F3J - Thermal duration Results and Report Open Thermal #9 Diggers Rest
Results and Report Open Thermal #9 Diggers Rest
RGCA 09 Thermal Event Diggers Rest 21 May 2017
Eight pilots competed for the penultimate RCGA event of the year and an important opportunity to fine tune models before Jerilderie. The forecast was for fine weather with higher northerly winds in the morning abating in the afternoon and this is what happened. I measured gust of up to 20 knots in the morning and at times it was dead still in the afternoon. With the winches set up to the north the pilots also had to deal with the inconvenient sun position with a few hairy moments!
With the eight pilots divided into two groups of four we were kept busy with everyone doing something each heat. As a result, we managed to get through 8 rounds well before the winter sun set. Lift was sometime hard to come by and many did not make their time and there were heats won without a 10 minute flight. There were also a number of out landings particularly in the morning with the higher wind strength and I for one took the “walk of shame”!
During the day, the lead changed on numerous occasions with every pilot carrying at least one “dropper” but in the end Jim prevailed with consistent flying ahead of the in form David Pratley flying a new very light Maxa in second and Marcus in Third.
Next up Jerilderie – look forward to seeing you all there!
Daniel Haskell
1st Place Jim Houdalakis
2nd Place David Pratley
3rd Place Marcus Stent