Sunday, 22nd August 2010 (Spain)
Posted by Judith on 22 Aug 2010 at 09:46 pm | Tagged as: Competitions, Flying
After last night’s excellent briefing, we had the first task today. We were all a little concerned about the interesting wave clouds early on, but Nicky assured us that Ager has a micro climate and that the clouds would evaporate. We all did a bit of cloud appreciation while waiting, but it was gustier than any of us would have liked.
Kirsty and I were duly called to the task setting meeting and they set a 45km cat’s cradle task, with a pre-task turn point 9km away. There was some confusion about this, but we eventually all got it programmed into our GPS and were ready to start. John, acting as wind dummy, reported good conditions in the air, so we were all keen to go. The launch sequence was a little confusing – at least for the Brits. Instead of a marshal coming round asking us to ‘sign to fly’, we had to pass through a tent and were signed off and then allocated a place along take-off. It was getting windier and as I got past the marshal, the launch window was closed due to too strong winds. It was a good call, and appreciated by most of the competitors. So the committee reconvened and we decided that we would assess the conditions each hour and try to have the task as soon as possible.
Obviously, as soon as the task was delayed, the wind dropped, and by the time we re-briefed, it had picked up again. However, there were more lulls, so the task went ahead. We had to go through the tunnel and sign to fly again, and by window open there was a long queue. The majority of us were left standing in the sun, with full flying gear on, getting hot and bothered while we watched others having to stand on launch waiting for lulls. As we only had an hour to fly the 9km before the race start, many were very keen to get going. Sandra Monse was first off, when the wind was very east and had a horrible time getting away from the ridge, but then settled down and was off on the task. The rest of us launched as we could, but by the time I got to the head of the queue and got a lull, I was well into the pre-race start hour.
Nicky had mentioned to us that the lower ridge would be working and would be smoother, and a chat with Mike Cluer confirmed that he thought the same. I got off, struggled with the wind and then set off along the lower ridge, trying to stay under the wind, and quickly sussing out that thermalling wasn’t necessary until the valley crossings. You could just top up in the thermals along the ridge whilst flying straight. On the top ridge it was windy and turbulent and I thought that would just delay me. Lots of people were ahead of me and the tactic of setting a pre-task way point certainly stopped us having congested gaggles – I never flew with anyone the whole task! The wind made it hard work at times, and I kept low, only getting high at critical points. I was getting tired three quarters of the way round and seeing people high, I started to think that actually I am not really that good at all this comp lark and maybe I should just not bother next year. But I really wanted to get round and gritted my teeth and kept going. Ruth and Trude got to the last turn point before me and I was really pleased they got in. There was nobody in the landing field when I got to goal, so I assumed that they had all got there hours before and I was last in. Another pilot came in while I was packing and then another and I realised that maybe I wasn’t last after all. When I checked in, there were only 9 others in before me. Wow. A few arrived after, so I wasn’t last after all.
First was Kirsty, then Klaudia, third Sandra Monse, a really talented Swiss/German pilot who we’ll hear about in years to come. I am 10th overall so I am really pleased. With three pilots in goal, Doc’s Bollocks might be winning the team event.
Brilliant talk by Anja Kroll tonight, called “Elements of Success”, all about comp flying. Really, really useful!
4 Responses to “Sunday, 22nd August 2010 (Spain)”
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Well done Judith!
See Judith, make your own decisions and be confident. Consistency will get you top spot. Trying to race each task is unlikely to get you top spot in the end as it will increase the risk of dropping short. Well done.
Hola Judith
Solo te escribo para darte unos consejos de la zona.
Ayer vi el dibujo de la prueba por lo que llegue a la conclusion de que 1º teniais que hacer la baliza previa de la curva de pal d’escumol y de alli ir al startpoint con radio de 2km de Torre de Moro (Corçà). Eso es una copia del campeonato de españa para evitar acumulacion de parapentes en la ladera, igual que pasar por la carpa para firmar…..los españoles son muy despreocupados para las normas…..
1º- La zona funciona pronto, DESPEGA LO ANTES
POSIBLE.El viento normal es SW y lo normal es que
cojas altura sobre la cresta superior 1800-2000mts
y sobre la ladera superior hagas la baliza previa.
2º- La vuelta hacia el despegue es posible que te
hundas si te acercas a la ladera superior, es
mejor abrirse y volver sobre la ladera inferior.
3º- CONFIA EN LA LADERA INFERIOR, las termicas salen
de las vaguadas (grietas) de la ladera inferior
y por eso veras que se hunde la gente en la
pared superior, porque estan a sotavento de esas
termicas. Al salir pronto te dará la
oportunidad de que si te hundes por la superior
poder remontar en la inferior y coger confianza y
llegar SP con tiempo.
4º- Si algun dia te hacen saltar hacia el valle
de atras, salta derivando con la termica,
normalmente con un minimo de 2200mts, normal
2500mts,al venir cruzado siempre el viento, no hay
un sotavento turbulento, si fuera el viento de S
si que lo seria, pero siempre es de SW. Que sepas
que atras, en el valle de Isona, SIEMPRE EL VIENTO
ES MAS SUAVE Y LAS CONDICIONES MENOS TURBULENTAS,
SIEMPRE.
5º- Para pasar el venturi de Tarradets hacia Vilanova, normalmente con 1800mts es suficiente si vas con intencion de apoyarte en la ladera inferior del otro lado donde esta esa mancha blanca que es la cantera, siempre abriendote hacia la derecha hasta medio camino, que quede la cantera a tu izquierda, y luego apuntando hacia la Cantera, asi no te afectara el venturi y perderas poca altura, solo que estes por encima de la cresta inferior ya puedes continuarla hasta la baliza. La vuelta es mejor que la hagas por la Ladera Superior, si es posible, y saltar para Ager sera mas facil, aunque si aseguras estar unos 200mts SIEMPRE por encima de la cresta inferior, tambien puedes volver hasta La Cantera, coger altura y pasar hacia Ager, cruza abierta buscando la ladera inferior por debajo de la curva de la baliza previa, mucha gente va en busca de la curva y se queda aterrizada alla, la LADERA INFERIOR CONFIA EN ELLA.
6º- Gol en Orgañà, mejor cruzar Tarradets y un poco antes de Vilanova coger altura y saltar hacia Isona y Avella de la Conca, rodear la ladera curva por lado W y seguir esa ladera hasta la Cruz y de alli a gol, si saltas antes puede estar muy turbulento. Que te enseñe alguien en el mapa del camping la ladera curva y la ladera que lleva hasta la cruz.
Bueno, no te caliento mas la cabeza, si tienes dudas habla con Nicky o con Bea que conocen la zona y te traduciran lo que te estoy intentando explicar.
Buenos vuelos y mejor campeonato. Un abrazo a Jeff
Thanks guys! Muchas gracias Lluis! Muy, muy util!