Ager 2015

So after leaving Wednesday morning I've finally arrived in Ager.  The picture is from the pool terrace of the hotel Terradets.  Very civilised unlike the campsite and not costing much more either.

Hamish has proved himself as Mr Unreliable yet again.  I arrive at Jim and Kate's house NW of Tolouse to find no one in.  Fortunately the presence of the dogs suggest they will turn up.  Unfortunately no Hamish who's still back in England.  Not only had he not told me he'd not got round to planning anything.  He'd not told Jim and Kate when I/We would turn up.  He's also forgotten to tell Alex and partner that he was going away and hence wouldn't be there to house sit the Elms.... How to piss off three separate groups of people by failing to communicate anything to anybody. 

Fortunately Jim and Kate are happy for me to stay whilst Hamish gets his act together and works out what he's going to do.  Given Thursday and Friday was wall to wall cunimbs in both Northern Spain and consequently southern France I gratefully accept and leave the final leg of the journey for Saturday morning.  Meeting Tim and Darren as soon as I arrive on Ager.

So flying tomorrow hopefully.

And the end is near...

An ambitous task round the Tremp valley was set but at the time of writing only shedsy hsd activated and a few others got drilled over the back.  Most of the rest of the field either landed at the bottom or did not fly with very few making more than a few hundred over take off.

For the rigids Mike had a broken tip rod so could not fly. Paul, myself and Ilya were in the bottom field only Andy is know to have gone over the back.

Scoring tonight is very relaxed..

Off into the flats

A short task yesterday 86km via a sinin the NW airle turnpoint to calaef aerodrome. Unfortunately problems with anothee rib in the glider meant I was on of the last off.

So onky 20ks and no goal cake for me. No rigids made goal and only a few flexis. Those that left early reported great flights flying up the side if the clouds in front of ager to over 8000'.

Meanwhile the tail enders were coping with a 20 mph westerly.

Lee side clouds in front of take off in the NW air.

Andy tells Richard how it is...

And on the fourth day they rested

So rain this morning, lots of cloud cover and CuNbs last night. Time to play with the glider, fiddle on the computer and have a look at Ballaguer old town after the siesta.

Will attempt to upload track log pictures to the posts for each rigid task if all goes well.

Nicely judged little task

A short one today to get us all round the course before the CuNb formed and/of the high cloud came in and killed the day. So 65 km round 4 turn points. Andy won yet again with mike in second and me in third but only 14 points between second and fourth.

Personally still happy as that's now 6 goal flights from 6 tasks.

Ferro Rocha here we come

So yesterday's task was a 154 km race to the big hill nicknamed the ferro Rocha which is the most awesome ridge I've ever flown. What's more it's parting gift was the biggest smoothest 7.5 up to 10,500 feet that I have ever experienced.  Oh and it was nice and cool up there.

Wayne must have had the most bitter sweet of days having flown 95 miles he ended up 150 m short of the goal cylinder. Correction according to the scores he was 8m short. Blimey Wayne you should have just walked the last bit!

Andy and Paul are leaving me dead on the speed so I'm solidly in third place in the rigid comp.  Handy having all those flexwings around to mark the thermals. About the only time I'm sure of what to aim for and have the courage to go on a fast glide is when there is a good gaggle climbing ahead.

Results here: http://bhgcresults.wikidot.com/2013-nationals:results

Track log below:

Day 1 British Nationals

So a good day with a 105km task.  All 5 rigid pilots in goal. Andy was having instrument problems again but  hopefully his back up worked and we'll know the scores in the morning.

I intend to see if I can get hold of the class 5 tracklogs to put in SeeYou and then publish them here in a single picture.

And my track log...

I wasn't expecting that!

Insted of the normal not enough pilots in class 5 for a prize they gave out first, second  and third so all three pilots got to stand on the podium.

The other unexpected event was yhe club class winner was the only pilot to achieve goal on the final day was a female pilot.

And the fat lady sings or was that thunder?

CuNimbs last night and today so no flying.  Despite making goal on all three days that I flew and only coming last on the first day. Missing day three due to a broken rib end means I'm last yet again.

Still some good flying, beautiful scenery and amazing company both in the air and on the ground (including the Griffon Vultures in the air) has made for a fun week. 

Thanks to the Belgians for a great fun and friendly comp.  Now to call AIR and see if I'm going to get my VR in time for the at least part of the Brits.

Ager - Day 5 canned...but 4 was good

Day 4 was excellent as a lot of the thermals were marked by griffon vultures which are amazing to fly with.  Good climbs in the Tremp valley behind Ager, although a lot of pilots reported rough climbs in the Ager mine were fine.

Paul raced on too much and decked out in the valley behind turn point one. Leaving Mike and I to fight it out.  I eventually caught Mike up on the glide to turn point three having ridge soared 10 km through turn point two and getting a good 5 up right at the end of the ridge to 9200`.  Leaving me with a 10.8 to 1 glide to goal via turnpoint three on the hills on the opposite side of the valley.

At turn point three I was down to 10.6, but took some weak lift thinking I would need at least a 10:1 after Gordon reported the valley crossing to be even deader down low when he landed short of goal.

However the lift was weak and the glide went to 10.7 then 10.8 as the thermal was drifting away from goal and not improving beyong a half up. Oh well here we go... glide figures ranged from 8.8 to 24. In with maybe 150 over the ground.  Now where is the wind... No where..oh well let's up slope it.

Mike had stopped for a last climb so I beat him in by 6 minutes yee haa.... oh and he also jumped the gun for a 36 point penalty.

So Thursday canned due to strong easterly. Looks like Casleton de SOS tomorrow. Damned long drive so an 8.30 brief...

Here is the Day 4 Track log:

And they are off again

Tony and I are sat waiting for the delayed Eurotunnel train.  Glider is not ready from AIR but have decided to fly the Tsunami and wait for the VR as I want it sorted after two seasons of grief...

Tsunami buyer deferred till the 11th and Tony happy that we won't miss the first comp day of the Belgians.  Also at least 8 hours taken off the outward journey.  Now we need somewhere to stay tonight.