NQSC members were expecting the first good day for several weeks on Sat (we
now fly Sat) with good thermals to 5000 ft expected. I had planned my silver
distance in the Arrow but the weather did not seem to want to cooperaate.
Eventually Ray Squire got away in his Libelle GCJ so I launched and joined
him in a climb only to find it top out at 2000 ft only 5 minutes after Ray
got to cloud base. Not another climb to cloud base could be found, and I
needed that to get away. Eventually I got a reasonable climb and looking at
the conditions figured I could do better to the west. Unfortunately I could
not stay within the working band I had hoped, and found myself struggling
down low on several occasions. On one such occasion I got down to 1200 ft
and scrached away in 1/2 to 2 knots of very broken and narrow thermal, only
to loose the climb and find myself contemplating another outlanding.
Paddocks previously selected were scanned and an approach made into what
appeared the best, newly disc-ed paddock. Only on late final did I see that
it was composed mainly of clods of clay that seemed destined to destroy my
beloved glider. A well held off landing finished with full brake saw me roll
only a few metres and the little Arrow saved from the worst. A bad day
turned slightly better I thought, untill we cracked the canopy while
de-rigging "DOH!"
Lets hope next week is a boomer, not looking forward to connecting those
controls up again, in the half light with sweat in my eyes, trying to hold
felt, rod ends and control rods. One good thing, I can rig a lot faster now!
Cheers all
David Olsen
VH GNK
NQSC
----- Original Message -----
From: Williiam Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: 'aus-soaring' <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2001 9:17 AM
Subject: [aus-soaring] BORING @ Benalla
> After what has been a mediocre soaring season we had a good run of XCs
through last Thursday to Sunday. Each day came good with great fields of
cumulus, cloud base on occasions reached 9500' with lift sometimes in excess
of 10 kts. There were some difficult spots in the task areas but everyone
made it home. Tasks included,
>
> Benalla - Holbrook - Mt Bogong 380kms
> Benalla - Deniliquin - Rand 413kms
> Benalla - Mt Youngal (south of Khancoban) 380kms
> Benalla - Hay 500kms
>
> We were a weary bunch by Sunday evening, but oh so happy.
>
> Bill Anderson
>
>
>
>
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