Damn Maurice has won the friggen day again.
Well done Maurice, it was a tough day. We all started around 12:30 to an over developed sky, with odd bits of sun hitting the ground. We started landing back in about the order we took off. Maurice and Paul S were at the back of the grid, launched last and managed to stay up for quite a long time. Paul came back, and Maurice decided to start out on the course.
Meanwhile the rest of us 'land-backs' adjourned to the clubrooms for a cup of tea or an iceblock. About 2 we decided to give it another go. All this time Maurice had been flying around trying to stay up.
At that stage unless someone else starts the course and goes over 30km around the course the day would be a no fly day.
Tim managed to get started, and two competitors meant the task officially had enough people. It was a good run to the first turnpoint of Morrinsville, with a big heavy overdeveloped cloud street starting over the town. This had fantastic lift under it, and conveniently the street went to the next turn point of Karapiro. A quick dash to the turn point and then things disintegrated, putting Tim into a very nice look paddock just out of Cambridge.
Maurice nearly made it right around the course, but landed out near the base of the Kaimais. As such the day will be devalued, so points won't be vast.
Edouard also made a start, and travelled enough to earn some points too, probably coming third for the day.
Everyone other than Tim and Maurice landed back at the field.
Tim's retrieve proved interesting. First up Bill Mace and Les Reisterer managed to get lost on the way. The drove to the road closest to the coordinates given, but unfotunately a big gully was in the way, so they had to find a way around. This involved driving through Cambridge, and buying a map along the way. Bill's phone had run out of battery too, so there was no way to relay what road to go to.
Anyway the retrieve crew turned up, and all was well with the world. Until we realised there was no way our car and trailer would make it down and up a rough and rather steep gully road. Luckily the farmer was handy with his tractor, so we stuck the trailer on that, and away we went. From there on things went smoothly, and we were back in time for dins at 7.
Maurice was retrieved by his son Peter, who also took flight in a local microlight to take some pics.
All in all a fun day, we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see the results.
Comments
Go Tim!!