A task!!!!

The sky looked incredible as we went to the hill :-) Lots of enthusiasm for a task and then for some reason ( that i am still unsure of) we went to the north launch.
The wind was coming up the south side consistently but for some unfathomable reason it was decided we would make things as hard as possible for ourselves and try to get away in side and backwind!!
The sky started filling in with cloud as carnage reigned as pilots tried to launch their new gliders off the edge of a flattish launch in nil wind. Many ended up in the bushes below and few managed a clean first time getaway. Needless to say many pilots were still on launch after start had opened in the 54km race while weak climbs and wind downstairs were making progress difficult for the majority. The first gaggle of approx 10 pilots managed to find some altitude relatively quickly but the 70+% hunted far and wide for slow climbs from the fewer and fewer sunspots even the Urubu seemed to have taken a holiday today, our favourite thermal markers showing a distinct lack of activity.

At download at 17:45 there was no news of anyone in goal and many of the hotshots were in the retrieve. For my efforts I managed a feeble 4km to the start after a very long time clipped in on launch waiting for any breeze at all to come up the face. I wasn't alone by any means, there will be a high number with a similar result unfortunately. It was possible to extend the glide for an extra km or so but a good landing field instead of hillside coffee-plantations was the deciding factor in me wimping out. I haven't really worked out the glide of the Mercury yet so wide open spaces are needed to allow for the overshoot. Unfortunately today's overshoot into the cow field resulted in me aqua-planing through cowshit which filled my kocoon - the glider is definitely sleeping outside tonight!!