Round-8 26th & 27th November CANUNGRA PARAGLIDING THE WEATHER The 3 week dry spell that South East Queensland ended the week prior to Round 8 with the passing of a low down south and an associated trough extending north over Queensland dumping between 30 and 100mm of rain over the region. Saturday saw the SE still under the influence of the northern end of the trough though as it was passing the winds had begun to shift from the NE through to the NW. By Sunday the winds had shifted all the way through to the west, drying out and unfortunately strengthening as well. Saturday 26th November  The day was cancelled after initially heading to Flying Fox unfortunately our efforts were thwarted by 8/8 cloud cover and a significant westerly element to the wind, without enough sun to strengthen the thermic activity and valley winds it was decided a safer option would be to go to Tamborine. Our dithering meant we arrived at Tamborine launch at approximately 1300 by which time it was over the back from the NNE. Day cancelled and our hopes were placed on sunny skies and light winds for the next day Sunday. Sunday 27th November Task 9 Race to goal 60km. Launching from the Tamborine heading SSW to a Hillview on the southern end of the Jimbroken Range then the 2nd leg north to Josephville turnpoint before a short leg to goal at Laravale.  The trough had moved through by Sunday leaving us with drier but unfortunately windier skies with a fairly brisk westerly blowing at about 10-12 kts. Non the less a task was set and all anxiety about wind strength were allayed when Phil Hystek launched his tandem, if he's okay we certainly will be okay. Those who launched early were rewarded with some decent climbs up to 1700m and once you where up there it was easy to catch the tops of the thermals as they came drifting on through from Misery, maintaining height whist you waited for the start gate to open. Getting to Misery and linking with the next climb was and arduous affair with ground speed between 15 and 23km depending on how much speed bar you were prepared to use in the somewhat rough air. Significant sink on the leeward side of the thermal triggers made life even more difficult. Once over Misery there were good climbs up to 1800m and thats where it ended all three of the pilots who had made it that far basically went on death glides trying to link with the next upwind thermal down the course line with Ian making it the furtherest at 10km, Gav and Ash at 9km, Allison's tactic of heading down via Canungra achieved the same goal with a lot more ease than bashing into wind. I am sure her intention and goal was the Canungra hotel all along though. Martin our up and rising GUN and winner of the Canungra Paragliding Winter Series was determined and launched a second time well after the start gate, maybe hoping for the sea breeze front? but to no avail. The leader going into the last round Geoff, landed short giving Ian in second place all the opportunity to take out the title, with a meer 100 points separating them it was an anxious wait for all the flights to be uploaded to see who made it first across the finish line. |
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Round-8 | 2011 |
