We gridded at 1105 after observing a minutes silence for remembrance day, and the gliders started taking off at 12.30 on the dot. Greg Smith (I think I put Wilson yesterday) took off earlier as a sniffer, but soon climbed out, so we launched the whole field as quickly as we could.
Still short of rope runners, but Lauren Goddard helped out today, and Scorer Chris Carr, and me too!! Lots of running. We managed to launch both classes in 1hr 20 minutes - not too bad for five tugs. We will have six tomorrow with the arrival of a Maule, EMA, this afternoon so it will be interesting to see if it speeds up the launch.
Some gliders have been hanging on after getting to 2000ft on tow, which annoys the tuggies because it stuffs up their pattern. We suggested they start descending with the glider on tow if it happens any more!
The task was Mullaley 10km, Togo 40km Splitrock Dam 20 km 227.3/339.4/457.5 km and 3 hours for Sports Class, and Merrylands 20km Narrabri A/D 30km Splitrock Dam 20km 155.2km/257.5 km/367.5km and 2.5 hours for Club Class.
Gliders reported getting good height, but the thermals were a long way apart and the day shut down early. There were loads of outlandings amongst the Club Class gliders, and quite a number in sports class which really tested the outlanding retrieve system. However all are accounted for and once again I had no difficulty in getting people to go out - most of them pilots who had completed the task. Its 9.30 pm now, and many still have not returned, but some are staying in Manilla and as the retrieve had to go past there they will not return to Keepit until tomorrow morning. It all pays havoc with the catering, but Wendy Medlicott takes it all in her stride - just part of the game she says.
Jo Pocklington worked wonders on the radio once again and sorted out who was missing and who accounted for - I had my hands full on the phone taking the pilots calls. Some of the pilots called inbound at 20 km and then landed out, which made it hard.
The Twin Astir and the Grob 103 Twin ll both landed at an airstrip so were able to be aerotow retrieved - phew thank goodness for that. The duo discus had to start its motor again, and then flew into a thermal just after. But they wouldn't have got the thermal without, so no way they could have avoided the technical outlanding.
I could tell you who was first in each class, but I'll save it to the briefing tomorrow. Will be a bit late getting the scores out as no traces from the outlanders yet, and some pilots have either not put in a trace, or put one in from a different logger, without notifying the scorer so he doesn't know whose it is.
Many of the top guys in club class landed out so there will be quite a shuffle in the scores. The good news is I found my camera, so may be able to post some photos tomorrow.
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