A trip to Salamanca for the boys today with Pete. Looking good tomorrow and for the rest of the week though.
I spent the afternoon with the chainsaw and stacking timber for the winter.

WE got the gliders ready to launch at Lastra but saw sense when the wind started to come in strong. An evening flight almost, but too W, so once again, packed the gliders back into the bags.

A long day in Madrid for me, Taking Martin in at 7am, and collecting at 5pm. Our new arrivals, two groups from Belgium, adding to Adrian, Paul, Jacob from last week. Not flyable today, though if somebody had got away, it looked pretty epic (20lm/hr + from SW with convergence). Looking tricky tomorrow.

The last day of the XC Open and classic conditions. What to do? A short task to have the prize giving and scoring done at a realistic time, or leave it open and allow the pilots to come here to do what they want?. The latter wins out and predictably there are pilots beyond 160km.
Very late scoring and heaps of problems with airspace infringements/arguments/bad feeling etc. The prize giving is eventually held at around 1am in the main square with the Mayor who has stayed up late to help preside.
The overall winner is Maxime and our favourite and regular guest Andy Davies scoops the Sports class prize and also second in the Serial Class. Well done Andy.
Our overall notam for the comp given by the ¨Ministry of such things¨ was only 8000ft. Way below the Notam beyond Avila of 3000m. In my initial briefing 8 days ago I expressed the need to maintain below 3000m to the airspace East of Avila, and north of the Mountains. North of the mountains was not an easy concept to score with, so Hans made a line from Villatoro to TP B11, which was roughly along the main road…..so simple, keeping N of the road keeps you out. However, what stuck in many peoples minds was the N of the mountains bit, many forgetting this line traced on the powerpoint projection. Also, this line actually went S of the road near Villacastin. So, after 6 epic tasks, on the 7th many pilots flew into this area, feeling that they were obeying the spirit of the rules, yet were unknowingly clipped of their points as they flew south of the road near Villacastin. Amongst those with points clipped right back were Paul Tomassi who had flown over 160km and Martin Muller, who flew back to Avila from Villacastin. So, what to do? Those having no points clipped would argue that the rule of the line N of the road was given and is the rule. Others argued that this should have been explained once again during the task briefing of Task 7. The Jury decided to go with the line, though I was more in favour of the general ¨N of the mountains¨, though recognised that the line was given at the first general briefing. The scorer was also very reluctant to score again as he said it would take a further hour (it being already near Midnight).

After an hour of general abuse from a number of the agrieved pilots, including threats from Tobias Hinas to take his complaint to the to the CIVL, we completed the prize giving sometime near 2pm. 7 days of quite epic flying soured by this affair. I am profoundly upset by what does seem unjust due to the genuine mistake due to lack of clarity of the briefing and understanding on behalf of some pilots. Likewise I am somewhat upset by the attacks of some of the agrieved after what has been probably the most successfull XC Open of the series since its inception (as regards days and overall distances flown). I imagine this is the last Piedrahita XC Open as I would much rather fly with a small group of our guests than spend the week earthbound and watching others have great flights then gripe about it at the end!

An intially light day but developing to classic.  Today in our little team Adrian has a great day reaching Avila then going south.  Also Jocob, having had a few bad days this week, finally gets it together for a trip to Avila.  Yet another day on the ground for me, though I do get to do some tandems at the end of the day when all are reported safe.  Last day tomorrow, then back to normal….though my beloved Hook 2 demo had to go back this week.

Pena Negra Panorama - photo Peter Myles

A cracking looking day with 4/8 Cu to over 3000m.  Martin Muller was the winner of the day with just over 170km.  All the big flights were down the Cherry tree vally then south……one pilot unfortunately landing at the Nuclear Powere station again and causing me all sorts of hassle with the police.

2ndSept2010

Our first rain (that I recall) since the first day of July. Lots of lightning, rainbows, water……all the usual stuff. But no flying.
The forecast looks OK for tomorrow.

Cbs.....

Rainbows

Maxime Bellemin, winner of task 3, describes his flight

Poor visibility, but great climbs and a light W wind.  On our retrieve team Andy made Avila and back to the official Piedrahita field after 5´plus hours of flying.  He finished in second place behind Reynald Mumenthaler from Switzerland.

More information on the competition is here

Ýesterday the best distance was made by Paul Tomassi (CH) who landed near Almaraz (150km), unfortunately next to the nuclear power station.  The police were around this morning asking if they were ecological protesters.

Todays forcast gave stronger winds and a higher base.   We have reports of pilots around the 150 or more mark at present.

I had a great time with our regular Malvern guests. Here are a few shots which I managed to take over the two weeks. If you are reading this Malverns week 1, the T shirts have gone with Brian. I didnt have an XXL which was ordered, but put in an L. The colours are not perhaps what you want. I will make it up to you next year with some freebees. All the best to you all.
Steve

Nigel near Avila

Gavin on route to Avila (Menga Pass behind)

John Kingsley

Brian on route to Laguna del Duque

Jim after flight

Tony and Ian on demos

Tony´s PB to Avila

Gavin in the Ambles Valley