can't believe how unlucky we've been here in SE QLD with the weather lately, the Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays have been the pick of the lot - with the weekends turning to worms. This weekend has started out no different, Windy (15kts on the Oakey forcast), cold and now some top level cloud..


The good news, DDSC have been very pro-active in the coaching game lately, this weekend George Lee is coming to visit in the morning to do a talk on, thermalling, cruising efficiency and task planning. Shane McCaffrey is doing a talk on glider tweaking and preparation. Ralph Henderson on sports psychology (part2).