The day started with Cus forming below take off, but by the task start had risen to 2600m.   With the west wind still lingering we set a task to Avila then return to goal in Muñogalindo.  This latter part normally booms with a lower level N wind, so we though we could get a fair few back into wind.

As it turned out there are (at this time) 70 pilots in goal.  Sergi Ballester on his Ice peak was first in crossing the goal line with barely 50m and well ahead of his nearest rival.

Conditions are looking to pick up over the next few days so more imaginative and bigger tasks are in the pipeline.

The Spanish Nationals, full to capacity (150 pilots) got underway today with good thermic conditions and a westerly wind.  Similar conditions to the British nationals the past week, and no surprise, we selected the Segovia task.  When I left goal a few hours a go there we 20 pilots at goal, with Simon Issenhuth  the young french pilot first in, and Elisa Houdry the female world champion as the first (an at that time only) woman in goal.

The strongish NW at Avila put many on the ground as they were trying to push northwards to get the airspace control turnpoint.

A fanstastic last task with 94 pilots in Goal at Avila.  The conditions really picked up 20 km before goal at Muñogalindo, where a climb took many high enough to do a fast final glide to the goal.   Great to see Chris Harland in second place.  A great week with many PBs for pilots and no injuries at all.

Tomorrow the Spanish Open gets under way so no flying for me for the next week as I am the Meet Director.

The forecast is looking good, so here is hoping for a good week for the 150 pilots in the event.

Bruno Croué has once again broke the site record from Peña Negra.  On task 2 , when the brits were making goal at 126km, Bruno making a free flight broke his previous site record which he achieved on the 29th of June last year.

Maybe today, with the high winds and strong thermals some of the pilots making open distance today will make a new record.

Epic conditions, with many pilots off to do open distance with the high base, and rather strong winds.   It was thought apropriate not to run a task for the event.

Today we had another SW day, with the usual turnpoint north of Avila to avoid airspace, then onto Segova.   Quite scratchy and blue untill Muñogalindo, then epic clouds for a while.  North of Avila there was a brisk NW low down and few clouds.  Many decked it there along the lake. I had a remarkable low save, and after skimming the ground for a long time was drifted well of course to the outskirts of Avila.

After finally making the turnpoint I though the goal would be in the bag……..but oh no.  A long walk into Villacastin for me.  Tomorrow is looking a bit windy so tasking maybe difficult.

I missed it all, but saw the epic clouds streets running across the Ambles valley.  Tonight, at the Vine tree party there is certainly a hum in the air with many a tale of daring do.  Many pilots landed just short of the goal, but even with that there were many personal bests.  The winner of the task was Mark Watts in under 3 hours, so an amazing average speed.  Craig Morgan, the current UK champ was in 5 mins behind him.

Sporty conditions were reported and Nicky Moss threw her reserve somewhere near Villacastin but suffered no injury.

Tomorrow is looking equally epic, so we will probably have to do the 160km goal …….or maybe invent a new goal at 200km.

I promise I shall do my very best not to land at the pass.   I promise I shall do my very best not to land at the pass. ……..I´ll do the other 98 lines in longhand.

Due to a cancellation there are now spaces available for these weeks.

The competitors are now 2 hours into the 126km task.  The sky is now epic, with fantastic Cus and streets.  I am in my kitchen after an ignoble bomb out at the pass……it always happens in the Brit Open in Piedrahita…

Hopefully more news later, but I imagine there will be stacks of pilots at goal.

After two non flying days, a great day today with the classic convergence setting up and allowing a fast goal flight.  The route was further north after Avila to avoid the airspace, with a random town I chose some days ago to give us more options for task setting within the Notamed glider area.  Unfortunately google earth did not show if there was any bar at the town, so those of us getting to goal (26 pilots), had a thirsty wait.

The day looked like it may have turned to Cbs , especially along the convergence line in the valley of Ambles.  In fact a few of the safety committee called level three (including me), though after a few pulses with congestus clouds looking like they would develop into full Cbs, things calmed down.  I for one did very little circling, just pushing on, quite happy to be low and away form the big Cus.  Those who also followed this safer option found themselves low in the northerly near Avila, only the higher levels had a following Westerly taking them towards goal.  One less cautious Dutch pilot took a climb of around 1000m into cloud.

First into goal was Cecilio Valenzuela, followed closely by Mark Hayman.  I rolled into goal as one of the last on my demo Artic 2.