The Day started very well with forecast giving good thermal activity albeit a bit blue.
Messrs Kraak, McCaw & McCaw started off the front of the grid to do the task plus a bit to get in a 500km thermal day. 2 or 3 the tree landed out while the third got around the first turnpoint and a third of the way on leg 2 before scratching his way home. The tenacity we like to see in a rugby player.
The launch was interesting with one lad dopping his rope grabbing hook which entailed a linup of grid guys walking line abreast from the next glider in line down the runway. Then we had a towplane reporting smoke and waved off his glider at around 8/900 feet. He retuned safely and the glider climbed away-fabulous.
With 6 towplanes and and 26 gliders to launch it didnt take long.
The day didnt perform as expected and our Aussie Battler lead the charge into airstrips. At one stage we had 4 towplanes on retrieves. Two towplanes had to refuel at Wanaka to achieve their tasks with one towplane doing retrieves from Minnaret station, Makaora and Mt Cook.
The "buggar" award surely went to George Wills who climbed to 8,000ft at Pukaki for his final glide and got shot down 12kms short of Omarama. A great effort.
Today looks good and forecast says better than yesterday. But task setters are a bit gunshy after yesterday's forecast didnt pan out as hoped.
Its an AAT task for all classes so we are looking forward to everyone getting back OK in time for tea and medals also know as final dinner and prizegiving.
To the grid to the grid to the grid grid grid.
Keep it up
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