And then there was one, then none.

Sorry for no posts last few days, long days [even rest days] and always seem to be rushing.
Second last day was the fastest of the comp. I started late and was still with a good pack, SS, XXL and A at the second turn. After that the difference between 800kg and 850kg started to tell and I fell off the back, also slower on final glide.
Yesterday went OK with an early start but I lost 25-30mins under 1000' about 30km from home just over the Serbian border.
Today the forecast was bad so David decided to de-rig. We were the last to grid just in time for the cancellation. Congrats to Michael Sommer in Open who made it 3 in a row!
As we were de-rigging Kerrie's bag was lifted off the front seat of the van with all the money we had got out to finalise accommodation and her glasses, phone, camera etc.
Just back from 3 hours at the Cop shop!
We leave with fond memories of many of the people here but a sour taste in our mouths generally.
Off to the dinner as thunder rolls.
See you on an Aussie gliding field soon! Kerrie will continue to update on our blog, we have about 2000km more to do in the trannie with the Nimbus on the back!
Tom

Last Day Cancelled

Today has been cancelled due to a front with storms that went through about mid-day.

As everyone was derigging, Kerrie had her bum bag stolen out of their vehicle,money, credit cards,glasses and phone taken. So we get another visit from the Rendoserg(Police for those who have not been paying attention)

David and Lesley have departed for Germany with glider in tow. Tom, Kerrie will be spending a couple of days in Budapest before heading to Denmark via the slow route.

I am off tomorrow for Frankfurt via a day or so in Budapest on the way home, I am looking forward to some decent weather in Australiaand a decent salad.

Tonight we have the final dinner in the hangar and the closing ceremony tomorrow morning.

See you all at home sometime

Cheers Greg

Day 7 All Up In The Air

The weather looked promising early today, but as the morning progressed, by 0945 rapidly filled in with cu and some high level cloud to the east of Szeged.

Open Class launched @ 1200, followed by 15M, then 18M.

Open Class are tasked with 3 1/2 hr AAT; 18M 289 km "speed" task.

Feedback from Tom and David at 1600 onwards indicate very soft conditions. The Polish 18M hotshots have already out-landed. I'm sure there will be many more before the day is out..............

Stalwarts and Unsung Heroes

International night

Ron Tabery and family

Uli Schwenk, jovial as ever!

Kerrie, Tom and David

Peter Carey

Tonight was "international night" in the large briefing hangar on the airfield. As usual, there was much guzzling of delicacies, washed down with alcohol in various guises. Pasta and Palinka, beer, bocconcini and bruschetta, wine and wodka........gateaux and grappa.........a fun mix of food and very sociable people made a great night.

The events of recent days have had a pretty profound effect on the Aussie team members who remain, as would be expected. At least this evening we all had the opportunity to mingle with our fellow competitors and teams in an atmosphere of friendly ambience.

Team Captain Greg has had some fraught and stressful times in recent days dealing with various police, officials and local "civil aviation authorities" and has done a sterling job in dealing with a situation that no team captain would ever want to find him/herself having to deal with, especially in a foreign country where one does not speak the local language, nor where English is widely understood. Thanks Greg for doing what needed to be done in "uncharted territory".

Thank you to Tom, Kerrie and Graham, Mark and Schmidty, who were there to de-rig Lars' glider, download traces from his logger, liaise, fetch and carry as was required, etc, etc.......... Truly, team support epitomised.

Thanks also to one of our Aussie team members who has to date not been mentioned in any of our blogs but to whom we owe a great deal of gratitude and whom we must congratulate for his invaluable help, intervention and proactivity and advice with Lars' predicament.

Our unsung hero is Peter Carey from Benalla. Peter is a Hungarian-born Australian. A quiet, unassuming gentleman who has really come into his own and been indispensable these past few days.

Peter has also been doing some "PR" with the locals and we all had an invitation to dinner with a local Hungarian family yesterday evening. Our host was a pilot with a local business and is friends with Hegedus Laslo. We were overwhelmed by the hospitality we were shown by "Willie" and "Kate" and it was delightful to experience local culture and family life rather than the restaurant atmosphere we've become accustomed to so far. We were also introduced to some fine old Tokaji (Tokay) and "home-grown" fruit Palinka, aka rocket fuel. The food was delicious and plentiful and Peter actually ate lamb, which he normally refuses to eat!

Serious business of flying tomorrow, and so to bed.............................

Day 6 cancelled for 18M and Open

Thunderstorm activity and rain last evening means the day has been cancelled for all but 15 M. At this stage first launch for the 15 M will be 1400. The weather is looking promising for maybe a short task. I guess the organisation needs to recoup the lost flying day for 15 M class.

Task set is 2hr AAT.

Perhaps we will all fly Thursday and Friday............Let's wait and see.

Slow day (yesterday)

I don't know about David but I had a reasonable run until I left a messy gaggle and got rolled. Climbs were better higher and I just didn't connect. Later I left a group again to go in a different direction and they beat me home by 15 mins! Today we MAY have tasked in Australia, the first day this is so.
Tom

Tuesday 27 July

Open just launching Racing task 428 k back and forth in southern Hungary

18 M 330 k Racing tash up in the North East an d back

There are actually Cu arournd see what they say once airbourne

Rest Day for 15M Class

Monday 2nd August 2010

Competition Day 5 18M: Day 6 Open Class

Today was declared a rest day (Day Cancelled) for 15 M due to the whole class' out-landing (many in Serbia) and late arrival back at Szeged last night (and the wee hours of this morning for some!).

Today is blue, with max Cu for the day 2/8, predicted in the late afternoon. It feels hot and dry (less humid), so here's hoping the blue thermals are really there today.

Open class were first to launch @ 1245 and 18M @ 1300. Tasks are 3 hr AAT for both; point to point 327.4 km and 315.6 km.

Start gates opened 1340 and 1353 respectively and Tom and David have both started on task sounding reasonably happy with conditions compared to yesterday. Only reports from Tom have been 2-3 kts going to the dizzying heights of 4,000'! He did however expect conditions to improve as the day progressed.

It's rather sad not having Graham and Mark here now, however we are all absolutely in support of the decision Graham made not to continue.

Long day

The organisers landed out all gliders today. Yesterday the forecast said "not suitable for cross country soaring" - most of us got home. Today the met said "more stable, so better!"
It WAS more stable but NOT better! The first turn for Open class was in the middle of a hilly area with no landing possibilities for about 15km, thermals were 1-2kts [at best] to about 1500' agl in this area. I was almost the first there but had to escape 90 degrees to track for about 12km to get a climb [I was looking for a field to fire up over] The gaggle rolled me there but by the second turn I was in the top three. After some lucky low saves and a second Danube crossing I joined with the US team of Ron Tabery and Garret Willat and with UK pilot Pete Harvey as well. Ron was a little behind but with our info [to stay in 1 kt!] won the day and I managed 7th for 957 pts bringing me up to 19th.
Stats for the day: 37% thermalling, 1.1 kt avg, 87.7:1 overall L/D.
David had a bad run and you know about Graham. I was alone or in good company today so no scares.
Many 15M class gliders landed in Serbia and last heard crews were still waiting at the border to get in!
I hope tomorrow is shorter, over 6.30 today.
Tom

Enough

I am withdrawing from the competition. I have been worried for my safety on every flight in this competition so far.

This morning I looked at the glider on the launch grid and just didn't want to get in.

Maybe a bit soft but I think those who have flown with poor visibility at such low altitudes in such crowded skies (including a few maniacs) may understand.

Graham

Tom started 1345 reporting 3-4 knots to 4000 feet, David still to stast. Tom has just said he would be happy with a solid 2 knots

Sunday

Launch started 1230

Open 438 k Racing task Gate opens 1245

18 M 360 k Racing task still launching

Saturday

1230 First Launch

Open 2hr 30 AAT min 244 Max 473

18 Metre 2Hr 30 AAT min 202 max 383

The day looks iffy high cirus layer few Cu's and CB's forecast for later in the afternoon

2 stroke day

Well, three Pilots home, but all with engines!
Graham did the longest distance behind the finishers so far, Tom and David fired up fairly early.
The weather is really, really not good! Even the storms here have no energy!
Saw 4kts once today, average about 1.5 - 2. "Grey" holes about 40km wide with climbs to 3500'!

Message from Swaantje

Hi Kerrie,
I tried posting something on the team page but I am obviously a bit too stupid to get it right...
I hope the team will recover from yesterdays dreadful news. I looked at the pictures and really, I think you were lucky that nobody got killed in the accident. Thank God they finally gave you the 3 km finish circle! It had been successfully tried so many times!
Well, it can only get better! I hope the team and especially Lars recovers soon from the psychological impact and of course the truck driver from his injuries.
For the next days I wish you all better weather, good results and some fun - if possible! I am following the Aussie blog as good as I can and the comp on the official page!
Unfortunately I have no time to come visiting. So please say hello to all of them and good luck, especially to you and Tom.
Swaantje

New day

Tom, David & Graham all launched.
Open class gate opened at at 1309
18M class gate opens 1329
Climbing 1kt
Cirrus thickening
Met showing rain to NW on Danube

All pilots home safe

Difficult day with best L/D final glides.
This afternoon Lars had a landing accident at the airfield. Glider damaged but Lars is unhurt.

First Launch 1230 We have been told this is definit

It' not Raining

First Take off 1130

15 M 334k Racing Task

Open 379k Racing Task

Followed by
18 M 337k Racing tash

Task B 2Hr 30 AAT's all tasks

Claffey Capers

With yet another cancelled day Kerrie has started a blog on the link to the lower right to complement Graham's.