...even later that day, Carol writes ...
9 p.m. Well, the third contest day was definitely not the best for many – there were many outlandings. As the gliders were launched, the development in the sky was quite rapid and soon there were some showers. Some of the pilots battled to get up, whilst others were quick to start and the rest only started later on. Before long there were several pilots that opted to land safely back at Welkom and not do the task, then there was a short lull before the calls started with reports of outlandin...
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...later on , that day ....
14.30 p.m. Murphy’s law – the weather rapidly developed so the task was amended to the following prior to launching: Open/18m. Task C: 382.9 km. Bothaville – Kingswood – Kroonstad – Control S Club: Task C: 3 hr. AAT 178.8 km/358.6 km. Kroonstad (25km. radius) – Senekal a/f (30 km. radius) – Control S Launching commenced at approx. noon, and some of the Club class were quick off the mark once the gate was opened. Others obviously struggled to get to a decent height before starting, and three...
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Tues. 13th December – 3rd Contest Day
Another sunny morning in Welkom, however quite a stiff breeze is blowing from the Northerly direction, and there is some rubbish high cloud around which sadly appears to be increasing and not disappearing. Scores, photos (in due course) and my daily reports are to be found on www.soaringspot.com As usual Allison has her sewing machine in the terminal building and is doing great business with shirts and hats being embroidered with the logo for those wishing to purchase. It would seem that the N...
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..later ... on Contest Day 2 ...
6.30 p.m. A long day out in the field! Having gridded the gliders at 11 a.m., it became apparent that the conditions were not as good as hoped, the temperatures were not as warm as forecast and it was not going to be an early launch. So another task was set: Open: Task C: 278.7 km. R.17 – Bothaville – Control NW Club: Task C: 200.9 km. Hoopstad – Schuttesdraai – Control NW Launching started with a sniffer who took some time before reporting that the conditions were improving and th...
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Mon. 12th December – 2nd Contest Day
All the outlandings and retrieves of yesterday went smoothly and those that needed to be rigged this morning are now rigged and ready for today’s flying. A beautiful clear morning with 100% blue skies and not a sign of any clouds. As has become the norm, there are not too many crew members, so pilots are having to help each other with pushing and pulling gliders onto the runway and ensuring their wing walkers, wheels, etc. are moved away. Today conditions will remain blue, winds are still we...
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...later that same day at 6 p.m.
All the gliders are accounted for – whether here back at Welkom or sadly for many of the Club class out in fields or airfields. Three are at the airfield at Hoopstad, so are sharing the costs of an aerotow retrieve, whilst the Twin Astir will also have an aerotow retrieve from another strip, whilst the remainder will be coming back via the slower route - in trailers. Wayne and Maneste Schmidt as well as Konrad Starke got back to Welkom. Konrad did not manage to get to the last sector. ...
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Day 1
After a very pessimistic view of today's expected weather yesterday and a not very optimistic forecast this morning, we launched everyone off on task. Open/18m Mostly got back, Club Class mostly didn't. The sky this afternoon looked astonishingly good and a trip to FATP and back showed there was a lot of lift available (sadly they didn't go that way - and I had 300hp in front of me) Scoring is, sadly, being a bitch, hence the late production of something which might be of interest. The scoring...
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Sun. 11th December – 1st Contest Day
Sun. 11th December – 1st Contest Day A good pilots’ briefing was followed by supper held last evening. Unfortunately the rain continued well into the evening. As there were only three pilots to fly in the 15m. class, two have decided to move into the club class whilst the other pilot opted to join the Open/18m. class. So after the rains of yesterday, waking up this morning to blue skies and sunshine and clear visibility was certainly quite a pleasurable surprise. As the morning progressed...
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"Welkom Whispers No.1 10th December 2011
Sat. 10th December – Practice Day South Africa, especially in parts of the country, has not had its usual rains yet. Normally with the start of the summer season, the rain can be expected anytime from late September/October onwards. Lovely days usually with summer showers in the late afternoon, just when knocking off from work! Well, this year October and November have now passed and there has not been very much rainfall at all – way below the average. However, arrange for a gliding compet...
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Practice day
The farmers will be very grateful that the competition has begun - it's hissing down. Fields locally are looking like lakes. 15 meter class has been scrapped due to small entry, so we now have a Club class and an Open/18m class (or JS1 class if you like)
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