Summer Competition

The competition day commenced with a full briefing. The main event was cross country with some supplementary tasks of treasure hunt, landing contest and best duration. For the treasure hunt, Mike had something on the ground to spot. The landing contest required points to be awarded by a 'judging committee' for each pilot’s landing, and the duration contest was simply, who could stay up the longest. For quick launching and retrieval of pilots that had gone XC, a 'hot potato' was employed. That is, the pilot that had recently landed is passed the 'Hot Potato'. A pilot that holds the potato is responsible for organising XC retrieves and launching more pilots. The potato is then passed on to the next landing pilot to ensure everyone had their turn.

Our gliders had all been allocated a number and launch order was decided by the draw of numbers from a bag. Unfortunately there were more numbers than pilots and I drew number 10, I’d be last to launch!

The initial conditions were a little benign as weak weather front passed overhead. Eastwards beyond the front we could see lots of little cumulus clouds which hinted that conditions would get much better later in the day.

It was soon time for my first launch, after release, I boated around the sky trying to find some lift. With a few little bumps here and there I was able to maintain for a short period but the inevitable pull of gravity returned me to the landing field where I performed a no step landing. Apparently I dropped a wing in the last moments and my perfect 100% score became an 80%; I was unable to contest that result!

My second launch was a near repeat of my first, but the weather front had now passed. The sky above, now full of lovely little fluffy clouds, was full of potential! It wasn't long before the first few pilots started disappearing downwind. By my third launch, I still hadn’t connected with thermal and slowly, there were fewer and fewer pilots that remained. The wind had dropped to almost nothing and take-offs had become a challenge, timing launch was critical. Of course, my sense of timing was off and I continued to launch in sink cycles as others launched into thermals! Grrr!

DUST DEVIL

While I assisted Dave R. on launch, Dave noticed the 'H' lift and tangle on the tow line. As I glanced around I noticed a vortex, visible by a column of rotating dust, moving menacingly down the runway towards us. Immediately recognised this as a dust devil and radioed 'Stop, Stop' to cease the launch. I screamed at everyone to grab a glider but realised after seeing the confused looks on people’s faces, that I had been the only one to have seen the pending chaos! When gliders began independently flying themselves, people realised the gravity of the situation and started running round trying to control the gliders. I, on the other hand, was trying my best to hold Dave and his glider on the ground, but the dust devil passed under his right wing and lifted his glider. There was little I could do from the nose as Dave’s glider flipped and inverted with Dave laying on top when it came to rest. I was almost flung through the air as I desperately held on to the nose wires, almost landing on top of Dave! It would have been quite comical if it wasn't so serious!

Damage was only limited to Paul L's glider; when it almost reverse looped! The damage was a few bent battens and scuffing of the batten bungees - it could have been much, much worse!

After that drama passed, normal launching resumed and I completed my fourth and final flight of the day. That flight was a very smooth up followed by a very smooth glide back down again. Not a bump anywhere!

At the end of the day, with all pilots retrieved from their XCs, the competition concluded with a BBQ after which my wife and I retreated to Stoneham Barns campsite.