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.

What a corker

Yesterday's task was mind blowing, my longest ever flight and first time into the big mountains.

At briefing it looked to be a good choice.  In the air with cloudbase at 8200' it still seemed reasonable.  The run to the first turn point to the south was one we used in our practice and several times last year.  Coming back north the spread out was starting to look worrying.

Going back south after the 2nd turn point the normally reliable Pic de Boef was only just working so I got stuck there for a period.  Eventually climbed out and headed on with absolutely everything in shadow.

Slowly climbing out on the next ridge for the 3rd turn point and everything was grey and it was beginning to look impossible as Paul and myself found ourselves stuck with quite a few people on the same 'small' section of mountain. Oh how your standards change over here!

Finally I get over the top and run down to the turn point.  A slight bit of sunshine and a 2 up at the cylinder which I call out for Paul.  Unfortunately he doesn't have enough height and gets there to find no lift down at his level.  Despite running back he is getting drilled in the valley and ends up landing for 91k.

Another small climb back at the 'small' mountain and I decided to head direct for doussard and take off.  One more slight climb and I reach the ridge immediately behind landing just above the top of the cliff.

Everything is still grey and I decide to follow the ridges back towards Favergé.  In the hope of getting something and then being able to go north on the big mountain range to the Tete du Strop and the 4th turn point.  Nothing presents itself so I try one last hop across the valley to the spur on the north east edge.  Lift, slowly I work my way up to be joined by a PG,  Flying round a corner to a better looking spur and I look back to see him getting higher. Bugger!

However I then hit a good solid 4 up and he and his mate scrabble to get in below me as the majesty of the mountain range I'm about to fly the length of finally reveals itself.

Cruising the range and for the next 25k stopping in any particularly good bits finally I get close to the 4th turn point to see some one coming back south below me.  With both Luke and Andy calling out distances to the last turn point I finally begin to think I have a chance of making this.

However after the turn point the mountain starts to flush me as punishment for my cockiness. Everything is in shade again and nothing is working, as I don't want to land on the high plateau I head out to a tree covered ridge in the sunshine.  There's a PG low on the trees and bits of lift but nothing solid so I head along the spur.  Finally a 4 up and I get joined by another rigid 1500' below me.  Heading to the next turn point at 8400.  I get it and spot someone high and climbing on the spur in front.

It's a bit of a tight little rocket but takes me to 8600'.  Heading south none of the intermediate ridges even blip the Vario so I come in on the spur that leads to the back of La Tournette and slowly make my way up in week lift to the break point at the top where there is a good climb.

I have a 10 to 1 on goal, there's just the problem of this frigging big mountain between me and the last turn point. I opt to go round the front and behind take off as that is the 'in to wind' side even though it's not so direct to the turn point.

Job done! Time to celebrate my longest flight to goal.

Day one

Forecast not marvellous prospect is for a late short task.  Adrenaline starting to kick in whilst we wait for access to the hill!

Registration over

Next event is safety talk at 3pm.  So sat in campsite by the lake drinking a liquid lunch and watching the pg's SIV.

A good practice day

Another days practice much better than Saturday but the wind still picked up significantly during the flight.  Sorry Richard forgot to put debug on today and it terminated early again.

http://www.livetrack24.com/track/350877

Annecy day two

Claudia surveys the low cloudbase and cross wind before deciding to rig.

Was first of the free flyers off and last to land 

, very rough in places, got drilled at the far end of the wolfs teeth and then had to work my way back up on front of takeoff.  Gusts to 40km/h in the air and 30km/h on take off so definitely not a comp day. Eventually got to 7300 and a quick visit to the end of the big mountain behind which also flushed me down..

Unfortunately live track sems to have stopped half way  through the flight and I forgot to turn the camera on.  http://www.livetrack24.com/track/349553

Day 2 new site but iffy weather

Day canned again.  Poor Murray Brown has just called green flag after sumping his car on the way to the site.  Derig and an hours drive back to the base, might just have a free flight first.

Day one canned

So is the offas dyke walk at Knighton and a brief widow of sunshine

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.

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.