Yesterday there was a shorter task because of pricegiving ceremonies in the evening. We had a 55km task, again into the next valley. I was hoping to reach this valley this time, because I knew now that it could be done pretty easy with enough height. After start I had to be alert, because of parapents who made you go out of the thermal. I first thought it was my own technique nog getting up, but in the end it more looks like only a few parapents really can’t thermal with hanggliders.
I couldn’t get really high, which is strange, since I was scanning the area pretty good. In the end I landed before Kobarit and after me a dozen landed in the same field too.
After everybody uploaded their tracklogs the final results are as follow.
For the Dutch competitors the result is:
1. Joost Eertman
2. Rob in t Groen
3. Paul Engelen

What a mess it was on the starting mountain, the Kobala. First of all there was the inversion. This made us wait for a very long time to get some thermals. Furthermore there was a diaria of parapenters hanging around and disturbing the competetion. It allmost came to a fight next to where I was. But our competetion leader, Harm, raised his voice as loud as the horn of a 300 foot containership and then everybody was calm again.
We had a 52km task into the valley to the Stol and back. Everybody was starting really late and in the end I launched at 15:40. I got a good thermal at the start, but it took me a while to get it. Later on the route I was in a thermal with a big bird (not Pino). I had my GoPro on to film it and I was forgetting to find the core of the thermal. Back up again I was heading for the turnpoint again. Near the city of Kobarit I had two options, head for the two-bumbed-hills where about 8 gliders where thermalling or head a bit to the North to gain height at the same place at the day before. I choose for the first option. But by the time I was there they were thermalling in nothing and they all followed the rest of their course. I had to follow my course, but I couldn’t find any thermals so I had to land with a perfect 10- landing (allways room for improvement). I landed in the same field as Coen, so I had the relaxed retrieve of Cornelia and ofcourse an icecold beer. Beer by the way tasts the best after a good hanggliding flight. We ended the day at the local restaurant, which was big fun.
I keep having second thoughts about a flight. Although I am happy with a flight, there were always possibilties to make better (or other) judgement. This could have extended my flights. But it is all for the learning process I am in. It will probably take me another flying season to improve this substantily.
It is good to see a young guy like Arne, with not that much experience do this judgement more naturally, it’s a gift of mother nature.

Today the weather is beautifull for flying. On- and off cumulus and South-West wind on the start of Kobala. There was a 75km task: north-west to the and of the ridge, back to the lake near Tolmin, to the ridge half way at the place Kovaric and then to the camping. I wanted to start later, to make sure to get a thermal after start. This worked out fine and I glided to the beginning of the ridge. Half way back again to cloudbase and at the startcircle again on cloudbase exaxtly when the startgate opened. What a magnificient view this was. Everyone on course. It was a bit crowded and you had to look around all the time to make sure you won’t fly against eachother. On this first part I was a few minutes behind the first gaggle, but I had to stop chasing them near the ridge change at Kobarit. I had some difficulties to get up, but afterall I found a thermal to head for turnpoint 1. I had to fly over unlandable area into to high mountains. I was a bit cautious, so I made a save route. Unfortunatly I came to low to find a thermal back up. I had to land.
This day about 20 pilots arrived at goal and also a lot of Dutchies. Although I had a great flight I have second thoughts that I could reach further. But I learned new things especially about this area.

Today was a beautifull day, a few clouds and a East wind.
I am here for the first time and the Kobala is really beautifull as well as the whole valley.
After assembling my glider, I noticed I was at a place not really good for starting fast. So I moved my glider to a better spot. Later on this was indeed a wise decision because the starting lanes were not really clear and I could start easily.
We had a 83km task. After start I maintained altitude for a while but later on I bombed out. I managed to find a thermal back to 1200meter and head for the mountain next to Tolmin. However this mountain didn’t work and following the ridge was also not working. I was low and landed at the camping.
I had, for the first time since this hanggliding holiday, a great landing. So at least one positive point for the day.
A lot of pilots bombed out, including Tanno. Gijs, Joost, Rob, Paul flown a big distance but didn’t manage to get goal.
Hopefully the scores for all of us aren’t did high so I won’t get behind te much.

Results of the day

The last rain was last night, now the sun is shining, but also the Bora wind came up. On launch there is 12 m/s. The day is canceled!

Today was a day of heavy, heavy… heavy rain. Due of these miserable circumstances the day was canceled. Pilots used this day to visit supermarkets, castles and fill their Facebook account. Tomorrow is doubtfull, but Wednesday promises to be a good flyingday.

Vandaag heb ik wederom niet gevlogen, maar dat was ook niet noodzakelijk voor de wedstrijd.
Er werd een spotlandingswedstrijd gehouden. 1 Marti, 2 Carl, 3 Tom.
Morgen rijden we vroeg naar Tolmin. Vanavond nog prijsuitreiking en daarna een BBQ.

Ongelooflijk, al zes dagen achtereen wordt er een taak uitgezet.
Dat is wat anders dan 14 dagen aan de Monte Cucco zitten en 2 taken te vliegen.
Alleen voelt mijn knie niet 100% na de landing van gisteren en wil ik met het oog op het komende NK de boel rust geven. Ik heb dus niet gevlogen. Wel ben ik met de andere mannen naar Aspres gegaan (na enige twijfelen… sorry mannen). Er werd een taak uitgezet van 80km, inclusief een bezoek aan Pic de Buure.