Day 3

The glider-less view from Aussie camp. 

Briefing at 1100. 

Update:

So first day of flying and Matt and I both finish top 10. I had heaps of fun and a great flight to start the comp. Matt actually made it around the task landing back at the field! He must not have known that it was Day 1. And around in good time too. Our team flying does need more polishing but I'm quite happy about where we are at on the first flying day. 

Task: 1 and a half hour AAT, 178km point to point distance. Task B was longer and at 2 hours and I think that would have been possible. But with the mornings forecast it was a very dicey day. 

I started with the Czech's and Matt held on a bit longer and started a few minutes later. Into the first turn the Czech's were infront at out of my sight in the haze but I I saw them when they turned for the second point and I stuck to them. Along this leg they I clawed back to their height and right with them. They started turning in something that didn't feel like it was worth stopping for so after a few turns I left and with info from Matt in front I took the better street to the north of track. Matt had turned much earlier in the first sector. From now on I flew on my own talking to Matt about conditions ahead. This leg was down wind so I need to find a climb to take into the sector and get high for the head wind finish. I didn't find the climb that I was looking for so now I had covered much more distance and was defiantly going to get home over time. I went in and touched the side of the sector and headed for home with 900m below a slow glide. I kept my speed up and milking the good air I gained heaps more margin on my path below glide. I found a nice climb marked by a little hawk and took that till I was still just below glide. The sky was looking much like the last 30km I'd had so I knew that I would easily pick up the rest of the height I needed and be able to start increasing my speed to match. Around the small control point and low and fast into the finish. You should have seen the smile on my face! I had had such a fun flight. I even rewarded myself with an icecream after dinner. If we go by a system of a single scoop per place from 10th then I am in debt a scoop ;) but with my increased wing loading tomorrow I'm sure that I can make that up. 

Now time to recover and look forward to tomorrow.