15 January 2017

Not a Cloud in the Sky - Day Canceled - Sunday

The day started with a Team Captains meeting to discuss what can be done to improve safety and to prevent further mid-air collisions. The mood was sombre and the usual buzz of energy was missing as we towed out to the grid and lined up the gliders for launch. I guess it was on everyone's mind how lucky we had been to get away without serious injuries or worse in two mid-airs and when our luck would run out.

A southerly flow on the front side of a high pressure system had brought a cool and dry airmass into the task area. The forecast called for 2-4 kts lift to 4000 in the blue. Certainly not a good day, even by Ontario standards. Under a clear blue sky we waited on the grid for convection to start while the launch time, initially set for 13:00 was postponed several times. A new, shorter Task C was announced for the 15m Class which was positioned to launch first. Eventually the day was canceled as the time window for a successful task even for one class closed.


Out of 7 possible days, Open Class has so far 4 contest days, 18m Class 3 and 15m Class only 2. The good news is, we seem to have some good days coming up.

Joerg

1 comment:

  1. The comment on number of contest days is important, there is a minimum for an official championship: The winner will be awarded the title of World Champion provided that there have been at least four championship days (see 8.2.1) in that class. [igc sport code 3 Annex A para 1.2.2.
    8.2.1 Championship Day In order that a Day may be counted as a valid Championship
    Day in any class:
    a. For each class, a launch opportunity shall have been given to each
    competitor in time for the competitor to carry out the task of the Day in
    question, and
    b. For each class, more than 25% of the competitors, who have had a
    competition launch on that Day, shall have flown a Marking Distance of at
    least 100 km (after any handicapping is applied).
    We can expect that every effort to get 15m a third and fourth day, and 18m a fourth; it would be unfortunate to travel 12,500km each way not to have a Championship.
    Fingers crossed for Luke and Sergei!

    ReplyDelete