Monday 10th - And then they flew

So day 2 appeared much better ...with a 2.10 pm start gate and 5 turn point for 129km it seemed to be achievable so when Hamish asked what sort of time people would be in goal I suggested about 4pm...out of the mouth of fools and babes.

Leaving at 7500 on the first start I doubt if any of us expected how little lift there would be on the Gurp en-route to TP1.  This was going to be a lot harder than expected.  Ask Gordon Wiggy!

Fortunately the big cliffs were working as was the 'if in doubt follow the vultures'.  A good climb at the top of the col was no longer there after the turnpoint and it took a dozen vultures to convince me they knew better where the core was at the far end of the gorge cliffs.

This gave me the height to get to the high point in the corner and another climb.  Meaning I was high enough to risk the jump over the valley to the red cliffs.  Another climb over the intermediate gorge meant I got to the red cliffs over the top.  However playing around in week lift trying to find the good core meant everyone pilling in to the thermal underneath me.  When I felt I had enough height to jump through the gap I left to be overtaken by Andy just before reaching the next ridge.

Climbing to 7k the others left first but I took a more northerly route behind the cliff edge and over the valley behind the crater cliff.  This provided good lift meaning I could go straight past the flexies when they stoped to climb.  Eventually caught Andy on the way back and was around a thousand feet above him when he stopped for a 6up.

I stopped over the top corner to gain height but it wasn't the same as Friday with an 8.6 to 10k... Oh I wish! Gliding to the third turnpoint was moderate but didn't get a singlet blip on the way out so opted for the cautious route and returned to the ridge where I got promptly drilled on the lower and shallows front ridge. Biggest mistake of my day.

Finally getting up enough to go onto the back ridge  Ieventually got a climb back to 7400 and headed for the fourth TP.  This proved moderately bouyant along the route.  A final climb on the return took the required LD to 14:1 and as I was confidant I could clear the next ridge which was the ever reliable crater off to goal it was.

The final TP was well out in the valley and meant crossing the lake which even with an 8:1 required for goal called for a quick gulp...

Just to rub it in the compeo had stopped recording part way through the flight and I had to use the backup from the Kobo/XCSoar.  That delay had cost me dear after being in the lead I was the 4th rigid in after Tim got a stonker to 10K and cruised past me.

Nationals Day 2 Task One

Little Meet Head

Claudia has officially dubbed herself 'little meet head'.

10.10 am and already at cloudbase

In the end only club class had a task.. Everyone else bottom landed.

Firmware oh yes!

So tried the firmware upgrade on the compeo this morning and it seemed to have done the trick so far.

Unfortunately couldn't get the Muvi camera to start continuous shot mode so no pictures yet again.

Highlights today were climbing over 10k twice including at the third turnpoint.  This gave me the height to go straight to the 4th turnpoint and get another corker to 10k.  This one had multiple vultures in the core as it was at the 'crater' /vulture rock.  Getting within 10 feet of these huge birds is awesome just wish I had some pictures to share.

I'm also pleased to report the my vultures were very gentlemanly and did not shit themselves right in front of me as reported by another pilot!

The second climb to 10k was an absolute corker over 8.6 up.  It had slowed to a mere 6.6 up at the inversion and convinced me to leave by throwing me weightless a couple of times.  Even better at 50mph I  managed to climb for about 2km along the ridge line whilst straight lining. From there direct to the turnpoint was easy.  Only stopping to mark some lift for the Carl and Luke still en-route to the final turnppoint before racing on to be first in goal.

Fixed glider, flew, vario bust...

A 4 turn point task UK in the Tremp valley marred by an accident on route. In goal despite flying the whole course with no Vario as the. Compeo+ locked out again on take off so chuffed and annoyed at the same time.  Not many people have flown a 100k with no Vario.

Capped by managing to be 4th pilot in goal despite the handicap.

Unfortunately failed to get the camera to work so no pictures or flight story.

One little snippet.  If you don't have a Vario and are going down follow the vultures they will find you a 5up climb in no time!

Two days of flying

So after two days of flying we have a forecast of CuNbs so definitely a rest day today.

Flying in Ager

So day one I just settled for a flight in the Ager valley due to instrument problems.  IF the PG shops open tomorrow I might buy another Compeo+ if they have one.

Today however with Gordon and the training groupies arriving we all fly a practice task.
Start Ager Camping 5km start
TP1 Sopeira 35Km
TP2 Benavent 40Km
TP3 Castekk de Mur 20Km
Goal Vilamitjana 8Km

Take Off at Ager (top of the ZigZag road) and Lake to the west of this huge south facing ridge

Climbing out after TP1 at the end of the lake

Over the GURP. No really thats its name! Turn point 2 is over the lake and on the far horizon which is another cliff face

Crossing the Lake after a long glide with nary a blip on the vario.  The red cliffs is an alternative route but having used it once I opted for the front route to the lower hills just behind the Goal field.

Far side of the lake and some week lift.  Nice view towards Tremp the local town.

Approaching Turn point 2

Crosisng another lake towards turnpoint 3.  Can you spot the hotel Terradets on the far side of the the lake?

Just before turnpoint 3. Sadly not in shot on any of  my photos....the glide had been 12 to 1 up untill then and I need 12.4 to make goal.  However as soon as I turned to Goal I was getting 22:1 which meant I would be coming in high. Oh Well....

Goal down there somewhere...

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.