Day 6 (Thursday): Overdevelopment shuts the day down. Only Richard launches and spends the majority of the flight trying to avoid being hoovered up into the stratosphere by the towering Cu that has set up shop over the mountain.
Day 7 (Friday): A botched initial climb out leads to my sliding off the mountain and setting down in 'Jurassic Park' (the bomb out at the foot of the mountain). A break down in comms on my end leads to some confusion over the retrieve picture. The end result: my electing to hike back to the hotel in GV.
35 C.
2.5 hours.
10 kgs of kit.
The decision to go lightweight pays dividends during this and subsequent hike outs.
Day 8 (Saturday): Perchance two bad days makes for a good one?
The Brazilian Cross Country (XC) league is holding the latest in their year long XC contest here in GV. We were told to expect 93 pilots to attend this event so things might get cozy in the air. Thankfully the comp organizers are not going to close the launch meaning we don't have to race to get ready and launch ahead of the main comp group. On top of this we get word that we can also expect a contingent of 20+ Norwegians to arrive for a XC course of their own. Rumour has it that the course is mandatory for these pilots to be deemed XC ready and given an endorsement by their National Association Committee (NAC). Is that a cash register ringing in the background?
 |
| Comp pilots setting up. |
In amongst the hustle and bustle of the comp Dean gathers us up and lays out the plan for the day, an out and return (Dean's favourite - to save on the need for retrieve, I gather). The turn around point will be Engenheiro Caldas again (hopefully not blocked by growing overdevelopment/storms this time). The wind today is straight east (rather than the hoped for NE tail) which means a cross/tail component on the way out and a cross/head component on return. My personal preference would be for a straight SE run with no return leg - simply maximize distance with what little tail wind component we have. But it is not to be.
Rob (the second in air guide/instructor joining Dean this year due to the sheer size of the group) syncs up with me for a quick discussion regarding the flight - if I am able to keep up with Dean's group, go for it. Otherwise Rob will be hanging back to provide in air coaching as needed to stragglers.
 |
| Ready to go. |
We get the crew in the air in record time (word has it afterwords that from first to last it took less than 7 minutes to get 12 pilots plus 2 guides off).
I quickly join Simon in snagging a climb just out front of the Cauldron.
 |
| Still giving this beast a wide berth. |
 |
| Above launch but with everything shaded over, time to head for a sunnier spot. |
While successful in getting above launch, the climb dissipates. I need to find terrain that is still receiving sun. The west side of the mountain looks to have just what I need (and will put me closer to the XC jumping off point - the hill to the west nicknamed 'Salvation').
 |
| Baking in the sun, this terrain is a good thermal generator. These thermals will hug/craw along the terrain until a trigger point further up the mountain slope. |
 |
| Thermal hunting. |
 |
| Found it! Climbing anew. |
 |
| Further away from the mountain another climb to top up and push onto 'Salvation' ahead. |
 |
| About as textbook as it gets. The source: sun baked fields and quarry. The trigger: 'Salvation'. The sign: the cloud. |
 |
| Climbing over 'Salvation'. GV ahead/below. |
 |
| How will today unfold? |
No comments:
Post a Comment