HGFA Skysailor Magazine

4 SKY SAILOR September | October 2018 record holder, Jan Tupy flew for 10 hours, landing after sunset near Brewarrina (west of Walgett). Many pilots flew PBs, including a Fun Class pilot who completed 220km. 1 Jan Tupy Zeno 391km 2 Godfrey Wenness Omega XAlps2 276km 3 Jason Turner Lynx 263km Fun Class: Gregiore Massot Chili4 220km 30 January, Day 4 This was one day the forecasts got it wrong. The models all promised blue, light winds, no clouds – basically a hard day. It turned out to be one of the best and most memorable days XC flying ever for the bulk of pilots at the XC Camp. Clouds started popping at 11am, the skies were text book full by midday, with cloudbase reaching 3000m later in the afternoon. A steady 15 to 20km/h southerly helped pilots make distance, and climbs were moderate to strong, ranging from 3 to 8m/s. Flights followed the ‘Classic Route’ towards Bingara, then further north to the Queensland border and beyond – over typical Manilla easy- going, safe XC terrain all the way. The start was a little too late to make it a record day, but for dozens of pilots it was a personal record day. The PBs came in at all levels from Fun Class flying beginner gliders, right up to the experienced pilots on comp gliders. Some who had never left the launch area to fly an XC before did over 100km on their virgin XC, others who only had a few short XC flights previously well exceeded their previous efforts and a few in Fun Class managed nearly 200km! Yes, it was that sort of day! 1 Airie Juvan XCRacer 286km 2 Eduardo Senger Zeno 283km 3 Jason Turner Lynx 265km XC Class: Magdy Malik Omega XAlps2 (PB) 230km Fun Class: Ng Tung Mentor5 (PB) 196km 31 January and 1 February, Days 5 & 6 A large band of mid-level cloud drifted across the southern half of Australia. The northern edge arrived during our morning briefing. The day was cancelled at midday when it was evident no clear patches were on the way. We had perfect ridge soaring conditions at Borah West on both days, so many elected to go for an easy fun cruise. The air was also unstable under the grey cloud cover, allowing cumulus formation and small thermalling XC fights in the afternoons around the valley and to Manilla. Not enough to warrant scoring days, however. After the morning yoga session and HQ briefing there was always an opportunity to get some ground handling practise for the newer pilots. Both days at midday, Manilla Paragliding instructor, Ivo, ran thermalling/XC Q&A sessions which were very well attended and appreciated by pilots of all levels. 2 February, Day 7 High cloud still covered the region, but cu’s developed underneath, allowing for some XC. The day counted to the scores as more than one third of pilots present launched. A late start and a slow technical day for those who flew, with flights heading west towards Narrabri. 1 Jan Tupy Zeno 86km 2 Airie Sasha XCRacer 78km 3 Phillip Mansell Sigma10 74km XC Class: Mike Humphries BGD Cure 58km Fun Class: Gordon Tighe Epsilon8 22km 3 February, Day 8 The last official day of the 2018 XC Camp was one of the best of the week, with many easy flights well over 200km. The wind was on, the thermals started early (10:30am) and the sky soon filled again with text book cumulus clouds from horizon to horizon.  An epic but shadowy convergence line set up from Mt Kaputar heading NW which attracted many of the pilots to fly beyond Moree, while others flew what turned out to be the faster sunnier ground with less clouds west towards Walgett. Manilla XC Camp 2018 Jason on Day 9 Dan Subotka hitchhiking under an epic sky, Day 8 Groundhandling practice on Day 5