Needless to say the initial forecast was not what was showing out the window!
Forecast was rain overcast and easterlies.
Yep-some easterlies but no rain no overcast.
Unfortunately we were down to two towplanes to start towing as BZA was having a wee "fix" until it was ready for the last few tows.
Easterliy wave was around at the start of the launch and some starters took advantage of this to start the first leg at 6500ft. Most made it to the first turn in lovely fluffy skies. Then a blue hole near Tokoroa gave 6 gliders the opportunity to take an aero retrieve from Tokoroa airfield.
Some fantastic efforts with gliders almost getting around and only TD making the finish line.
Overall scores changed and the "money" changed hands with CS still in the lead.
A nice competition dinner last night with the Matamata Soaring Centre Trophies being awarded. Nice to have Ruth Pride(Pride Trophy) and Ann Jonson(Johnson Plate) here to aware those trophies. Most meritorious flight went to Paul Schofield for almost finishing day 3 in the PW5 after having kept up with Discuss pilots throughout the journey.
Today Sunday it looks like there might be an opportunity to fly so pilots have rigged and are ready.
Cheers
Keep it up
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
FRYDAY
It seems that this season the creators of the "wiggly lines". ie weather forecasting services, seem to have it not quite right.
This week we have rarely had the weather materialise that has been forecast. ALtho credit where it is due. Mondays mid day forecast did arrive at 6pm.
Yesterday(Thursday) was a little unusual as the forecast 4,000ft 4knt thermal scattered cloud did materialise. Everywhere except the Matamata tasking area. Hamilton great, Taupo great, Cambridge great......It was most annoying after calling the day at 1:30pm to see the 2pm Satellite shot showing just a large tongue of cloud reaching over the Kaimai Ranges to lick the area down to Tokoroa and up the Matamata "valley".
At least it gave the opportunity for some pilots to wet their whistle and vigourously debate why(or why not) that Club Class Nationals should use large circle AAT tasks. It was interesting to challenge the opinions and generate some of that stuff called "thinking".
Today we take a minute to remember Trevor Atkins and his last contest day - 3 years ago today.
Keep it up
This week we have rarely had the weather materialise that has been forecast. ALtho credit where it is due. Mondays mid day forecast did arrive at 6pm.
Yesterday(Thursday) was a little unusual as the forecast 4,000ft 4knt thermal scattered cloud did materialise. Everywhere except the Matamata tasking area. Hamilton great, Taupo great, Cambridge great......It was most annoying after calling the day at 1:30pm to see the 2pm Satellite shot showing just a large tongue of cloud reaching over the Kaimai Ranges to lick the area down to Tokoroa and up the Matamata "valley".
At least it gave the opportunity for some pilots to wet their whistle and vigourously debate why(or why not) that Club Class Nationals should use large circle AAT tasks. It was interesting to challenge the opinions and generate some of that stuff called "thinking".
Today we take a minute to remember Trevor Atkins and his last contest day - 3 years ago today.
Keep it up
Monday, February 7, 2011
Tuesday-Day Three
They have all launched and on their way. A challenging day as forecasts are all wrong and the locals used native cunning to set a task.
Wahoroa, Tirau,Flaxmite,Tepapa,Matamaft airfield 207kms - Billy Walker(Racing) task.
Wahoroa, Tirau,Flaxmite,Tepapa,Matamaft airfield 207kms - Billy Walker(Racing) task.
Day Tuesday
Sorry Sports Fans in that I havent kept the blog up todate:-)
Sunday Day one started out looking good and a Task was set for the 24 gliders Matamata, Maramarua, Putararu . The day didnt develop as forecast and a B task was set that was ridge based.
Matamata, Thames, KFC Sheds and home for a tad over 200kms. It wasnt a standrad "honking" ridge day and in a lot of areas it was ridge induced thermals. 10 pilots got to meet farmers and one plummeted in to Thames Airfield.
Some "external" comments about a Ventus winning the day.
Sports fans should be reminded that this is the first independant Club Class Nationals and the Annual meeting in Wellington last year agreed that any glider may enter. We have K6, PW5 as well as Ventus and ASW27.
ALL will fly without water and be scored together based on the Sailplane racing committee handicaps.
However only "true" club class gliders will be eligble for trophies, prize money etc. The Club class Day winner gets a bottle of wine and certificate. The highest scoring glider gets a bottle of beer. Of course these prizes may be won by the same pilot!
The non clubclass, effectively hors concors pilots are adding a bit of spice to the competition as it allows some of NZ's top pilots to compete albeit in their own gliders. It will certainly be interesting as to how they compete in light thermal conditions as they drag their high handicaps around the course.
At the other end of the scale it will be interesting to see how a good pilot in his PW5 utilisises his handicap advantage to keep up with the fleet.
Yetsreday - Monday the forecast was so far out that mid morning Metservice changed dramatically the forecast(max temperature dropped from 28 to 22) and the day was called off at 1:50pm.
Today(tuesday) again the forecast and what we see out the window dont match. Apparently its supposed to be drizzling here this morning....out the window I see bits of blue thru the cloud, sort of what I would expect on a good Matamata morning.
Time will tell.
For facebook watchers the Matamata Nationals facebook page is being updated more regularly than the blog.
Keep it up
Sunday Day one started out looking good and a Task was set for the 24 gliders Matamata, Maramarua, Putararu . The day didnt develop as forecast and a B task was set that was ridge based.
Matamata, Thames, KFC Sheds and home for a tad over 200kms. It wasnt a standrad "honking" ridge day and in a lot of areas it was ridge induced thermals. 10 pilots got to meet farmers and one plummeted in to Thames Airfield.
Some "external" comments about a Ventus winning the day.
Sports fans should be reminded that this is the first independant Club Class Nationals and the Annual meeting in Wellington last year agreed that any glider may enter. We have K6, PW5 as well as Ventus and ASW27.
ALL will fly without water and be scored together based on the Sailplane racing committee handicaps.
However only "true" club class gliders will be eligble for trophies, prize money etc. The Club class Day winner gets a bottle of wine and certificate. The highest scoring glider gets a bottle of beer. Of course these prizes may be won by the same pilot!
The non clubclass, effectively hors concors pilots are adding a bit of spice to the competition as it allows some of NZ's top pilots to compete albeit in their own gliders. It will certainly be interesting as to how they compete in light thermal conditions as they drag their high handicaps around the course.
At the other end of the scale it will be interesting to see how a good pilot in his PW5 utilisises his handicap advantage to keep up with the fleet.
Yetsreday - Monday the forecast was so far out that mid morning Metservice changed dramatically the forecast(max temperature dropped from 28 to 22) and the day was called off at 1:50pm.
Today(tuesday) again the forecast and what we see out the window dont match. Apparently its supposed to be drizzling here this morning....out the window I see bits of blue thru the cloud, sort of what I would expect on a good Matamata morning.
Time will tell.
For facebook watchers the Matamata Nationals facebook page is being updated more regularly than the blog.
Keep it up
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
EARLY BIRD Registrations
At close of early bird registrations on 20th we had 23 Entries.
So we are guessing a field around mid 20's.
So we are guessing a field around mid 20's.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
A word from the Caterer
CATERING FOR PILOTS AND OTHERS DURING THE NATIONALS FEB AT MATAMATA
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yes, the kitchen will provide prepared food able to be purchased fresh each day.
To enhance your gliding experience and assist the caterer (that’s Jan Mace), to make your life easier and to keep prices down……..
You are Invited to book your catering requirements
This is an indication and can be done prior to arriving or at the first briefing.
(a) full catering most days – breakfast, morning & afternoon tea, lunch, dinner $28 /day = $196 for the week
(b) part catering most days – morning tea $3, lunch $6, Dinner $12 $21/day = $147 for the week
(c) casual meals and lunches
The weekly rate will then have allowances for weather contingencies or absences and you can settle your bill at the end of the week along with your accommodation, tows etc.
EFTPOS. Cash or cheques are accepted. Remember I will endeavour to cater for dietary requirements. And yes, food of some sort will be available practise day.
Finer Details: Breakfast will mostly be in the form of “serve yourself” from a selection of
- cornflakes,/muesli, yoghurt, fruit, toast with toppings, tea/coffee
Lunch – big salad sandwich plus a side nibble of fruit or drink or muesli bar or yoghurt
Dinner – meat & veges or meat & salad & fresh bread plus light dessert
Morning/afternoon teas – tea or coffee (of course!!) with cake or biscuit (mostly home made!)
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