31st Australian Club & Sports Class Nationals

Last Competition Day Friday 13th January

Firstly, Thursday turned out to be a better day for flying. The B task was flown for all Classes.

Club Class order of leaders changed quite a bit. Craig Collins now leads Tobi Geiger by a small margin.

Peter Temple is still nipping at Bruce Taylors tailplane in Sports Class.

The weather for today is being influenced by the Ex Cyclone Heidi and that may cause some subsidence and suppressed thermals with heights to 5,000 ft.

Gridding is to be completed by 1200 with first launch of Sports class at 12.30.

It will be an exciting finish to a great and very friendly competition.

Regards

Michael

Day 7 Contest Thursday 12th January

A fine day with some Cu and possible climbs to 6,000ft, about 22 degrees. All Classes are tasked for a racing task around 2 points and then a straight in return. Launching is expected soon after 12.30. It looks like it is going to be an exciting day where there will be some jostling for the top places
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STOP PRESS STOP PRESS

Day 7 Competition is cancelled for Sports and 20M due to very strong winds at all levels. Club class was not tasked. Lake Bonney Doon looks like a nice place to visit for the day. Tatong on the way has really nice meat pies at the Pub.
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Day 7 Wednesday 11th

Sports Class and 20M class are very close. Club class is led by Tobi Geiger by a safe margin. Today is looking miserable, with higher winds on the ground and quite high at flying height. It is overcast and forecast for rain. Club Class is not tasked, but 20M and Sports class have been set the same task with a possible launch at 13.30. This  may result in some position changes if the task is flown and there is one missed climb!!!
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Day 6 Tuesday 10th January

Cubley and Rau lead in 20M, Taylor leads Sports and Geiger leads Club. Only Tobi has a commanding lead in Club Class. The other classes are very close. The oppportunity for tasking is narrow with only a small window. Heights may be to 6,000ft and only for a few hours with possible stronger winds up higher. Sports is launcing first, followed by Club and then 20M. Launching is likely to start at 12.30 for about 2 hour tasks.  
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Day 5 Monday 9th January

Yesterday all pilots and crew did a random low FAI pentagram of wineries and cheese factories. There was a lot of rain, but this did not effect the airfield access for today. The weather is fine with strongish westerly. It is expected that the thermal height will be about 7,000ft and at 10am thermals had already started. They are expected to be around for a good part of the day. A task has been set for all classes, with first launch at 12 noon. The Club class will be the first to launch with a...
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Sunday 8th January

Today is wet and windy. No tasks will be set today. Individuals will be permitted to amuse themselves. Some have decided that Australia is so nice they will start a business here (see photo below)!!!
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Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th

Saturday competition flying is cancelled due to inclement weather coming from the West making the Task window too small. It is very nice and sunny and mild at the moment though. The Pilots meeting is scheduled for 10.45 am. It may be a long one with many agenda items:-( Sunday may have poor weather and the decision for the day will be made and announced on Sunday 9am. Friday was a very successful day with most pilots getting aound. Many pilots commented that all they had to do was go around the...
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Day 4 Friday 6th January

Another fine day. Seems to be a blue day to about 6,000ft. A speed task has been set for all Classes and all have now been launched. Many pilots seem happy about that, as they will not need to work out angles and will know where they are going! Yesterdays task saw a few outlandings with only pride being hurt. This has resulted though in a little reshuffle of the Sport Class and Club class top runners. All protests and issues of day 1 Sports class have been ajudicated. No change to results was t...
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Day 3 Thursday 5th January

All Classes have set off on task into better weather than Wednesday. First competitors are due to land about 4.45ESST. Heights are likely to be 5-6000ft. Yesterday saw half the Club class outland, and 1/3 of the Sports class do the same. 2 of the 20 Metre class were also unable to complete their task. With the better weather tasks speeds will be higher and less outlandings are expected. The Sports Class day one result is still being considered by the protest committee!!! Penalties for airspace...
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