RCGA September 2017 Thermal Round 1

You couldn’t ask for a nicer day to kick off the 2017-2018 RCGA competition season. Compared to the weather roller coaster melbourne has been in the last few weeks, with usually a hurricane for our first few events in Spring,

Sunday was calm with mostly blue skies, and even warmish in the sun.

On the minus side numbers were a bit down as there were quite a few of our regulars on holidays interstate or overseas, or struck down by the flu going around.

Although we were joined by an overseas competitor in form of David Hobby, so the standard of competition was going to be even higher.

Because of the light conditions, and forecasts showing wildly varying wind directions, It took a while to decide on the winch line direction. I think we were launching into wind by the end of the day, but mostly off by 90 degrees or more. I was having fun trying to go around on launch, and sometimes I even managed not to stuff it up. Launches were made tougher by the lowish bright sun directly ahead, catching some pilots out.

It was a typical nice days flying, with lift present all day, light in the morning strong in the middle of the day, and softening by the end of the day, and with the sink not too vicious.

We flew eight rounds, and it came down to landings for the top 3 three pilots, having made all their times.

Congrats to :

Marcus Stent 1st

Jim houdalakis 2nd

David Hobby 3rd