Classic day with more Cu than expected by not much higher than 2600m.   I set a 100km goal for the comp, which was made by over 50 pilots I reckon.   Ian flew a blinder but got a bit lost near the  windmills after Avila and followed the motorway to the tunnel towards Madrid.  He could not make it out to the goal at Fuentemilanos, but cracked the 100km barrier.  Well done to him. He is Blue I am Red.

A better day tomorrow weather wise!

NB.  If you are reading this Bob Ginger, yes, it is THAT Ian.

Ians Oddessy

friday am

1500

x section winds at 2400m

cross section over time

Start position

Situation

The instability will only affect the Pyrenees and Cantabria today.  We will have a sunny day with blue thermals to above 3000m and a NW wind.

Task suggestions

The wind will be around 15 o 20km an hour and a little crossed at launch but will still come onto the take off well enough for a safe launch.,  However, I would not recommend flights along and back the ridge due to the westerly component.

Them most satisfactory task today would be a distant goal down wind.  However, the northerly aspect will make a really long flight difficult so I would leave it at 100km *junction near Fuentemilanos.

The start should be somewhere easy to wait, which like in the last task should be on the Big Spine, so a cylinder around launch of 6km.   Race start with multiple times would once again be best for safety (not too long waiting at launch or in the air, and if you are blown down the valley in a weak climb then you do not need to fight your way back up wind)

Tomorrow is also looking good.

Deep instability with Storms from early this morning.  Absolutely not a chance, even a tiny one.

However, tomorrow looks good, so try to hold on for one more day.

I imagine we will arrange something with the buses if you want a rainy day out in Avila.

1pm

3pm

posible task

General situation.

Really rubbish for safe paragliding!  We have cool air aloft and high instability which will lead to Cbs quite early in the afternoon.

Perhaps on the plus side we have light winds from the NE which will allow us to take off at Pena Negra and spend some time in the air.

Posible task scenarios.

Flying with a Cb forecast is extremely dangerous and foolish.  That said, what sort of task could we run that would reduce the risks in favour of survival of the majority of the pilots?

1.We cannot run a race start as it would  need us to wait for a period in the air for the race to open and we need to complete the task as early as possible and also promptly move away from the mountains which have a higher likelihood of Cb development.

2.Task has to be short to ensure all finish or are grounded very early.

3. If we set a specific route we cannot be sure that Cbs or congests will move over the course

4. Can´t do classic open distance , which would allow a good route selection through the terrifying bits but would have us in the air too long.

Things in our favour.

1. A percentage of the competing pilots are rational human beings who will recognise the danger when it becomes apparent and go to land.

2. The Piedrahita Valley and the flatland sector towards the NW is usually the last to be effected by Cbs or large congests clouds.

3.Supercell development is not likely.

What Task then?

Ground start race to exit a 20km or 30km cylinder.

Stop moaning and listen!

Ground starts only work when the conditions are poor early on and there is no rush to get off and the take off is large.  Clock is going for all when the window opens so it encourages people to get in the air and on track early, which is what we need.    Plenty will bomb early, but the risk of going down is offset by the fact that they will be ahead.

If it is very easily to stay up when we open the window we could set a race start 15 mins after window open as a cylinder of about 3km.

Task is very short, but that is what we need.

As mentioned in yesterdays briefing, our plan was to make you all so tired that todays poor forecast would not matter too you.  So if you flew 160km and are still in bed and read this late this afternoon, well all the better.  If you bombed out in the first 50km and hoped to make your big comeback today, well, there is further news to add to your depression.

General Situation.

A cold front is crossing us today, set to arrive and be active over us about the time we would normally launch the task window.

Unpleasant realities to bear mind when you stamp your little feet to demand a task.

The winds are strong from the SW, so parallel to the hillside which will generate some nasty rotor from the  spine to the west of take off.

The will not be a lot of sunshine on the ground to generate thermals. At 8 am we have quite extensive stratus over us.

When thermals are generated the instability aloft is  sufficient to generate strong convective Congestus clouds which may terrify some of  you.  If you are strong of mind, but flying one of those gliders which do not like getting wet, then your glider may upset your determined mindset as it deep stalls out of the sky in the rain showers.

Any task we do would need us to go directly downwind due to the strength of the wind.  This would mean going over the Pass and into the Ambles valley, both of which are often the first generate large clouds.  The wind direction is perfect for convergence, but this convergence is likely to set off Storms.

The drivers are all very tired as some were back in the early hours of the morning.

The retrieve coordinator is also very tired and likely to fly into a temper if we threaten another big task today.

Likely scenario

We will sent one vehicle up to check on the wind-  All pilots will remain in the valley with a possible debrief later this afternoon.  Final decision will be taken before noon so you can do some other things with your day.

Briefing

Today at 10am in the Theatre, TEATRO, which is on a road running from the bottom of the square. Go past Vine tree and Commercial and turn right.  It is front of the Bar Chivis.

TRIP TO SALAMANCA

we may run a tourist bus to Salamanca if there is interest and people wish to go.  We will also have lots of lunch packs made up so they need to be given out somewhere.  Maybe at the briefing.

1pm

Situation

Another low pressure system is approaching the NW of of the Peninsula which will complicate things for the next few days.  However, as is often the case, these prefrontal days often serve up the very best as for as big open distance cross country flying.

Today we have a SW flow which should allow us to take off at Peña Negra.  However, there will be a fair amount of turbulence close into the hill so I would be reluctant to do any form of turn points along the ridge and would strongly suggest a distant goal with minimal turn points as the wind is going to in excess of 20km/hr at most levels.

The SW direction will give us Convergence conditions for much of the track.  This will be BLUE convergence so may not be that obvious to you, but it is likely to be displaced to the North of the N110, and much more so after Avila.  The consistent direction and strength of the wind will also favour thermal streeting.

Slightly more dangerous spots to bear in mind.

The Villatoro Pass is obviously a problematic spot due to increased wind strengths due to compression at the mountain there.  Be very away also that in the flatlands immediately after there will be a strong down flow with a west wind causing thermal suppression , turbulence and the strongest winds in the plains at the outflow immediately on the lee side.

Some of the Terrain immediately around and after Avila is a little limited for landings so try to get at least those 500m to stay legal and pass it with more security.

The Mountain section just after Segovia can catch you out.  It is far safer and better (if there is convergence in the flats) to stay out from the hills here.  There is an extended part of the mountains which is unlandable which you may be tempted to skip across.   Best not to really unless you life lacks excitement.

Airspace

The thermal tops are not much over 3000m, so it should be easier than it often is to stay withing the limits in the madrid Notam area (9500ft).   There is also a square are called Baterias just to the SE of Segovia which you should be careful of as it extends from the ground to above our permitted height.

Baterias

To Race to Goal or use Elapsed time

Although not popular this may be the best option for the day due to the problems with hanging about on a windy turbulent ridge with weak conditions early on.

Advantages of a race are that we can wait in the air until conditions are good so more can cross the Pass with altitude.  The problem will be if it is difficult to maintain and pilots are swept downwind in weak thermals with no chance of getting back upwind to the start point.

This is our best chance of a big distance flight for the next few days so we should seize the opportunity and do a big flight with a goal in Arcones (or more if you wish).   No fussy turn points, just get int he air as soon as possible before it blows out and get on your way with and elapsed time.  Simple!

Good luck to you all for what ever is eventually decided.

What Happened.

Good start with multiple clock race start, so almost elapsed time.  quite gentle early on, and at present around 8 in goal (via air tribune), but more I imagine amongst those without mobile tracking.  A great day for many.

1200

task suggestion

Situation.

After the passage of a cold front yesterday with a large amount of associated cloud, we now have a northern flow, much lighter and which should give  us reasonable conditions for tasks.

Because of the high humidity this morning we will have cloud condensing below take of level till around mid day.  There should be drying out as the afternoon advances, with likely just blue thermals by around 3pm.  There is an inversion around 2600m which will reinforce as the afternoon goes on, but climbs to around 3000m should be possible in some areas, though 2600m will be the norm.

Key Points for Task selection.

1. Could base will be very low for the first hours of sharable conditions.  It would be best to select turn points in the Piedrahita Valley initially to allow conditions to improve before crossing into the Ambles Valley.

2.The wind is on the hill, not a rough lee side, so the  early part of the task could deb no the mountain or near it.  (corrales, Zig Zag, chalet etc).

3.it is more North wind than West, so on crossing the pass if conditions are weak pilots will be taken towards the Paramera range.  Perhaps a fist turn point in that valley  near Solosancho.

4.Because of North component in the wind there will be a low level N wind at Avila which may make it difficult to go beyond Avila.  I would  suggest Avila Goal.

5. Probable convergence near Muñogalindo, which would allow that as a turnpoint, but may prove too much into wind.

 What Happened

The usual, 3 reserve rides, and a drunken Mexican.

Around 95 in  Goal

Ian, who arrived today with us did a late afternoon flight to Avila.  Nice!

Rubbish weather continues with strong SW and approaching cold front.  After passage of front for tomorrow, Sunday, wind should go more N and lighten making for  reasonable XC conditions for for the following days.   That does not help much for today though!

1pm

1pm

conditions on a track to Segovia

Classic day for open distance from PN.  However, the need to go early to avoid strong winds at launch may put some of us on the ground before the Pass. A bit inverted between 2600 and 3100m, which will slow things till around 3pm I imagine.  Winds lightening and coming around to more NW in late afternoon evening.

There will be convergence in the Ambles valley.  Take oiff is slightly in the lee so we need good thermal development before the wind will come on straight.  After it does we need to get going soon.

1500

A cold front with a bit of rain went through last night so humidity is a bit high this morning so some low clouds and making for a later start.

An inversion of 2600m rising to over 3000m later in the day.  Good quality thermals and an excellent xc day for flying towards Avila.  Though it won’t look like it if you have a look outside at 9am.  don’t worry, it’ll be good.  just  a bit more patience needed!

1pm

sk1500

What Happened.

pleasant day with the girls over the Pass and also Chris how did best to Solloshancho..  Nice evening restitutiion