Wednesday found some of us who stayed up having a hard time of it trying to get down before the pass in increasing wind and turbulence.
The evening flight certainly made up for it will a good restitution giving us smooth conditons to fly the length of the mountain ridge and back again.
Blue thermals to 3000m (in the forecast) and the westerly flow at higher levels continues. We all had a good start at around midday. Somewhat stable on the hill, and likewise in the valley, though 4 of us got a very good climb out from my house. Arriving on the quarry spine we could stay up in weak thermals, but the drift was around 20km/hr so we decided to land at Casas del Puerto. After the decision was made Paul stumbled into a 7m/s climb which would not allow him down till he flew some way back towards Piedrahita.
An evening flight, but too crossed to be very interesting, so we did a glide down the valley with a similar mini XC as the morning . A weak cold front comming through which should invigorate the valleys thermals tomorrow.
A great forecast with a SW so easy to go around the airspace. Good Cu from early on over the back but it took a long time to get good in the Piedrahita valley, leaving most of us bombed on the first, and a good percentage on the second flight. On the second flight we had to go from the curve take off, but it was quite turbulent with the cross wind. Dave and Paul both went over the pass, but failed to connnect with the clouds on the other side landing just past Amavida. Today we were a bit late as Fred and Chris´ glider took a while to arrive courtesy of BA.
Tomorrow I am sure things will go better, with a great forecast for the week still
Some of the spanish pilots said being here for a week was just like that movie. Every day the same, same blue sky, briefing and flying day after day. Today, pretty much the same, blue sky, but different as I got to fly. Admittedly only comercial tandems whilst Jorge did the airport run, but 4 great flights with light winds at take off for most of the day and 4m/s climbs.
Some of our incomming guys have had their glider lost by BA. Not good as it is looking just a bit epic tomorrow.
Our final day with lighter NW wind but poorer thermal conditions. A simple race to wrap up the scoring before tonights prize giving in the square. First in Goal was Felix Rodriguez (R11), though Godo had made the first dash to the goal line failing to reach it. Xebi Bonet, running 3rd, came into goal, but not enough ahead of Lee Paul Garcia to take the overall title.
Lots of flying this week with average conditons. Hopefully the big conditons will start kicking in now…especially since I now have 2 weeks of flying before I am grouded again as Meet Director for the Worlds.
A stronger (20km ) W wind today, so once again we had to go with it. Some high cirrus early on, with the base climbing from around 2300 -2800 during the task, though rising to over 3000m at the end of the day. Most of the leaders bombed to the north of Avila with only David escaping to make goal. Another mix up in the ranking and still a lot could change during tomorrows final task. The weather tomorrow is looking good so a championship with 6 valid tasks look on, and 7 flying days. (See overall at //www.parapenteweb.com/Archivos/Nacional/CLASIFICACION_CTO_2011_OPEN_MANGA_2+3+4+5.pdf . Other days at www.parapenteweb.com.)
In fact, next week is looking pretty epic. I am keen to get back in the haress after a weeks of following the route below in the car.
High cirrus made the going slow and difficult with many struggling after the pass. After some 5hrs 30 minutes the first arrival at Goal was Lucas Bernadin (F), Within 15 minutes the other 12 had arrived, only minutes before goal close at 7.30pm.
The start was at Villatoro some 20km from Piedrahita with no zig zagging before the start gate. Perhaps this, or the milder conditions gave us our first day without parachute incidents.
Our wind dummy Robert Vandenbegine(BE) was going back home today after a few days practice before the Worlds. He made a good section of his return home in the air, landing near Soria at 255km.
On the competition side, well, a more modest 85km race, starting with a circuit along the mountain then a race with a dog leg to the N or the Sierra de Avila and goal in Avila. The lead gaggle reported a final glide at 95km/hr. Great racing conditions, and around 40 in when I left.
Fist into goal was the young and very talented Francis Reina (E). The day winner was Balazs Vertes (Hungary) who won on his leader points.
Another couple of parachutes today. One glider threw, then collided with another. Both pilots were fine. Though it seem we are having an average of 2 per day (though today not 2 liners).
A good day, though appearing somewhat tricky early on has just got better and better with an outstanding Cu filled sky now at 7.50pm.
Today I set a triangle reaching out well north of the Ambles valley (first time this has been used) at Solana de Rioalmar, the back to Solonsancho on the S side of Ambles, and finally a into wind push to the goal at Amavida. 2 parachutes deployed, both on 2 liners and both unhurt. (Yesterday we had 1 deployment and one bad landing on the big spine.).
Plenty in goal when I left it, the first being Lucas Bernardin(F), then Checu (E). It looks as though this will be a very very good week with rising base and continued light winds. good photos once again at Mario Arque´s www. perfils.info. He is going round the course with me each day in the van so gets to see what I do (actually not so much from the ground!) and obvioulsy has a better camera and better eye for photo than I do.
A forecast of 15km/hr WNW with base starting around 2300 going to over 3000m at the end of the day. I set a ridge run and start point at ¨wooden house¨ to allow the day to develop a little. The a race over the pass to a TP on the N side of the Ambles valley, then another at Solosancho on the S side with the Goal in Avila. Essentially a zig zag with crosswind downwind components. Many low points during the early secton of the race especially for the first over the pass. Lee Paul won being well ahead (about 12km) of the nearest gaggle. A fantastic performance.
The photo on the right is from Mario Arque