NZ National Gliding Competition 2010

ITS ALL OVER-Updated

2010-02-26T23:48:00.000-08:00

Hello sports fans.

Apologies for not blogging earlier, arrived home at 1am and slept the sleep of the blessed until 11am. My adrenaline suplies completely depleted. Spent the day with family and catching up with the 88 business emails waiting my urgent attention.

Damn, but dont you hate it when work gets in the way of gliding!!!

Yesterday was the "longest day". Not only in the tasks over 350km but the number of landouts in remote spots. 9 aero retrieves with the last glider landing back at end of civil twilight-30 minutes which we all know is the latest we can fly. yea right!

Longest road retrieve was probably Taumaranui. about 4 hour round trip. Yea I know-short by Omarama standards :-) .....they arrived back at 1am.

The results are all up on the scoring website along with a goodly asortment of photos . Jill told me at one time she had taken over 500 photos that day. That was just after the launch and no arrival shots included!!

The prizegiving went well with final arrival being Trev Terry having come from some remote spot just north of National Park.

Non winner type awards were
Hansells Trophy-Tony Van Dyke most meritorious Flight - Day 2 winner zero points.

The Continel Airlines Trophy-Winner of longest racing task - Brett Hunter. On the night I awarded it to incorrectly-the challenge of scoring late and me being a prat:-)
The Mike Rix Memorial Trophy-Youngest Highest Place Pilot - Dane Dickinson
The Richardson Trophy-Highest Speed during the champioships - Dane Dickinson

Veterans Trophy - Lindsey Stephens
The Swiss Trophy-2nd in Numerically Strongest Class-Lindsey Stephens

The Masterton Trohpy-Highest Placed Club Glider - NIgel McPhee/Dave Hirst

The Norge Cup-awarded to Mark Robertson

A number of trophies for the Sports/PW5 were not awarded and wait for next years competition.

The drawer for Early Bird Radio was won by David Jensen. #1
The drawer for a radio from all pilots and officials at the dinner(yep that included me) was won by Pat Driessen #12 who promptly put it up for auction, proceeds to the SAR fund. The competition raised over $800 for the local Search & rescue team.
A great effort.

The Prat in the hat had to fly down to Taupo Sunday to retrieve his Laptop carry bag and a pair of Sandals. Many thanks to Adrian Cable and his speedy RV4.
Noted a couple of chargers and items of clothing also left behind...

Other than my report to the Sailplane Racing Committee and an article for the Soaring Magazine I am done for another year.

Thanks to the many unsung heroes who made the organisation run smoothly and added to the fun factor.

Keep it up

Roy

FRIDAY - Day the Last

2010-02-25T14:26:00.000-08:00

The weather looks great, the sun is out.
A cool morning with a light southerly has got everyone KEEN!!!!

Gridding by 12:00 for a possible earliest launch 12:30

Airspace will be shared with Paraponters using a chunk of "our" GA482.

Task A Open & Standard
Is a racing task to 142 Kaingaroa
238 Waimahor
181 National Park
117 Mokai
109 Control point & home

350+ kms

Club Racing 213km
124 Reporoa
205 Barryville
139 Kuratau
117 Mokai
Control & Home

Keep it up

Roy

THURSDAY

2010-02-24T15:24:00.000-08:00

Rain stopped play
pluie nous a arrêté de voler
regen hield ons vliegen
雨停了我们飞行
Regen hielt uns unter
הגשם עצר אותנו לעוף
smesso di piovere, ci battenti
la lluvia nos detuvo de vuelo
No fling for us fellas inda air wakas.

Tomorrow looks like it will be a brilliant day.
Stay tuned sports fans!!!!!

Keep it up

Roy

WEDNESDAY-THEY ARE OFF!!

2010-02-23T19:43:00.000-08:00

Even sitting in his glider on the grid our main weatherman was saying he thought there was only 10% or less for the task to be flyable.

The weather gods decided to proove him wrong and the sky looks GREAT!

They are on an AAT task max 250kms in 2 hours
225 Mangaoke
166 Arohena Hall
119 Normans Corner
All 10km circles

Club Class have
228 Sandel Road
145 Kinleith
115 Waikato River Road

96-179km in 2 hours.

One landout as at 16:47 local - HU on a strip(#221) 23 minutes drive away(according to Google maps-which is being used in the retrieve pack)

Keep it up

Roy

DAY WEDNESDAY!

2010-02-23T14:09:00.000-08:00

Good morning Sports fans.

We are hoping that todays forecast is as wrong as previous days outlooks. Roland is looking downcast. But your Director remains positive!

Jill McCaw took some excellent photos yesterday with a lovely sequence of photos of a wheels up landing. Maybe a good article for the magazine- How to get the wheel down after a wheels up without causing back injury!

The title could be "From Wheels up to Wheels down"

The pilots meeting will be held this morning before we gather again at 12:30 for a rebrief on the changing weather situation.

Keep it up

Roy

DAY Tuesday 7pm

2010-02-22T21:55:00.000-08:00

4 Landouts NT,XG,KR,PV,UY

The rest have finished. A bunch of happy pilots who generally agreed "it was a tough day"

Jill McCaw has arrived with a camera with a huge telephoto lens. I guess nothing will miss her zoom ability. Especially the wheels up landing of the first ASW27 home.

Scoring is underway with Standard class witha double devalued day but still over 850 points.

Check in an hour or so at soaring Spot but Looks like Dane might be first up at the prize table in the morning.

I'm off to another fantastic Taupo club BBQ-dang but the steaks are huge and delicious.

Keep it up

Roy

Day three-standard class

2010-02-22T18:27:00.000-08:00

They have all launched.
To check how they are going go to http://map.xinqu.net/spot/index.html
7 Gliders are using SPOT.

Tasks Standard & Open 155km

A smallish task with sky only starting to "light up" at 3pm.
The task setters guess was based on a 60kph average.

Billy Walker Task (Racing)

151 Ranginui A/s
129 Tihoi Village
125 Atiamuri Bridge
109 Orakei Korako (Control point
Home'

Club Class
Same task but a 2 hour AAT with 10km circles
Minimum 107km maximum 209km.

Not flash but better than not flying.

Keep it up

Roy

TUESDAY AM(DAY 4)

2010-02-22T14:29:00.000-08:00

Well day 4 for most... actually Day 3 for Standard/15 metre class.

Briefing is over tasks have been printed based on predictions. However looking out the window the weather god hasnt read the predictions. Sun on the ground but cloud not clearing as fast as the computer says.

More news later as I understand we will be having an alternate task.

Gliders will be on the grid at 12:30 and they will fly. BUT we dont yet know where they will be going.

Keep it up

Roy

Monday Nite

2010-02-21T22:16:00.000-08:00

Everyone is accounted for- a lot of happy pilots having had a great day out!

The saddest story is probably the glider getting an aero retrieve that released on the ground and kited into a fence. Pilot is fine and practicing a lot of swear words. Glider needs a few band aids.

Next saddest story is the Duo Discus crew who received a 1000 points for their effort only to loose 25 points for a turnpoint error, they missed by 163 metres. Enough to be pushed back in to second place. Any small mistake at this level of competition can be brutally punished.

Tenacity of the day store is Taupo based pilot in a DG100 who landed out twice!!

Stupidest pilot story is the Nortlander who totally ignored the landing protocol and landed on the wrong runway with 4 gliders in the circuit to land(on the correct runway). Will have to check his mental condition to answer the question "What was he thinking!!!

Check the scoring website for todays scores.

They should be out very shortly.

Fingers crossed for another stunning day tomorrow.

Keep it up

Roy.

PS. We have full speed internet back-seems Telecom didnt like all the glider pilots doing downloads and using lots of data. After an hour on the phone and a measly $10 we are back at full speed. Means I can do some paid work tonite :-)

DAY MONDAY(3)

2010-02-21T15:07:00.000-08:00

Amazingly all the pilots are in good spirits even if they did land out yesterday.

Today has been declared Billy Walker day.
1. Even with SPOT & TXT message the Retrieve co-ordinator didnt pickup the landout in the first response retrives.
2. Today is a Speed task(Billy doesnt like AAT)

Weather looks good in the west. 5-7 knot thermals forecast.

Open 274 kms
172 Wharepapa south
164 Kakahi strip
134 Whakamaru Dam
109 Oraki Korako(control)

Standard 259 kms
172 Wharepapa Sth
139 Kuratau
134 Whakamaru Dam
109 Oraki Korakao(control)

Club 151.1 kms
145 Kinleith
153 Pureora Strip
109 Oraki Korakao(control)

Expected launch time 13:00
Forecast says maximum temperatures after 6pm

Looking out the window-sky looking good.

Keep it up

Roy

DAY SUNDAY(2) is over

2010-02-20T23:09:00.000-08:00

All pilots safe & well
All gliders safe & well
One trailer unhappy with broken axle and will have to have some serious attention

In the Standard/15 metre combined class TD & KZ showed some superior skills and finished the task. However they were gazzumped for any points when the remaining 20 pilots decided to have meetings in paddocks about 30km on course. The rules say it is a no competition day unless 25% of the fleet do more than 80kms. All our sympathy go to Tony & Stu who, while winning prizes dont get any points.

The same fate fell on the club class.

I guess heading off into a big blue hole over the forrest and hoping for blue thermals was not a winning strategy!!

What can I say other than the grid launch team were once again brilliant.

Pat Driessen shows that he is the consumate competitor.
Not only did he drive a towplane and launch off the back of the grid, but then came back to the field and voluntereed for a road retrieve. Thanks Pat....you are the man!!!!!

Noline and Yvonne(Evey) rallied around and filled the radio operations spot as Sue had to leave us....to go skiiing in Austria.............!!!

I should mention that we had one pilot reporting it great at 9,000ft...mm we suspect that it was a certain ASH25 pilot on his way home after doing a small "display" for the locals and then demonstarting an auto(car) launch with a red ute hurtiling down the runway with glider/motor going hooked on behind. Thansk for your visit Terry-much appreciated by all.

Talking about visitors, this morning we had Bob Henderson and wife Eileen visit. Bob is President of the International Gliding movement and proud to be a KIWI. While here Bob presented Terry with his NZ Record certificate for his recent(then) world record flight. Terry advised that his record was broken with 24 hours by Klaus Ulman and therefore his world record would not appear in the world record archives.

Have put up a survey for your opinion on AAT tasks.

Tomorrow is another day

Keep it up

Roy
Sunday 8:30pm (and yes I am off to shower & bed-knackered)

DAY SUNDAY

2010-02-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

After a cool(make that cold) night the sun is shinning and some white fluufies are in the sky.

Forecasters are saying there is an inversion over the North Island which will probably limit thermal height to 4,500-5,000 ft.

Task today
AAT 2.5 hours

Open & Standard 158-322kms
Galatea 15km circle
TeAwa Camp 15km circle
Magakino Dam
Waikato River Rd(Control point
Finish

Club 90-260kms
Kaingaroa 15km
TeAwa Camp 15km
Tirihanga 15km
Whites Rd Control point
Finish

Guessing to start around 1-130pm like yesterday.

Keep it up

Roy

Saturday BBQ end of a good day

2010-02-19T23:50:00.000-08:00

Everyone is accounted for after a number of pilots visited the rural sector and were amazed at the friendliness of the locals.

Two pilots helped us check our SAR procedures by being more than 2 hours "out of touch". Thanks to SAR for arranging a radio relay from a passing commercial flight.

Terry Delore flew in in the ASH with Vaughan Ruddick as co pilot. Terry says I need to be more descriptive in this blog and I can quote him in saying the 2 knot thermals were great!!!

Check the scores after 9:30 pm on soaringspot. Seems that it will be a 1000 point day and Team South Island might be puffing out their chests and picking up some goodies tomorrow at briefing. Seven and a half percent of the fleet completed the task!! But a lot of happy pilots...... because they would rather fly than fish!!

Another good looking day for tomorrow..

Keep it up ( I am off to bed-I am knackered!!!)

Roy

DAY 1 - Begins

2010-02-19T17:49:00.001-08:00

All gliders launched in 47 minutes - including 2 rope changes.
Weather looks better than forecast with some white fluffies.

One in a paddock before start most others seem on their way.

Keep it up

Roy

DAY SATURDAY

2010-02-19T14:48:00.000-08:00

I have given up saying DAY one as I think it might spook the weather gods..

We are expecting mainly a "blue" day today with some convergence marking cloud in the hills.

Terry Delore & Vaughan Ruddick have arrived in Terry's ASH so I am sure it will be a great Day for them as well. They fly back to Wellington tomorrow after the Club BBQ tonight.

3 Tasks have been set, airspace is open, gridding by 12:30 for a planned launch at 1300.
The morning cloud is climbing as the day heats up with predicted temperatures in the task area of 24-26.

Standard/15 mtr is an AAT task 160km-433km 3.5 hours
Kaingaraoa, Poronui Hutt
Goudies
Whakamaru
Orakei Karako (control point) and home

Open/18mtr AAT 272km-489km 3.5 hours
Kawerau
Boyd
Gourdies
Whakamaru
Control point & home

Club AAT 152km-344km 3.5 hours
Kainagaroa
Poronui Hutt
Ohaaki
Mokai
Control Point & Home

Keep it up!

Roy 11:56 Taupo Time

ALMOST DAY ONE

2010-02-18T21:06:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately the weather gods didnt read the forecast and decided to send something else.

After hanging on for grim death, the day was called at 2pm.
Your humble scribe headed off for a "nanny nap" until 4:15pm and arrived back in the office to take a landout call from an ASW27 Pilot. So the contest director now knows how to drive the Retrieve Map system!!!

We are looking forward to Day 1 being Saturday.

Keep it up

Roy

Something is flying

2010-02-18T15:36:00.000-08:00

First launch today went to one of the tents!!!

A good stiff easterly is blowing over the field.
Gliders are gridded on runway 22 while we wait for the wind to come around more to the south as forecast.

Tasks are AATs to the east South East with 20km circles around Kawerau and Waipunga Falls with a control point Tiverton Downs and home.

Task time is 2.5 Hours so our latest launch time will be around 2:45pm.

If we have to change ends for the launch(currently a tailwind component) then task decision will be made by around 1:15pm at which time we have to be comfortable that the task is still "GO".

At least with this wind 10-20knts. WOuld expect too much activity from Paraponters training for their nationals which start on the weekend and are based at the Paeroa Range South of Rotorua.

Keep it up

Roy

BLUE SKY ALERT!!!

2010-02-17T13:49:00.000-08:00

Yes, gentle readers. A chink of blue sky has been spotted. There is some sun on the ground!

The current game here has been how to spell the kiwism for broken/rubbish/really bad. So far we have had
Monday - coozed
Tuesday - koozed
Wednesday - kewsed
Todays spelling was going to be Qsd.

However a fast moving break in the weather from the west has raised our spirits.
With a rebrief at 12:15.

Day Prizes went to a Swiss PW5 pilot for beating his age at golf. Apparently his first game in 37 years.
Another prize went to the gutsiest performance - lady crew member impressed everyone with her ability to crash her mountain bike(along with male supporters) a number of times, but after catching her breath jumped back on the stead and carried on until the next cycle mixup. Seems that the task turned into how many bikes and rides can you have in one place at one time.

Keep it up

Roy

Its Wednesday here in Glider land

2010-02-16T15:44:00.000-08:00

Another day of "fun" for some yesterday.

How many fishing licences does it take to catch one trout!
Seems that 5 licences at $16 and a few hundred litres of diesel for the boat.

The most expensive Trout in town was Barbequed by the intrepid Sore bum from yesterday.
The 5 hardy soles took out first prize, with Bill Mace winning the World Championship of Piako golf taking second prize.
Non contest pilot Russell took out third prize for bike riding until exhaustion took over. His companions wondered why he keep t falling off! To buggared to stay upright.

Had a breif visit from a Wingeel who checked out the water sking capacity of the strip with a couple of low passes.

If anyone in Omarama is reading this blog can they find Phil Pland and get him to answer his emails. We have a couple of SPOT problems we would like to get fixed before the next-make that the first-flying day.

Now I am off to have a neck massage-this weather is a pain in the neck!

Keep it up

Roy

The way of the future

2010-02-15T19:01:00.000-08:00

Stretch your mind even more after watching this video clip
Imagine the uses for a glider pilot!!

http://blog.ted.com/2009/11/the_buzz_pranav.php

Todays Task

2010-02-15T17:01:00.000-08:00

After much consultation-about 15 seconds!!!!

The task was set at 10:45. Go have fun and relax.

Options included
1.Lake fishing off Toms boat(6 pilots & or crew)
2.Golf-Courtesy of Brent Guy a hell of a deal at Wairaki. Pay for a round of golf OR have a meal there and you get to use all the facilities, spa,billiards, squash etc etc FOR FREE.
3. V8 Motor Racing at the circuit next door(somebody is racing I can hear them)
4. Biking- seems some are going to ride out to check the alternate launch strip (turnpoint 191-Matushkas)
5.Tramping-up Mt Tahoura
6. Hot pools-the free ones.
7. Movies
8. The library( a real adrenaline junkie there)
9. Puzzle World
10. Bungy jumping
11. Bush walking Poreora State forest
12. Huka Falls
13. Jetskis
14. Orakei Korako Geothermal Park
15. take a 45 min drive to Rotorua and do the Luge and other stuff

I am sure the resourceful pilots will have found other attractions as well!!!

Unfortunately tommorows outlook doesnt look to flash either..
Ooops todays Prize winners were.
Lyndsey Stephens first-best bike ride story
David Todd second-best dedication story(went around in tecnam microlight checking out strips)
Dane Dickinson-youngest pilot(Geoff Gaddes declined the prize as he got one yesterday)

Keep it up

Roy

Countdown to Day one.

2010-02-15T10:50:00.000-08:00

Whew it was lucky we didnt fly yesterday, allowed another Aucklander to arrive with Glider.
Unfortunately today looks like it will be a duplicate of yesterday.

Yarning, bike riding, fixing technology, more yarning, bike riding, coffee, cakes, more yarning, hot pools, fishing, bungy jumping, more yarning

More later

Keep it up

Roy

Almost Day one!

2010-02-14T20:39:00.000-08:00

No, not really as the weather forecast was well in favour of drought stricken farmers rather than go getum, gunho competition glider pilots.

After an abbreviated briefing-no prizes, no tasks Stev Care ran a well received workshop on how best to teach Paddock landings. Being that we had a room full of expert(lots of landouts) pilots. The most interesting comment for your humble scribe was. The better I am as a competition pilots the less landouts I do and so when I do a landout it is a "bit of a worry".

Some of the more interesting observations were:
Making decisions ie make decisions and stick with them in the landout phase.
Currency, nothing beats being current at paddock landings even if the are simulated at your home field.
Experince doing approaches, picking paddocks etc. Recommended that 10-15 approaches in a motor glider are invaluable for begining cross country training.
Needless to say many opinions were expressed!!! What do you expect from a room full of competition pilots.

Ben Flewett has now departed after a very memorable, but short visit. Says he will be back next year with a container load of gliders fromthe UK(and of course half a dozen British lads) Rumour has it that one will be a Ventus with a jet engine. Wonder how the locals will react to that. Probably quieter than some crazy prop driven stuff!!!

The weather has been the determining factor I understand in inhibiting Terry Delore flying his ASH across the ditch up to Competition Central.

Local farmer arrived yesterday to say his strip was available and he looked forward to "our chaps" dropping in, anything he could do to help? At least two others offered to keep stock off their strips for the next 2 weeks. Refreshingly quite a different attitude to some of our South Island neighbours.

This afternoon an intrepid band of pilots went biking, most on regular mountain type bikes, not our Lyndsey....dragged out a dejected old dunger from the back of the hangar...no we have a pilot with a wrecked rectum...Well a rather sore "sit upon".

Another-"you heard it here first" rumour. Apparently someone has purchased an airfield near Wellsford with both sealed and grass runways and intends starting a glider training operation.
Keep tuned.

Let Tuesday and Day one arrive in style. Fingers crossed.

Keep it up

Roy

Let the games begin!!

2010-02-14T01:49:00.000-08:00

I know we cant compete with the winter olympics for a TV spectaculat.

However for a practice day the weather was sunny and warm(some might say hot).
Some new late entries, well lets say Paul did his usual turn up at 5pm ready to enter. You will now note we have 2 PW5s entered in the club class along with a Kestrel flying hors concourse.

A Tauranga Blogger dropped in to a paddock before we had finished launching the fleet and was followed by an ASW20 into Rangataiki main strip and then Billy into a paddock about 4kms down the road. Had to remind him that the finish circle was 3kms...:-))

Unfortunately the ASH25 had a landing mishap and received a bit of damage both pilots got a bit of a shake(but are fine) and some fencing had a bit of a lay down.

Rob Lyon is doing a stirling job as Scorere and resident techo. Results should be up on Scoring Spot. Will advise the URL tomorrow.

Also hope to be able to get back in to the blogging swing of things with a morning(task advice) blog and an evening blog(events of the day).

Had a great BBQ this evening, huge steaks-Taupo Club are really doing a fantastic job

Keep it up

Roy

Heads up for Jets

2010-02-11T17:06:00.000-08:00

To those travelling to Taupo this weekend.
If you go past Tokora-swing by the airfield as they are having competitions with Jet Powered model aircraft....should be a hoot.
If you are figuring soaring near Tokoroa dont figure you can easily plummet into Tokoroa airfield. You might get a loud noise in your ear!!! or a fast small piece of fibreglass.....

Forecast for the comp is looking good!!

Keep it up.

Roy

Start Packing!

2010-02-08T22:53:00.000-08:00

Just a wee note to those who are coming to Taupo to fly. Cellphone coverage is a bit like Omarama. Good in places. In some ares Telecom gives much better coverage than Vodafone.

So if you have a Telecom phone as well as a Vodafone one-bring both.
Rangateiki Airstrip is one place that needs Telecom!

Of course if you have a SPOT messenger we will know where you will have landed. Of course this assumes you leave the SPOT on after landing!!! Then we can see that you are not moving and presume landed.

I visited Taupo last weekend and Trev and the Team have been burning the midnite oil and have a fantastic setup for the competition. 5 Pawnees to help launch. A big kitchen for campers. Lots of shinny computer thingies.(and WIFI) and of course a whole bunch of taps for those who want to let their gliders have a long drink before flying.

Just a note on classes. I have had a couple of pilots ask about changing classes from that on the entry form. No worries, as long as you let me know by Sunday evening!!! The officla briefing will be 7pm with a couple of "surprises" planned!!!!

I am planning on arriving on Saturday.

A note to those arriving this weekend. Trailer parking is angle parking each side of the main road entrance. Each park should be numbered (so you dont get lost when going back to your trailer!!) The park area is large enough to take your car as well-so park well back to allow aircraft to taxi up and down between trailers and hangars- Thanks

Trev has organised a prizgiving dinner at a flash restaurant room, on Friday 26th at $40 a head-sounds like a hell of a deal to me!!! So be prepared to tick the booking sheet early next week.

Seems the weather has started to change with some of that nice SW stuff on the horizon...

See ya on the weekend!!

Keep it up

Roy

PRAYER NOW REQUIRED

2010-01-27T13:25:00.000-08:00

Gentle readers

The Turnpoints are published.
The Airspace File(FOR SCORING) has been sent out to entrants.
A number of other procedures have been finalised.

Gentlemen-suggest you read up the rules. 4.3.6(ii)--- I love doing that.
Now you will all have to check what the hell I am gabbling on about.
Enough to say if you dont understand this rule you may not get a "GOOD FINISH".

For all you beautiful people who have a direct line to the "weather maker" can you please put an order in for 2 weeks of stunning soaring weather starting on 14th Feb. Gosh thats only 17 big sleeps away....

Now I did hear on the rumour mill that Terry Delore is coming to Taupo, and that Ben Flewett will be in NZ 13/14th Feb. Altho Ritchie McCaw has now a 500km Diamond havent heard any rumours about him competing. But it seems we still might get another South Island entry in the club class? Rumour has it that Wilson Ellery is looking for a glider - any offers?

Unfortunately Bob Gray has had to withdraw his entry, so club class is wide open. Sailplane Racing Committee have also allowed entries from gliders with handicaps as low as 0.81. Now that will be fun!

Enough of this banter-get that weather ordered NOW!!!

Keep it up

Roy.
PS. On a personal note was rather chuffed to be invited to assist Contest Direct a Grand Prix in the Swiss Alps in August.

Gentlemen Start your engines.

2010-01-17T14:09:00.000-08:00

Still waiting for some lady entrants. Fingers crossed for a couple of "la femme" to bring some balance to the event. So far it looks like a boys day out......What happened to Valentine Glide? ahh I understand you boys are spoiling your better halves in romantic Taupo before commencing battle...

The SRC(Sailplane Racing Committee) have made a ruling for this competition that will modify the lower handicap requirements for the club class. Reducing it to 0.81. This will allow PW5/K6 to compete in the club class. In my personal opinion "anybody" should be able to fly club class given an appropraite handicap. So it will be interesting to see how it all pans out. :-)

Seems that we will have 3 tasks each day. Open/18, Standard/15, Club
Entries as at now.

CLUB CLASS
Bob Gray DG101
Bhrent Guy DG100
Paul Ellison ASW 20
Geoff Gaddes ASW15
Edouard G. Devenoges PW5

OPEN/18mtr
Brett Hunter Discus 2cT
Nigel McPhee Duo Discus
Chris Richards Ventus CM
Mark Robertson Ventus 2cxM
Ross Gaddes Ventus 2c
Alan Belworthy Ventus 2ct
Bill Mace Lak12
Conal Edwards Ventus CT
Adrian Cable DG 400

STANDARD/15mtr
Stewart Cameron ASW20
Vaughan Ruddick LS6a
Luke Tiller ASW20A
Roland van der Wal LS 6C
marc morley ASW27
Steve Wallace Mosquito
Bernie Massey Mini Nimbus
Ian Finlayson ASW27
Tim Bromhead Discus B
Lindsey Stephens ASW27
Delio Fagundes ASW20
David Jensen Discus CS
Trevor R Terry Discus BW
Maurice Weaver LS4
Dane Dickinson LS8
Bill Walker LS8
Peter Himmel LS 3
John Roberts Duo Discus T
George Wills Discus CS
Tony van Dyk LS8
Tony Passmore LS8a
John Bayliss Discus b
Mark Wilson Libelle
Graham White LS8

I am aware of another 2 or 3 18mtr pilots who intend to enter.
Am sure there are others who also, not overly organised, who will show up "on the day".

The official turnpoint file will be sent to Phil Plane to load on the website. I will also email each competitor entered todate, with a copy.

The "scoring" airspace file is just receiving a few tweaks to remove multiple airspace definitions and then that will be available-again copies will be sent to all entrants.

Having just attended the Drury comps and seen the latest style of weather forecasting( nice pretty thermal strength/height) charts I think you will all be very happy with the quality of information....

Keep it up

Roy

ACCOMODATION

2010-01-06T12:43:00.000-08:00

Just a note to those who plan on just "turning up".
There are limited camping spots and you need to contact Trev to make sure there will be room at the Inn.

Trev also advises he has a 3 bedroom family house in Tauhara Rd Taupo, very handy and its $100 per night.
For all this and more contact Trev

Ph 0274-908566
or the big E.... trev@trevterrymarine.co.nz

5 weeks and we are in to it.....

Entries still coming in 6 formals and a number of "yes I will get a round tuit" messages.

Now what was that about a prize of a Race around the speedway in a V8 supercar-of course for a non fly day when we can all watch :-)

Keep it up.

Roy
PS. Have started a facebook page "Taupo Nationals", so join the team as I will be updating this closer to the start of the comp.

and The Finalists are!!!

2009-12-31T10:47:00.000-08:00

Early entries have now closed. But we would still appreciate you entering as soon as possible to help us plan Tow Planes and such things.....

Entries for the draw for the handheld Radio include

NM-Dave Jensen
TZ-Trev Terry
PD-Eduard Devenoges
VM-Brett Hunter
DX-Nigel McPhee
ZI-Vaughan Ruddick
TL-Luke Tiller
VH-Roland Van der wal
XL-Chris Richards
KM-Maurice Weaver
GB-Marc Morley
ZN-Dane Dickenson
KZ-Stewart Cameron
KT-Steve Wallace
KR-Bernie Massey
ZO-Ian Finlayson
ZA-Bill Walker
XG-George Wills
LA-Mark Robertson
RY-Alan Belworthy
NV-Bob Gray
YD-Ross Gaddes
LK-Peter Himmel
RR-Bill Mace
UY-Bhrent Guy
TT-John Roberts
OI-Adrian Cable
XP-Tim Bromhead

A most interesiing selection which includes 4 South Islanders, some previous competition winners coming back from the wilderness...Ok OK they went and had family time for a few years.

Interesting to see that a bunch of "regulars" have not yet registered....Maybe their computer was broken...
We need another 4 entries to complete the Sports Class and 3 entries for the Club Class (yep I know of at least 3 slack lads...)

Enjoy your new year and a rapid recovery for any who tested their "fun" limits last night :-)

Roy

Getting Closer

2009-12-25T20:19:00.001-08:00

Seasons Salutations

Christmas Dinner is over.......now to gliding matters.

Get online and enter.

No cost!!!!

Some have asked how they pay. Paying is done once you have arrived at Taupo and done some flying.

So if you are not sure whether you will be able to sneak away, just enter-we understand if you have to cancell.

I will publish the luck entrants for the special prize drawer after 1st January when entries close....

Keep it up

Roy

Seasons Salutations!

2009-12-10T14:55:00.001-08:00

Tis only 14 big sleeps until Christmas!

Only TWO months until the big event!!!

For the money conscious
Trev has got the discount thing sorted with Ferry charges.
There are some prizes (not cups or trophies) to be won.
Early entry Handheld radio being a goodie!!!
Remember for those with a fresh Silver C and first Nationals.... big savings!!

And yes Veronica we do have entries from the South Island. Either 2 or 3 depending how one categorises Dane :-) a true Nuu zeelnder in that he seems to live everywhere.

If you havent yet organised your accomodation yet then suggest you pull finger as there is an event happening in Taupo on the weekend of 21st Feb that may take away some of your options.

As I keep saying.
Enter online, enter online, enter online NOW!!!
Stop prograstinating and do it NOW!
Book some accomodation and get on with it!

I understand that Roland gave a wee talk at the South Island Regionals about Taupo.
Appears some wallies were worried about Taupo having all AAT tasks. Seems they were thinking that the fun contests of the past were the indicator of what was going to happen at the NATIONALS....... Twill be like the Nationals of the last 6 years, racing tasks will be set!!

Things are progressing well. Russell Thorne is doing a sterling job in producing the airspace file which will be available early in the new year(just doing some testing and resolving a couple of hiccups in definition from Airways-nothing major).

As Gavin Wills so nicely put it to me some years ago at a Nationals in Omarama. We are here to give you advice. The decisions are yours :-) . The decision of this Contest Director is that pilots WILL ENJOY THEMSELVES!!!

Best wishes to you all for the festive season, fly your hearts out

See you in Taupo next year.

Roy

THE COUNTDOWN STARTS!!!

2009-11-10T00:26:00.000-08:00

The Central Plateau Contest is over for another year!

By all accounts a bunch of fun was had by a bunch of pilots.
I was fortunate to spend last Friday visiting Taupo, reviewing the operation and going on a retrieve to pick up a fellow Tauranga pilot. Taupo certainly has the potential for some great competition. Already in November there where some stunning conditions.

Valentine Glide is now only 96 days/ 13 weeks / 3 months away.
So get planning
Get organising

GOOD news for our South Island cuzzies. Trev Terry and the team have negotiated a 20% discount on the lowest fares on the Interisland ferry. Contact Trev to get the good oil.

Entries can now be done online at
http://www.gliding.co.nz/racing/championships/nationals-entry/

There is a MIGHTY EARLYBIRD special for entries BEFORE 1st January
$240 includes an entry in the drawer for a new ICOM Handheld radio.

Just think.... if you are the lucky pilot you will be able to talk on two frequencies at once!!!

For those poor disorganised souls who cant get their act together and enter after Midnite New Years eve. Then the entry fee will be $295 with no chance of a new radio.

Just remember you only pay at the contest but we need to know if you are entering. Dont be scared of enterring online. If you get it wrong try again until ou get it right.

Now am off to organise all my Valentines merchandise!!!!!

Glider pilots are good at Keeping it up!

Other Contests?

2009-10-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

Aha-I had a senior moment and forgot my blogging password! But such moments have passed and normal service has resumed.

In June I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the US Nationals in Montague-Northern California. Like all good soaring sites it is out in the country, away from city life. Lovely and the weather was great for this kiwi winter escapee. Mid 30s most days low humidy...luverly...

It was with some sadness I noted that entry numbers were way down in these challenging times. 10 entrants Open Class, 10 entrants Standard class. I was at briefings for 5 mornings and observed the organisation, to see what I could learn that would help make our competitions better. Readers will be pleased to know that(OK I might be biased) but I think our Nationals are at the top of the game. One lesson that became very clear to me, and yes I suspect we suffer from this, Competitions are not run as PR events!!! During the 5 days nobody wandered over to this "enterested looking" old bloke to strike up a conversation.

Therefore gentle readers, expect me to be chatting to spurious visitors during valentine glide!

From the pre contest bulletins site I have just read the checklist for pilots for the last South African Nationals

A reminder to all pilots that the following documentation as per CAA Regulations are required to be carried on board when you fly (photocopies are probably a safer bet, but have the originals somewhere safely):-
The Certificate of Registration
The Certificate of Airworthiness, however in our case the ATF (Authority to Fly) as approved in our MOP by the Commissioner.
The appropriate licence for the pilot in command
The Aircraft Radio station licence
Noise certificate
The list of visual signals for use by intercepting and intercepted aircraft

Of course for Valentine Glide you will be under NZ rules. You need to sign that you and the Glider are legal for the duration of the competition and have public liability insurance to the value of $500,000. But you dont need a list of visual signals.............

Progress at the Taupo club is steaming ahead(not Geothermal steam but good old fashioned sweat)
The new construction is well advanced on the new Contest/Managers Office with great facilities and a plenty of space for scorer and other bodies who need to "do stuff" to enable the competition to run smoothly.
The Airspace is being "booked" with CAA so we can get high, stay high-final glide!!!

Any day I am expecting the entry fee to be finalised and then the entry forms will be put on the GNZ website for your eager entries!!!!! Remember it is better to enter if you think you might be able to fly and then maybe cancel, rather than put in a late entry...Also early entry will save you dosh with a goodly discount.

Now to write down that blog password before I forget it again!!

Roy

Spring is in the Air!

2009-09-11T18:29:00.000-07:00

Blossums are heralding the begining of spring and the return of good thermal days. Ridge running and wave is Ok????? but a tad boring really. Anyway thats my view.

Many thanks to the SRC committee members who have pointed out that at the AGM Contest pilots meeting 6 intrepid souls carried the day in a motion to re establish the PW5/World Class

For those of you who dont religiously seek out such information on the GNZ website look up (I admit I am a prodigous reader but this one eluded me.)

http://www...gliding.co.nz/racing/pilots-meeting-minutes

I look forward to seeing all the new rules which should be out in a few weeks time.

Trev Terry advises that Airspace changes are going thru the final stages having passed the scrutiny of CAA and Airways policy dudes. We only need the "consultation" with other airspace users to be completed and then we are "sweet as".

Construction/demolition is underway at Taupo with the "old" office having been destroyed and a new bigger and better version being built. Will try and visit next week and get you some photographic feedback of whats happening.

Had some reports from a pilot trying to land an F16 at Taupo (Google earth flight simulator function) after a trip round the local area. He reports buying a joystick as the mouse control was not "natural" to him.

Personally, set up a final glide from Rangatieki back to Centenal park. In a previous competition had "bottled out" of starting this as I figured it was all tiger country. Actually not quite the case but the flight simulator glide was both informative and entertaining. Yep I would have made it in the trusty ASW20 if I had bigger dangly things.

Keep it up!

Roy

Fly before you buy!

2009-08-23T15:40:00.000-07:00

Had a note from competition pilot last week asking if Sports Class and Club Class will be held at Taupo in 2010.

Yes they will!
The classes to be contested will be.
Open Class
18 Metre Class
Standard/15 metre Class
Club Class
Sports Class(which includes PW5s)

It occurs to me that a number of pilots will not have flown a competition from Taupo. Especially those from the Canoe of Maui (yep ewes Omarama types).

With magic of Google Earth you can now fly around the Taupo area with Google Flight Simulator.

Get Google Earth pointing at Taupo then press Ctrl +ALT +A choose the aircraft (I dont recommend the F16 if you want a glider pilots view) and then click your mouse in the middle of the display. Voila, your mouse is now a "joystick".

I had some great fun in an F16 beating up Omarama then flying VFR up the coast(compulsory beatups of Christchurch and Omaka) before leaping the Straits and doing a Paekok beatup at 1100 knots - 600 feet (eat your heart out Vaughan) before popping in to Taupo.

The scenery is excellent, fly slow and low and you get the full impact of what fun you will have in a glider at Valentine Glide. Fly high and you get the layout of the competition area.

Keep it up!

Roy

Secret Hide away

2009-08-14T16:28:00.000-07:00

Progress is a wonderful thing.

The memorandum of understanding(MOU) between GNZ and Airways for Valentine Glide has been born!
Weighing in at 6 pages with wonderful coloured maps it says that Glider pilots will be able to "flit" about up to 9,500ft in the most interesting areas of the competion.

Now the MOU journey begins as everyone (including yours truly) has a say.
But!!!! its looking good.

For those forward planners amongst you.............yep the ones who want to make a great family adventure out of Valentine Glide. Look at this for Taupo accomodation.

http://www.holidayhouses.co.nz/properties/2583.asp

Other sites to visit include bookabatch and batchcare.

Thanks to those who have responded to the poll of who thinks they will/wont be having fun next February. If you havent ticked a box. NOW would be a good time :-)

Roy

Another Year Another Competition.

2009-08-08T15:56:00.001-07:00

For all of you who followd the 2009 National Gliding Competition (see omarama2009.blogspot.com) then this is the followup!!

Yep New Zealand National Gliding Competition-all classes
Starting Valentines day 14th February 2010 in picturesque Taupo.

So in the spirit of all things romatic I think I shall refere to it as Valentine Glide.

Rumour has it that there will be prize money of $2010 but I will need to confirm that.

Yours truly has been asked to be Contest Director and Sue Wild has accepted the challenge to help man the radios. So those who flew at Omoaram2009 will be dealing with some familiar voices. :-)

I also understand that Trev Terry and his team are organising some extra airspace so pilots can taste the air at 9,500 over the hill country.

As they say....keep tuned to this channel....more news as it comes to hand.

Keep it up
Roy