Southern Hemisphere hotting up

Ian Forbes wrote in message ...
Clint wrote:

The gliding venues in the Southern Hemisphere are moving into top gear
as the weather improves. Long flights are being made from venues like
Pokweni and Bitterwasser in Namibia, Gariep in South Africa, Tocumwal
and Corowa in Australia, Brazil and Argentina.

You missed out Worcester near Cape Town.

Currently Cape Glideing Club is leading OLC 2005 by a comfortable margin
(http://www2.onlinecontest.org/olcphp...olc-kaf&spr=en)

Last Saturday four club members logged 1000km tasks and another four
over 500km. The forcast for today and tomorrow is more optimistic than
that day. Probably too good to be true. I can't make it to the airfield
today, but I will be there tomorrow!

This is different flying, a few wingspans from the ridge and 150 km/hr
(or more) on the ASI. Turning is often not an option as the lift is to
narrow. Good local knowledge and "character" are essential to achieve
the big numbers. Keen pilots fly lower on the ridge (2000' to 3000'
above the valley) where the lift is stronger.

Regards

Ian

We're not done here in the Northern Hemisphere yet. We have had two
1000km days on the Appalachian Ridges of the Eastern US this month.
One pilot flew an 1100km triangle with no 360 degree turns! Both days
were warm enough that no anti-freeze was needed for the water ballast.
One day was mostly wave, with altitudes above 10,000' MSL. The other
day was mostly ridge, with altitudes often below 100' AGL.

We still have over 9 hours of daylight, more than enough for 1000km.
We can fly X/C from Sunrise until Sunset from a 1000' tow. To go fast,
we can fly with one wingtip just above the ridge top, 800' above the
valley, at 200kph, turbulence permitting. Going below the ride top is
not an option, as that can very quickly lead to an outlanding. Good
local knowledge is essential.

A motor glider does not provide much advantage, since we often fly too
low to attempt an engine start. The task area is mostly rural
aggricultural (you don't have to walk far to find a farm house after a
landout). Despite what you may have heard about the deep political
divisions in the US, we are still a civil society, so confrontations
with the locals are not a worry either. Therefore, we can still fly
long X/C in pure gliders, which seems to be less and less common
lately.

To have a look at these flights follow the link below:

http://www.onlinecontest.org/olcphp/...in_verein=1580

I'm sitting in the UK watching the start of day 3 of the Nedbank Challenge
at Sun City. ( Sky Sports ) The damned cameras keep pulling back for long
shots of the holes. All I can see is cloud streets! Looks like it's going to
be another great day at my old club at Magalies!

Have fun guys. I envy you!

Ian