I am a Bonehead!

Today was the first day of the Bogong Cup.   I was a real bonehead trying to tune the small turn out of my glider a “different” way.  I finally decided to go traditional in the setup but missed my chance to test fly it before the meet.  We were all standing on launch taking our sweet time when the wind started to rip over the back.  Everyone broke down and no one flew.  I blew my chance to test out the different setup. 

 

I was so nervous about flying today I couldn’t even sleep last night.  I tossed and turned from about 3am on.  Finally at 6:30 I just woke up and set up my wing.  Got her looking sweet, and went up the hill.  Forecast was for an increasing afternoon southerly like the day before and it did deliver, only not as bad as we feared.  Most pilots took the first start and raced hard.  Task was 114k north up the Kiewa, then west to the Ovens, then returning back to the Kiewa.  I started very conservative and had some trouble keeping up with Jonny.  The glider was thermalling great and I took every climb as a chance to make up ground for my hesitation and slow decision making.  It worked well most of the way around the course until we approached the last leg.   I had been climbing well so I charged ahead when I thought the thermal the group was in wasn’t good enough.  It paid off once but the group caught back up, some even higher then me.  I got impatient when that last thermal mellowed so I charged towards the Kiewa Valley hoping to find something strong along the way.   It didn’t work out and I went into survival mode.  I struggled hard to stay off the ground finally catching a lee thermal south of the turnpoint.   My gamble cost me tons of time but at least I tried.

 

The weather is supposed to improve a step tomorrow.   I can’t wait!

 

Kev