Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Easterns Cancelled
It is with great regret that due to lack of demand the Eastern Regionals 2009 has been cancelled. Any competitors due refunds of entry fees or deposits should contact the competition secretary immediately.
Monday, 9 March 2009
Easterns Entries
There is now an entry form for the 2009 Eastern Regionals here. There's also a 10% discount for any entrant who pays the full entry fee before 1st April, so get in quick!
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Eastern Regionals 2009
Due to the cancellation of the 20m Nationals the Eastern Regionals will now be held at Tibenham from 23rd to 31st May 2009.
This is the Spring Bank Holiday week and school half term. The change has been made to avoid the congestion in August and provide a competition early in the year and when there are still plenty of fields to land in as the cereal crops will not be far enough forward to cause a problem.
Come to Tibenham to get your points before the July/August monsoon season sets in.
Please contact Don Johnstone @ don@okbloggs.co.uk
This is the Spring Bank Holiday week and school half term. The change has been made to avoid the congestion in August and provide a competition early in the year and when there are still plenty of fields to land in as the cereal crops will not be far enough forward to cause a problem.
Come to Tibenham to get your points before the July/August monsoon season sets in.
Please contact Don Johnstone @ don@okbloggs.co.uk
Monday, 14 July 2008
Additional Prizes
Cracked Pots were awarded to:
Phil Morgan - Water divining with a JCB, water found in pipe
John Tanner - Phaffing on the grid, included some laxative to speed up movements.
Phil Morgan - Water divining with a JCB, water found in pipe
John Tanner - Phaffing on the grid, included some laxative to speed up movements.
Prize Giving
2008 Uk Open Class Champion
Steve Jones - 110 - Numbus 4M
Runner Up
Ian Ashdown - 128 - Nimbus 3
Third Place
Pete Harvey - N1 - Nimbus 4T
Steve Jones - 110 - Numbus 4M
Runner Up
Ian Ashdown - 128 - Nimbus 3
Third Place
Pete Harvey - N1 - Nimbus 4T
Sunday, 13 July 2008
It is all over now
Steve Jones is UK Open Nationals Champion of 2008 - best of luck to Steve and Pete Harvey in the World Championships in Lusse!
Scores are on the web here
Many thanks to all the competitors and organisers for all their hard work ...
Scores are on the web here
Many thanks to all the competitors and organisers for all their hard work ...
All looking good for a 1000 point day
... and Dave Byass has just rung in from Rougham to request an aerotow retreive. Boris was exceedingly happy to the news :-)
More finishers...
128 and 176. The rest are still up there and the day's starting to look a bit flat.
News
HLX - Landed out after 2 TPs - east of Mildenhall
M25 - landing back no news on why
FWW - landing back no news on why
M25 - landing back no news on why
FWW - landing back no news on why
13:00
All aircraft launched and start gate has been opened.
The some pilots have already declared a start.
The some pilots have already declared a start.
Task
The tasks are set and all we are waiting for is the medium level cloud to clear. Two racing tasks will be posted on the net after briefing. The grid is out.
Sunday
While we have a ridge of high pressure over us the low we have endured over the past few days is sitting over Scandinavia dragging medium cloud down over the midlands and east anglia. This cloud is slow moving and the only real hope is that it breaks up. Rasp indicates the thermals will die by 1800hrs so a late task is not an option. We can only hope that we will get rid of this medium cloud in sufficient time to allow a task.
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Saturday's task
A task has been set and all the aircraft are on the grid waiting for the weather to co-operate.
We have rescored day 3, Thursday, after a secondary logger was provided. This considerably increased his distance and made it a 1000 point day.
We have rescored day 3, Thursday, after a secondary logger was provided. This considerably increased his distance and made it a 1000 point day.
Briefing Delayed
Briefing has been put back to 1130hrs. Competitors have been told to grid before briefing. The latest weather forecast shows an improvement from 1100hrs with 5 knot airmass thermals. Unfortunately the freezing level is at 7000ft and the tops of the thermals bust this by a considerable amount indicating showers.
Saturday
The bad news is that we have 8/8 cloud, the good news is it is not raining. Hopefully the cloud will burn off but an early start is unlikely. If we do get a break it is likely to be showery again. No task as yet.
Dave, the tuggy from Biscester attempted to return there but had to turn back because of low cloud.
Dave, the tuggy from Biscester attempted to return there but had to turn back because of low cloud.
Friday, 11 July 2008
Open Posting
The facility to allow those who are not logged in to post comments on this blog was provided to allow sensible and informative comment to be made. It was NOT provided to allow snide attacks on individuals. If there are anymore such comments the facility will be withdrawn. It is a shame that such action would have to be taken because of the immature actions of a few individuals.
Preliminary Scores
Published on the web. Not a high scoring day but a result nevertheless. The showers spoilt the day for many.
Angus had an adventure today
Angus had an adventure today
Friday at 16:20
All aircraft now safely back on the airfield with another finisher, RC.
Awaiting the last 2 loggers.
Just in time, from my window the sky looks very black on the horizon and coming towards us fast.
All aircraft now safely back on the airfield with another finisher, RC.
Awaiting the last 2 loggers.
Just in time, from my window the sky looks very black on the horizon and coming towards us fast.
Results
The results for most of the fleet have now been computed and published on SoaringSpot.
Awaiting 4 loggers, 2 of which we assume are still airborne.
Awaiting 4 loggers, 2 of which we assume are still airborne.
Todays Task
A 2.5 hour AAT north Suffolk to North Norfolk. We hope to get the task in before the weather from the West (Hus Bos) gets to us.
First launch scheduled for 1130 hrs
First launch scheduled for 1130 hrs
Friday
The weather today is much the same as yesterday with a more unstable airmass. There is a strong chance of showers today with Thunderstorms later on. It looks as though the showers will start earlier in the west so the task reflects this. The grid is out and one glider is on the way to the grid. The intention is to get the task underway as early as possible to try and complete the task before the worst of the showers and the thunderstorms.
I am wearing my bullet proof vest at briefing today as we have an AAT in mind
I am wearing my bullet proof vest at briefing today as we have an AAT in mind
Thursday, 10 July 2008
15 Metre Nationals
Just seen the results from the 15 metres and it seems they did not fare as well as the big boys. We were all flying in the same general area but fate or the weather has not been so kind. Lets hope for a better day tomorrow for the inadequate winged :-)
Trust me people SIZE MATTERS lol
Trust me people SIZE MATTERS lol
Tibenham
Looks like Tibenham is the place to be this week, scores are finished (2 landouts excepted) and on the net, planning for tomorrow has already started. 4 days flying so far with 3 contest days can't be bad, and maybe some to come.
Hot news, Angus only took one launch :-)
Hot news, Angus only took one launch :-)
Thursday 10th July at 17:55
All loggers are now in except fo the 2 land outs.
Peter Harvey is the lead so far with 859 points though this will increase as both of the landouts have passed Y.
Peter Harvey is the lead so far with 859 points though this will increase as both of the landouts have passed Y.
Pics from the day
Jacob (a cadet), Mike Tate (grid marshal)
Mike, Jacob, Phil Morgan (Tug marshal)
Mike Bean (S/F Radio), Dave Blythe (S/F radio)
Don Johnstone (Freeloader), Mike
Mike, Jacob, Phil Morgan (Tug marshal)
Mike Bean (S/F Radio), Dave Blythe (S/F radio)
Don Johnstone (Freeloader), Mike
Finishers
We have 10 finishers so far
RC
48
128
46
M25
82
N1
110
374
970
LO/LB
HLX at Littleport (Fens ooooooooooooooooooh)
Y7 at Ely (Fens again, will we see them again?)
Z7
954
FWW
One competitor left out there somewhere 176
**Stop Press 176 5 mins non comp)
RC
48
128
46
M25
82
N1
110
374
970
LO/LB
HLX at Littleport (Fens ooooooooooooooooooh)
Y7 at Ely (Fens again, will we see them again?)
Z7
954
FWW
One competitor left out there somewhere 176
**Stop Press 176 5 mins non comp)
Finishers
All aircraft away with only 3 land backs.
3 finishes so far with 3 just called 5 min.
Awaiting the loggers, first results expecter soon.
3 finishes so far with 3 just called 5 min.
Awaiting the loggers, first results expecter soon.
Start gate open
All aircraft away, no re-lights.
Start gate has opened, at 12:34. Max height 3000 feet.
Start gate has opened, at 12:34. Max height 3000 feet.
Thursday 10th July
Flying has started with the first launch at 11:45.
The sky is currently looking good.
Just 3 left to go
The sky is currently looking good.
Just 3 left to go
Grid has formed
I don't appear to have as many spies as on Tuesday - my syndicate partner must have gone to work ... but the Team are now fully trained, task is faxed to me and the scorer is putting it up on SoaringSpot and Don has been actively blogging! Means I might have to do some work :-(
Interesting Met
Just had a look at the Met on SoaringSpot - they have this chart - looks suspect to me but quite interesting and useful if they can tune it for our conditions. Anybody fancy doing 100km on Anglsey?
Thursday 10th - Task
AAT - 3hours
CAS - Cambridge South - Sector 230/310 25km
OUN - Oundle - Circle 20km
LVN - Lavenham - Circle 20km
Distances: 213/277/350
Earliest 1st Launch: 11:30
CAS - Cambridge South - Sector 230/310 25km
OUN - Oundle - Circle 20km
LVN - Lavenham - Circle 20km
Distances: 213/277/350
Earliest 1st Launch: 11:30
Today
The sun is shining, the satpics look good so here is hoping.
Most forecasters seem to think that the air is unstable enough to produce showers, however the soundings from Cambourne at midnight do not seem to support this. Also the satpics show significant wave east of the Welsh hills and the pennines indicating that the air might be a little more stable than at first thought. Forecast cloud base seems to be between 3000-4000ft with tops to 9000ft, very close to the zero degree isotherm but not through it.
Most forecasters seem to think that the air is unstable enough to produce showers, however the soundings from Cambourne at midnight do not seem to support this. Also the satpics show significant wave east of the Welsh hills and the pennines indicating that the air might be a little more stable than at first thought. Forecast cloud base seems to be between 3000-4000ft with tops to 9000ft, very close to the zero degree isotherm but not through it.
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
Tomorrow
I have just finished looking at the weather for tomorrow and it looks fairly hopeful. The ground will be a little damp although it has just stopped raining, it will have all night to soak in. Looks like it will be a day on the well drained chalk so get your geology maps out :-)
Thou shalt not phaff.
Oops I spoke too soon, the patter of raindrops on my caravan tells me so :-) however the rain radar shows an end in the next hour.
Thou shalt not phaff.
Oops I spoke too soon, the patter of raindrops on my caravan tells me so :-) however the rain radar shows an end in the next hour.
Comments
I opened up the comments so people who wanted to say something useful could without signing up to a Google account.
There have been some apparently misinformed comments that have been posted - you will glad to know that I am moderating the comments. If you want to question Don's directing please either post with a Name and Email address or direct the questions directly to Don.
A few quotes from the Comp Handbook 2008
- All gliders of a task group should have the opportunity of a competition launch within one hour. This can normally be achieved by having not more than six gliders per tug.
- Pilots who refuse a launch shall follow the relight procedure. A pilot who is unready for his grid order launch shall be deemed to have refused a launch.
- 19.4. Start open time. The start for each task group will open not less than 10 minutes, plus 1 minute for each 200 feet or part thereof by which the start height exceeds 3,000 feet, after the last competitor in that task group has had the option to launch.
On the other hand if you are a competitor, which I doubt, and know better then please take it up with Don in person ...
There have been some apparently misinformed comments that have been posted - you will glad to know that I am moderating the comments. If you want to question Don's directing please either post with a Name and Email address or direct the questions directly to Don.
A few quotes from the Comp Handbook 2008
- All gliders of a task group should have the opportunity of a competition launch within one hour. This can normally be achieved by having not more than six gliders per tug.
- Pilots who refuse a launch shall follow the relight procedure. A pilot who is unready for his grid order launch shall be deemed to have refused a launch.
- 19.4. Start open time. The start for each task group will open not less than 10 minutes, plus 1 minute for each 200 feet or part thereof by which the start height exceeds 3,000 feet, after the last competitor in that task group has had the option to launch.
On the other hand if you are a competitor, which I doubt, and know better then please take it up with Don in person ...
The forecast was right!
Rain, rain, rain - Which is why there were a few people in the bar last night - suitable captions required ...
Scrubbed
The rain has reached TIB and the day has been scrubbed. The cracked pots have been awarded to Angus, RC and Steve the RC P2 (see Fat Cat story below).
Briefing delayed
The forecast rain has not appeared and as I write it is thermic. Briefing delayed until 1100hrs.
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