raef mackay <<email>> writes:

http://goldcoasthgpg.com.au/index_files/Page445.htm

Having a good time. Day three was ok, a little windy. We waited, but it wouldn’t back off, so we flew for an hour hanging around the western launch until a massive sink cycle came through. Many of us got hammered.

Dave and Matt had a bit of height to stay up and they maintained. Phil and I got caught and we were drilled almost all the way to the bomb-out. At 250 ft agl I finally connected with something going up and managed to climb back up above launch. Phil wasn’t so lucky.

I’m flying a Sonic 190 and am so happy to finally have a glider that loves to climb with me in it. It makes the launches and landings a real treat also. I’ve been out climbing a lot of other pilots since I’ve been flying it and getting up from some pretty low spots. Unfortunately the glide isn’t what I’m used to, but I just have to make an effort to top up at every opportunity.

I landed at Godfrey’s to get the retrieve while Dave and Matt flew back toward town.

On day four the wind backed off and we got a slight easterly flow. I was in a hurry to set up and go as I didn’t want to be doing the Borah shuffle. The guys were pretty good and set up as quickly as possible. Some para’s had launched and climbed out to 5500ft so we knew it was on.

We all got in line and waited on launch it was dead and again I started thinking of the westerly launch, but before I knew it the trees down at the bottom of the hill started to move. Another couple of minutes and we were into it a smooth climb all the way to 5400ft.

I led out. Phil was in the Fun 190 so I tried to mark the next climb for him. Matt and Dave had a bit of trouble finding it but eventually got up. I headed back to town and landed at the caravan park close to the beer, jumped on the scooter and headed back to retrieve. Phil made it half way back, Dave headed for lake Keepit and Matt got hammered landing down from the saddle.

Today’s looking a little stormy. It has been rolling thunder all night so if we don’t fly we’ll use the day to head for Killarney.