I am at uni now, and this is the first time I have found the world wide web in a while...
The weekend was pretty good as far as I could gather. Saturday had very strange conditions...after being stuck in the most horrendous turbulence I have ever experienced for an hour or so, I got fed up and landed. Upon looking at the 214, there was a massive shift in direction and speed of the wind, which was probably causing this. Many folk suffered the same, but those who got towed towards Ballater/Mount Keen got away without a bump! However, for those of us in the Logie Coldstone area, it was a different matter. Weathering it out, led to nice climbs and stunning views. The best I saw was just under 15knots on the averager! That was shortly followed by about the same in sink!
The visitors are now making their way to Aboyne, so hopefully they will enjoy nice wave...we are owed about a years worth
23 September 2008
08 September 2008
UK Mountain Soaring Champs
Well, its all over.
We enjoyed 5 comp days, and for a change it was all thermal!
Day 1:
We all launched and it soon became clear that the first turnpoint was being rained on badly. We headed down the valley, but when I saw everyone getting VERY low, tucked tail and ran for home. Only one person got around the TP, John Williams, who won the day - with a whole 30 points.
Day 2:
A much better looking day, but with showers still lingering. After a good start, I headed deep into the first sector at Glenfiddich Lodge. The run in was fairly good, and before long I had zoomed along a sea-breeze front into the second sector at Turriff. At this point I looked down track and saw a very uninspiring sky. Rather than head down track in hope, I decided to retrace my steps in soarable-ish air. This detour almost went into the Spey valley, but I came down at Tomintoul. Just enough to win the day.
Day 3:
After a great start, we all headed quite far into the first sector. However, I went racing off with a bit too much enthusiasm, and was soon looking for a climb near Huntly. Robert Tait came down there, and I met Stuart Naylor in R1 at the same height (1000ft approx!) but luckily found a climb to cloudbase. I headed back towards the Tarland bowl, but having flown through a rain shower I lost a lot of height and ended up in Strathdon. 2 mins after landing, Bens dad rocked up so I had lunch with them while waiting for John! Very civilised. Dave Latimer stormed the day, and gave hope to the little ships!
Day 4:
Not my finest performance. After a death glide across a big blue gap, I ended up extremely low near Strathdon. I luckily climbed away, and nicked the sector at Heughhead. I followed a nice cloudstreet down the Dee valley, but again had to cross a gap at Braemar. Unfortunately, the Cirrus just didnt have the legs. I should have been more patient, and waiting for the right time to move, but I ended up in a nice field...third in three days. Very disappointing, as I knew I could have done better. I had to spend a couple minutes in the cockpit just cooling down... Phil King became the next day winner, getting around the task with quite a few others.
Day 5:
Final racing day. The day started gloomy, but by mid day had bubbled up nicely to provide us with a launch. It was an AAT, but I just wanted to get round. Reaching Corgarf, I was low...and below ridge height. Working a little thermal got me to cloudbase and around the TP. I then headed to a cloudstreet along with R1, and we had a storming run down, at an average of 150kph! The street ended 8km from the TP, and after turning back into the 25knot wind I was losing out. Again, I was at ridge height...and with not much to spare, got back into ridge lift. Not wanting to maneuver close to the ground, I carried on down the street, slowly picking up height. R1 was a great help, and after 1 hour 40 I crossed the finish line. Under time, but home. And enough for a joint day win with John Williams.
We enjoyed 5 comp days, and for a change it was all thermal!
Day 1:
We all launched and it soon became clear that the first turnpoint was being rained on badly. We headed down the valley, but when I saw everyone getting VERY low, tucked tail and ran for home. Only one person got around the TP, John Williams, who won the day - with a whole 30 points.
Day 2:
A much better looking day, but with showers still lingering. After a good start, I headed deep into the first sector at Glenfiddich Lodge. The run in was fairly good, and before long I had zoomed along a sea-breeze front into the second sector at Turriff. At this point I looked down track and saw a very uninspiring sky. Rather than head down track in hope, I decided to retrace my steps in soarable-ish air. This detour almost went into the Spey valley, but I came down at Tomintoul. Just enough to win the day.
Day 3:
After a great start, we all headed quite far into the first sector. However, I went racing off with a bit too much enthusiasm, and was soon looking for a climb near Huntly. Robert Tait came down there, and I met Stuart Naylor in R1 at the same height (1000ft approx!) but luckily found a climb to cloudbase. I headed back towards the Tarland bowl, but having flown through a rain shower I lost a lot of height and ended up in Strathdon. 2 mins after landing, Bens dad rocked up so I had lunch with them while waiting for John! Very civilised. Dave Latimer stormed the day, and gave hope to the little ships!
Day 4:
Not my finest performance. After a death glide across a big blue gap, I ended up extremely low near Strathdon. I luckily climbed away, and nicked the sector at Heughhead. I followed a nice cloudstreet down the Dee valley, but again had to cross a gap at Braemar. Unfortunately, the Cirrus just didnt have the legs. I should have been more patient, and waiting for the right time to move, but I ended up in a nice field...third in three days. Very disappointing, as I knew I could have done better. I had to spend a couple minutes in the cockpit just cooling down... Phil King became the next day winner, getting around the task with quite a few others.
Day 5:
Final racing day. The day started gloomy, but by mid day had bubbled up nicely to provide us with a launch. It was an AAT, but I just wanted to get round. Reaching Corgarf, I was low...and below ridge height. Working a little thermal got me to cloudbase and around the TP. I then headed to a cloudstreet along with R1, and we had a storming run down, at an average of 150kph! The street ended 8km from the TP, and after turning back into the 25knot wind I was losing out. Again, I was at ridge height...and with not much to spare, got back into ridge lift. Not wanting to maneuver close to the ground, I carried on down the street, slowly picking up height. R1 was a great help, and after 1 hour 40 I crossed the finish line. Under time, but home. And enough for a joint day win with John Williams.
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