22 April 2007
Flytech Championships - Quest Air - OVERALL
Total Results
1st - Jonny Durand
16 - Rich
24 - Ron
29 - Bruce
37 - Dave
42 - Shedsy
55 - Johnny
68 - Nigel
1st - Jonny Durand
16 - Rich
24 - Ron
29 - Bruce
37 - Dave
42 - Shedsy
55 - Johnny
68 - Nigel
21 April 2007
Flytech Championships - Quest Air - Day 7
Day 7 - 92k Task
1st - Kraig Coomber
10 - Shedsy
19 - Ron
20 - Rich
23 - Dave
37 - Bruce
49 - Nigel
53 - Johnny
1st - Kraig Coomber
10 - Shedsy
19 - Ron
20 - Rich
23 - Dave
37 - Bruce
49 - Nigel
53 - Johnny
20 April 2007
Flytech Championships - Quest Air - Day 6
Day 6 - 205k Task
1st - Gerolf Heinrichs
21 - Ron
25 - Rich
30 - Dave
31 - Bruce
34 - Shedsy
64 - Nigel
66 - Johnny
1st - Gerolf Heinrichs
21 - Ron
25 - Rich
30 - Dave
31 - Bruce
34 - Shedsy
64 - Nigel
66 - Johnny
19 April 2007
Flytech Championships - Quest Air - Day 5
Day 5 - 138k Task
1st - Kraig Coomber
16 - Bruce
25 - Ron
32 - Rich
52 - Shedsy
59 - Dave
67 - Johnny
72 - Nigel
1st - Kraig Coomber
16 - Bruce
25 - Ron
32 - Rich
52 - Shedsy
59 - Dave
67 - Johnny
72 - Nigel
18 April 2007
Flytech Championships - Quest Air - Day 4
Day - 4 - 72k Task
1st - Gerolf Heinrichs
10 - Rich
29 - Ron
36 - Johnny
36 - Dave
39 - Bruce
51 - Shedsy
66 - Nigel
1st - Gerolf Heinrichs
10 - Rich
29 - Ron
36 - Johnny
36 - Dave
39 - Bruce
51 - Shedsy
66 - Nigel
17 April 2007
Flytech Championships - Quest Air - Day 3
Day 3 - 110 k task
1st - Jonny Durrand
11 - Dave Matthews
19 - Rich
19 - Ron Richardson
23 - Bruce Kavanagh
28 - Shedsy
71 - Nigel Bray
43 - Johnny Carr
1st - Jonny Durrand
11 - Dave Matthews
19 - Rich
19 - Ron Richardson
23 - Bruce Kavanagh
28 - Shedsy
71 - Nigel Bray
43 - Johnny Carr
16 April 2007
15 April 2007
14 April 2007
US Nationals - Day 8
Day 8 – we decamp to Quest Air
A packing up session with the van o wee loaded up then onto Quest Air for the next 2 comps! … more of that later.
Florida Ridge. What a hoot!! This was a great fun comp with lots of safe challenging flying. It’s a great place to fly with a real easy going family atmosphere and such friendly people - if you ever get chance to do a comp at The Ridge then do it. It’s a great place to warm up for the start of our season and if you’re into nature then it is a must!
Special thanks also go to Sue and George our retrieve driver and navigator – we couldn’t have done it without you.
Many thanks goes to James the owner of Florida Ridge, to Steve and Cheryl, Big Red and Dad, all the tug pilots and ground crews.
The Florida Ridge is located on 50 acres of ranch land in Southern Florida where Atlantic and Gulf coast winds converge to create the most favourable soaring conditions in the US. With unrestricted air space and wide-open fields stretching 100 miles in every direction, the Ridge gives pilots of all abilities unlimited opportunity to test their soaring skills and fly cross-country.
GPS Coordinates: N 26.45.782 W 081.13.848
www.thefloridaridge.com
A packing up session with the van o wee loaded up then onto Quest Air for the next 2 comps! … more of that later.
Florida Ridge. What a hoot!! This was a great fun comp with lots of safe challenging flying. It’s a great place to fly with a real easy going family atmosphere and such friendly people - if you ever get chance to do a comp at The Ridge then do it. It’s a great place to warm up for the start of our season and if you’re into nature then it is a must!
Special thanks also go to Sue and George our retrieve driver and navigator – we couldn’t have done it without you.
Many thanks goes to James the owner of Florida Ridge, to Steve and Cheryl, Big Red and Dad, all the tug pilots and ground crews.
The Florida Ridge is located on 50 acres of ranch land in Southern Florida where Atlantic and Gulf coast winds converge to create the most favourable soaring conditions in the US. With unrestricted air space and wide-open fields stretching 100 miles in every direction, the Ridge gives pilots of all abilities unlimited opportunity to test their soaring skills and fly cross-country.
GPS Coordinates: N 26.45.782 W 081.13.848
www.thefloridaridge.com
13 April 2007
US Nationals - Day 7
Day 7 - Task 6
Wake up and smell the coffee. It’s the last day and the Brits are cooking on gas!
The islands are growing already. They are like little volcanoes in a sea of blue or the chocolate ice cream that Mr Whippy had last night surrounded by Blueberry sauce and just to make it lifelike, he put a serviette on top much to the delight of 3 Arrows. Bless.
The task is 77km via 2 turn points. STOP! 3 Arrows nearly didn’t get started due to him leaving a batten in the orange grove *tears* so its was all hands to the deck to make one out of what was laying around. In true team fashion we ate aluminium and produced an almost perfect copy – 3 Arrows was a happy man and ready for battle.
The task gets going and we go round in left circles this time. The late starters follow and pimp off the leaders to catch up and make good times. There are no lead points. It’s a quick race and Paris Williams did 77km in 1hr46 with Mr Whippy 2 mins behind. Paris has been out of flying for a couple of years and is still finding his legs. All I can say is watch out when he finds them!
The day is under called but it’s a good day as most get into goal.
Results
77km
1 Paris Williams
2 Mr Whippy
4 3 Arrows
5 What’s a tent?
6 Happy-sad-happy lad
10 Posh Bloke
17 Dogleg Fred
We got back to The Ridge for prize giving and lots of pizza and salad with beer of course!
Wake up and smell the coffee. It’s the last day and the Brits are cooking on gas!
The islands are growing already. They are like little volcanoes in a sea of blue or the chocolate ice cream that Mr Whippy had last night surrounded by Blueberry sauce and just to make it lifelike, he put a serviette on top much to the delight of 3 Arrows. Bless.
The task is 77km via 2 turn points. STOP! 3 Arrows nearly didn’t get started due to him leaving a batten in the orange grove *tears* so its was all hands to the deck to make one out of what was laying around. In true team fashion we ate aluminium and produced an almost perfect copy – 3 Arrows was a happy man and ready for battle.
The task gets going and we go round in left circles this time. The late starters follow and pimp off the leaders to catch up and make good times. There are no lead points. It’s a quick race and Paris Williams did 77km in 1hr46 with Mr Whippy 2 mins behind. Paris has been out of flying for a couple of years and is still finding his legs. All I can say is watch out when he finds them!
The day is under called but it’s a good day as most get into goal.
Results
77km
1 Paris Williams
2 Mr Whippy
4 3 Arrows
5 What’s a tent?
6 Happy-sad-happy lad
10 Posh Bloke
17 Dogleg Fred
We got back to The Ridge for prize giving and lots of pizza and salad with beer of course!
Overall Results
1 Dave Matthews (What’s a Tent) (Moyes S) won the $500 purse for first place by nearly 600 points! Great result.
1 Dave Matthews (What’s a Tent) (Moyes S) won the $500 purse for first place by nearly 600 points! Great result.
2 Bjorn Joakimsen (Moyes S)
3 Ron Richardson (Mr Whippy) on his comeback and new Moyes RS.
4 Bruce ‘Posh Bloke’ Kavanagh (WW T2)
8 Rich Lovelace (Happy Sad Lad) (Aeros Combat L)
9 Johnny Carr (3 Arrows) (Airbourne C4)
17 Nigel Bray (Dogleg Fred) (WW T2)
12 April 2007
US Nationals - Day 6
Day 6 - Task 5
We had a great storm in the early hours that permeated the single skin tent 3 Arrows and Mr Whippy are living in. We expected a rest day to ease the stress the flying is having on our overused muscles but it was not to be.
A bigger task today with a good base and lift forecast but still a bit breezy. 119.2km task called to near the coast and around the lake. Today was going to be a tough one. Weak climbs with cu, then strong climbs, sea breeze convergence, cu with weak climbs again, cutting inland away from the lake, sea breeze overtaking you then blue skies and tiny wisps. The smell of orange blossom and flying with the birds of prey was amazing. Long slow glides with pilots on the ground spread out along the course. Working half ups wondering when your number was up. We were overtaking each other then getting overtaken and just when you think the numbers are looking good for goal 15k out you look and all there is orange grove, with nowhere to land! I was lucky and got a few hundred feet on What’s a tent? and 3 Arrows which got me into the goal second and the last. Bjorn Joakimsen was the first. The air was so buoyant at goal I had 20mins just floating and enjoying the view flavoured now with very strong orange blossom. I landed just as Posh Bloke arrived with Sue and George McD so a rapid team derig was set in place so we could go get the others out of the orange grove and back down the route.
Warning - DO NOT ENTER- PRIVATE- NO VEHICLES—Death to all. We drove the van o wee in the orange groves following Camble’s rig which was looking for Kevin Carter and got squirted by some kind of chemical, then the helicopter appeared. A police helicopter! Which landed near Kevin. Big trouble?! No, he had a report that hang gliders were down in the orange grove and he was making sure all was ok. Then the ground support came in: two sheriffs in pickup trucks that showed us where the guys were then escorted us out and put us on the right road! Nice guys.
We picked the others up along with a couple of Norwegians and ate at the most amazing place! As much as you could eat of everything and everything (fresh veg, steak, fish and the puddings!) Mr Whippy had 6 no 9 maybe! Some of the others went to the yellow arches. I had steak and nearly died choking but soon recovered and topped up. A good day for all but a long drive.
Results
119.2km
We had a great storm in the early hours that permeated the single skin tent 3 Arrows and Mr Whippy are living in. We expected a rest day to ease the stress the flying is having on our overused muscles but it was not to be.
A bigger task today with a good base and lift forecast but still a bit breezy. 119.2km task called to near the coast and around the lake. Today was going to be a tough one. Weak climbs with cu, then strong climbs, sea breeze convergence, cu with weak climbs again, cutting inland away from the lake, sea breeze overtaking you then blue skies and tiny wisps. The smell of orange blossom and flying with the birds of prey was amazing. Long slow glides with pilots on the ground spread out along the course. Working half ups wondering when your number was up. We were overtaking each other then getting overtaken and just when you think the numbers are looking good for goal 15k out you look and all there is orange grove, with nowhere to land! I was lucky and got a few hundred feet on What’s a tent? and 3 Arrows which got me into the goal second and the last. Bjorn Joakimsen was the first. The air was so buoyant at goal I had 20mins just floating and enjoying the view flavoured now with very strong orange blossom. I landed just as Posh Bloke arrived with Sue and George McD so a rapid team derig was set in place so we could go get the others out of the orange grove and back down the route.
Warning - DO NOT ENTER- PRIVATE- NO VEHICLES—Death to all. We drove the van o wee in the orange groves following Camble’s rig which was looking for Kevin Carter and got squirted by some kind of chemical, then the helicopter appeared. A police helicopter! Which landed near Kevin. Big trouble?! No, he had a report that hang gliders were down in the orange grove and he was making sure all was ok. Then the ground support came in: two sheriffs in pickup trucks that showed us where the guys were then escorted us out and put us on the right road! Nice guys.
We picked the others up along with a couple of Norwegians and ate at the most amazing place! As much as you could eat of everything and everything (fresh veg, steak, fish and the puddings!) Mr Whippy had 6 no 9 maybe! Some of the others went to the yellow arches. I had steak and nearly died choking but soon recovered and topped up. A good day for all but a long drive.
Results
119.2km
1 Bjorn Joakimsen – G
2 Happy Sad Lad - G
4 What’s a Tent? - 113.7km
4 3 Arrows – 113.7km
12 Posh Bloke – 71.1km
15 Dogleg Fred – 68.6km
11 April 2007
US Nationals - Day 5
Day 5 - Task 4
Thinking of looking for a spade, but hang on, what’s that noise? It’s the island eating machine! Oh joy, now we only have to be careful of splash back for fear of a blue arseJ There are certain times of day when you cant drop the kids off at the blue lagoon as there seems to be a force field that you bounce off as soon as you open the door.
Due to a little to much wind a straight race to a goal 67.4km away is called – 3 Arrows will not be happy today.
The usual happened today. We went round in circles, right this time, and then went on glides. Some glides were better than others towards Lake Okeechobee and the sea effect would bite them. 3 Arrows and Sad Lad (me) were two of the victims. What went wrong?
The view was priceless thermaling over the lake, over a small fire with eagles flying through your side wires at 5500ft! For me this experience was a part of hang gliding that has been missing for a while. Ok, we needed one more half climb and we will be in to goal super quick! One glide to the deck later and 3 Arrows is not happy. Why did we not see the signs? Because there weren’t any! The perfect cu was there, three of them in fact and not one was working!
Our field was massive and right next to the main road which meant we had people stopping to ask if we needed a ride – amazing! Would this happen in the UK? (I don’t think so). Clarkson said the people of Florida are ” Fat and ignorant and rude” Bull. Maybe some are a little on the large side (but they are in the UK too) but the people I met were most certainly not ignorant or rude.
Sue and George McD were with us as soon as we were finished packing up and then off we went to the beer shop, for ice cream of course! 3 Arrows and Mr Whippy cannot go a day without the creamy stuff as we are finding outJ
We pick the rest of the team up from the goal field where there were smiles all round then a call into the yellow arches on the way back and another ice cream shop.
Results
119.2km
Thinking of looking for a spade, but hang on, what’s that noise? It’s the island eating machine! Oh joy, now we only have to be careful of splash back for fear of a blue arseJ There are certain times of day when you cant drop the kids off at the blue lagoon as there seems to be a force field that you bounce off as soon as you open the door.
Due to a little to much wind a straight race to a goal 67.4km away is called – 3 Arrows will not be happy today.
The usual happened today. We went round in circles, right this time, and then went on glides. Some glides were better than others towards Lake Okeechobee and the sea effect would bite them. 3 Arrows and Sad Lad (me) were two of the victims. What went wrong?
The view was priceless thermaling over the lake, over a small fire with eagles flying through your side wires at 5500ft! For me this experience was a part of hang gliding that has been missing for a while. Ok, we needed one more half climb and we will be in to goal super quick! One glide to the deck later and 3 Arrows is not happy. Why did we not see the signs? Because there weren’t any! The perfect cu was there, three of them in fact and not one was working!
Our field was massive and right next to the main road which meant we had people stopping to ask if we needed a ride – amazing! Would this happen in the UK? (I don’t think so). Clarkson said the people of Florida are ” Fat and ignorant and rude” Bull. Maybe some are a little on the large side (but they are in the UK too) but the people I met were most certainly not ignorant or rude.
Sue and George McD were with us as soon as we were finished packing up and then off we went to the beer shop, for ice cream of course! 3 Arrows and Mr Whippy cannot go a day without the creamy stuff as we are finding outJ
We pick the rest of the team up from the goal field where there were smiles all round then a call into the yellow arches on the way back and another ice cream shop.
Results
119.2km
1 What’s a tent?
2 Posh Bloke
7 3 Arrows
16 Semi Dogleg Fred
17 3 Arrows
18 Contented Lad
10 April 2007
US Nationals - Day 4
Day 4
Armadillo!!?? Just behind the tent! The wildlife is great at The Ridge. There are mosquitoes, turtles, gators, mosquitoes, bald eagles, nests made out of shells, snakes, more mosquitoes and even a few bears in remote parts of Florida. A handy tip - if you get snapped by a gator, roll with it so it can’t snap your arms and legs off then poke it real hard in the eye’s and it might let go and don’t forget to hold your breath. If it doesn’t don’t blame me. 3 Arrows has a web site showing some pics of what he saw with his big telescopic thing – check it out at http://www.jcarrimages.co.uk/
Not noticing the egg showers to much now but the blue lagoons are turning into small islands that look like volcanoes! The coffee is still American strong, am sure they add extra caffeine!
The weather was looking not promising with thunderstorms forecast and wind but we set up regardless and a task was task to Lake Placid. Ever seen the movie? Giant gators and all! Don’t know about poking that one in the eye, maybe squeezing his plumbs real hard might work. Luckily we didn’t get there due to the rain starting as the lead gaggle approached the first turn point and then sparklers falling out of the sky. I had awful flashbacks of Millau 2004 and wet glider landings! The guys at the back knew the task was canned when the lead guys went past them going the other way real fast! It was a good call from the safety committee and it was reassuring to know that there were no crazy people on the safety committee trying to get a task in for the sake of a task. This lesson has been learned so many times but still it happens!
Some of us at The Ridge this evening with more food than anyone could eat others went in search of the yellow arches. It was a real chilled evening with the sky clear and the most amazing natural firework display lighting up the cu-nims in the North. It made you not want to go to bed but needs must, work to be done n all.
Armadillo!!?? Just behind the tent! The wildlife is great at The Ridge. There are mosquitoes, turtles, gators, mosquitoes, bald eagles, nests made out of shells, snakes, more mosquitoes and even a few bears in remote parts of Florida. A handy tip - if you get snapped by a gator, roll with it so it can’t snap your arms and legs off then poke it real hard in the eye’s and it might let go and don’t forget to hold your breath. If it doesn’t don’t blame me. 3 Arrows has a web site showing some pics of what he saw with his big telescopic thing – check it out at http://www.jcarrimages.co.uk/
Not noticing the egg showers to much now but the blue lagoons are turning into small islands that look like volcanoes! The coffee is still American strong, am sure they add extra caffeine!
The weather was looking not promising with thunderstorms forecast and wind but we set up regardless and a task was task to Lake Placid. Ever seen the movie? Giant gators and all! Don’t know about poking that one in the eye, maybe squeezing his plumbs real hard might work. Luckily we didn’t get there due to the rain starting as the lead gaggle approached the first turn point and then sparklers falling out of the sky. I had awful flashbacks of Millau 2004 and wet glider landings! The guys at the back knew the task was canned when the lead guys went past them going the other way real fast! It was a good call from the safety committee and it was reassuring to know that there were no crazy people on the safety committee trying to get a task in for the sake of a task. This lesson has been learned so many times but still it happens!
Some of us at The Ridge this evening with more food than anyone could eat others went in search of the yellow arches. It was a real chilled evening with the sky clear and the most amazing natural firework display lighting up the cu-nims in the North. It made you not want to go to bed but needs must, work to be done n all.
9 April 2007
US Nationals - Day 3
Johnny '3 Arrows' Carr
Ron 'Mr Whippy' Richardson
Crawl out of the tent to the smell of dew on the grass, the birds singing and 3 Arrows bringing coffee in bed to his tent mate Mr Whippy. These guys have been hang gliding from the day it was invented and have more experience of competition flying than anyone I know, they know more history and have themselves made history more than most in the world and here they are, in a single skin tent sleeping on lilo’s in a field in deepest Florida! I would like to say that these guys like to rough it but at the next comp they stay in the opposite type of accommodation (I think deep down they missed camping though).
Then its off to the blue lagoon, a sprinkle of egg and a quick call home on Voipcheap. (Anyone away from home that has access to wi-fi should get this. Most calls are free!).
The sky is blue but the forecast is not consistent but in general looks ok so Steve and Davis call a 102.2km task via 3 turn points then back to The Ridge.
We all get a smooth tow from the great tug pilots, some of which fly in from Quest Air up North. We all fly in circles and glide and we all deck it before the goal! This aint right!
Results
102.2km
1 Top banana today was Zac Majors with 97.4km
2 What’s a tent? 86.7km
8 Not so Dogleg today Bray 74.5km
14 Posh Bloke 66.7km
16 Mr Whippy 52.1km
17 3 Arrows 51.8km
22 Very Sad Lad 24.1km
Today was a bit of a retrieve nightmare for Sue. She did a great job but was a little stressed but after a few hugs she was fine. I mean, how can she not be with a van full of prime British beef in need of an egg shower and Dogleg had a smile on his face!!
A quick stop at the beer shop for ice-cream of course then onto the ‘yellow arches’ followed by real food and a bevy of real ale at the Gator Bait.
Ron 'Mr Whippy' Richardson
Crawl out of the tent to the smell of dew on the grass, the birds singing and 3 Arrows bringing coffee in bed to his tent mate Mr Whippy. These guys have been hang gliding from the day it was invented and have more experience of competition flying than anyone I know, they know more history and have themselves made history more than most in the world and here they are, in a single skin tent sleeping on lilo’s in a field in deepest Florida! I would like to say that these guys like to rough it but at the next comp they stay in the opposite type of accommodation (I think deep down they missed camping though).
Then its off to the blue lagoon, a sprinkle of egg and a quick call home on Voipcheap. (Anyone away from home that has access to wi-fi should get this. Most calls are free!).
The sky is blue but the forecast is not consistent but in general looks ok so Steve and Davis call a 102.2km task via 3 turn points then back to The Ridge.
We all get a smooth tow from the great tug pilots, some of which fly in from Quest Air up North. We all fly in circles and glide and we all deck it before the goal! This aint right!
Results
102.2km
1 Top banana today was Zac Majors with 97.4km
2 What’s a tent? 86.7km
8 Not so Dogleg today Bray 74.5km
14 Posh Bloke 66.7km
16 Mr Whippy 52.1km
17 3 Arrows 51.8km
22 Very Sad Lad 24.1km
Today was a bit of a retrieve nightmare for Sue. She did a great job but was a little stressed but after a few hugs she was fine. I mean, how can she not be with a van full of prime British beef in need of an egg shower and Dogleg had a smile on his face!!
A quick stop at the beer shop for ice-cream of course then onto the ‘yellow arches’ followed by real food and a bevy of real ale at the Gator Bait.
8 April 2007
US Nationals - Day 2
Day 2
What a cold night! Is this Florida or deepest Wales? The weather is a bit freaky this year. We awoke to fresh coffee, blue skies, the blue lagoon and an egg shower.
We have the briefing with Davis and Steve Larsen who lives on site with his wife. It looks like a good day for getting back to The Ridge so a 73km task is called via 3 turn points. It is a little weak to start but we all get up and fly in lots of circles and do lots of little glides and you know what? We get 5 brits in the top 10 again and all in goal! Can it last?? Naa, this is hang gliding and a lot of what happens is down to a roll of the dice.
Results
73km
Bares Rodek is the fastest in
2 Happy Sad Lad
4 What’s a tent?
7 Posh Bloke
8 3 Arrows
9 Mr Whippy
18 Dogleg Fred
An easy day for Sue and George McD today. There is a great pool for the sprogs to play in while the adolescents try play superman . The sprogs would often disappear into the orange groves and pick fresh pink grapefruit that had been left from the harvest and then try and sell it to us! Teach em youngJ Free trade-POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!
Dinner was at the Gator Bait but no karaoke tonight just worn out Brits disagreeing on track deviation, cross wind component and 3 arrows! 3 arrows being the optimum direction to fly on a Flytec or Brauniger. The less educated of us were correct of course.
What a cold night! Is this Florida or deepest Wales? The weather is a bit freaky this year. We awoke to fresh coffee, blue skies, the blue lagoon and an egg shower.
We have the briefing with Davis and Steve Larsen who lives on site with his wife. It looks like a good day for getting back to The Ridge so a 73km task is called via 3 turn points. It is a little weak to start but we all get up and fly in lots of circles and do lots of little glides and you know what? We get 5 brits in the top 10 again and all in goal! Can it last?? Naa, this is hang gliding and a lot of what happens is down to a roll of the dice.
Results
73km
Bares Rodek is the fastest in
2 Happy Sad Lad
4 What’s a tent?
7 Posh Bloke
8 3 Arrows
9 Mr Whippy
18 Dogleg Fred
An easy day for Sue and George McD today. There is a great pool for the sprogs to play in while the adolescents try play superman . The sprogs would often disappear into the orange groves and pick fresh pink grapefruit that had been left from the harvest and then try and sell it to us! Teach em youngJ Free trade-POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!
Dinner was at the Gator Bait but no karaoke tonight just worn out Brits disagreeing on track deviation, cross wind component and 3 arrows! 3 arrows being the optimum direction to fly on a Flytec or Brauniger. The less educated of us were correct of course.
7 April 2007
US Nationals - Day 1
DAY 1
The first day of the comp and those of us that are camping crawl out of our tents to an egg shower under blue skies, a visit to the blue lagoon, fresh brewed coffee and cereal (“Its not about the bike” by Lance Armstrong is a fantastic read, check out how much cereal he eats before a race). Dave, Sue and George arrive from their luxury, expensive wooden hut on the golf course that’s not much bigger than my garage but is blue lagoon free!
Davis Straub is Meet Director. The task is an open start gate; 8km exit then 56.7km to a remote goal via 2 turn points. It’s a breezy day and the lift forecast is not so good, hence an easy task is set. Everyone went round in circles, did glides and some arrived in goal – and what a goal field it was! It was like a beach but almost impossible to walk on as you sank to your ankles in sand and seashells and so far from the coast (a place not to buy land).
5 brits in the top ten out of a total of 27 pilots so a good result. There was a disappointing show of US pilots considering it was the US Nationals but the guys that were there were amongst the friendliest pilots I have met at a meet without exception!
Results
56.7km
Paul Tjaden was first in but not the fastest - There are no lead points in this meet!
1 Happy Sad Lad
2 What’s a tent?
4 Mr Whippy
7 Posh Bloke
8 3 Arrows
25 Dogleg Fred
A short ride back to The Ridge via Mc Donald’s in the van o wee which was full of happy pilots. We hand in our Flytec’s and Brauniger’s then onto the pub for a healthy meal and refreshing beer. Most important ‘tis the fuel of champions ya noo!
The first day of the comp and those of us that are camping crawl out of our tents to an egg shower under blue skies, a visit to the blue lagoon, fresh brewed coffee and cereal (“Its not about the bike” by Lance Armstrong is a fantastic read, check out how much cereal he eats before a race). Dave, Sue and George arrive from their luxury, expensive wooden hut on the golf course that’s not much bigger than my garage but is blue lagoon free!
Davis Straub is Meet Director. The task is an open start gate; 8km exit then 56.7km to a remote goal via 2 turn points. It’s a breezy day and the lift forecast is not so good, hence an easy task is set. Everyone went round in circles, did glides and some arrived in goal – and what a goal field it was! It was like a beach but almost impossible to walk on as you sank to your ankles in sand and seashells and so far from the coast (a place not to buy land).
5 brits in the top ten out of a total of 27 pilots so a good result. There was a disappointing show of US pilots considering it was the US Nationals but the guys that were there were amongst the friendliest pilots I have met at a meet without exception!
Results
56.7km
Paul Tjaden was first in but not the fastest - There are no lead points in this meet!
1 Happy Sad Lad
2 What’s a tent?
4 Mr Whippy
7 Posh Bloke
8 3 Arrows
25 Dogleg Fred
A short ride back to The Ridge via Mc Donald’s in the van o wee which was full of happy pilots. We hand in our Flytec’s and Brauniger’s then onto the pub for a healthy meal and refreshing beer. Most important ‘tis the fuel of champions ya noo!
4 April 2007
Florida Trip - US Nationals 7 - 13 April 2007
Its 10.30 am on 4 April 2007, the car is all packed and I say goodbye to suburbia, heading south to collect Ron and Johnny. I arrive at Ron’s house without much hassle to find Johnny there still packing his glider and equipment! Ron’s wife, Val had cooked us a lovely ‘full English’ to send us on our way!
A quick 1.5hrs from Ron’s to the Dover ferry then 1.5hrs crossing followed by 3hrs to Düsseldorf airport with no hassle at all. We arrive at the airport in the early hours, dump the gliders and other kit at ‘arrivals’ where Ron and Johnny stayed while I parked the car, again no hassle and only 90 euro or 50 euro if you can get into the cheap long stay.
LTU were great ~ Zero hassle on getting the gliders on the plane and at little or no extra cost. No queues to check in, security or boarding! Why would I want to depart a London airport again?
Why Dusseldorf? Guess you all know that checking hang gliders on planes in the UK is impossible, believe me I tried every option and airline, escalating to Board level at Virgin – seems the largest piece of sporting equipment they will accept is golf clubs!
All going fine so far. Will it last? Will it balls!
We arrive at Miami and now the hassle starts. Car hire? What a bunch of tossers! Even if you get it printed in blood and pay in diamonds they will still cock up. The van we ordered was not there. I called the depot to be told it was in Orlando because I had ordered it for Orlando even though I had the receipt from U-Save to prove it was booked for Miami Airport! So we head off to the U-Save depot where we are informed that it was ordered from the 8th and that it’s my problem and to go away! Getting angry now. Not my problem? AGGRRRRRRAAAAAAAAHH. After a long wrangle and several phone calls we get offered the bus they use to ferry people to and from the airport. It smells of wee and has a few dents but it will do the trick so we take it. Insurance is the next issue; all drivers included? No, only 4 in a 12 seater (well 9 seater as the back seat is missing!!? I shall say no more on this.
It seems there are 2 days wasted with people running around getting put on insurances and finding roof racks.
I suppose at this point I should introduce the ‘team’:-
Bruce Kavanagh - Posh Bloke (WW T2)
Dave Matthews – What’s a tent? (Litespeed S)
Johnny Carr - 3 Arrows (Airbourn C4)
Nigel Bray - Dogleg Fred (WW T2)
Rich Lovelace - Happy Sad Lad (Aeros Combat L)
Ron Richardson - Mr Whippy (Moyes Litespeed RS)
Sue Brooks – our fab Retrieve Driver, thank you Sue (Chevy LT 3500 Bus, Van o wee)
…. and Grandson George – George McD - navigator
We arrive at The Ridge for a couple of days practice flying prior to the comp starting - for those that have gliders that is! Mr Whippy’s is a day late and mine (Happy Sad Lad) is 2 days late (now a very Sad Lad)! So as the others enjoy some fantastic flying with a sky filled with cu. I sit fixed to the Internet and Voipcheap trying to track ‘ma beyatch’. She arrives with Camble skid pants (XLAtos pilot, very nice guy who could squash you with his little finger) the evening before the comp starts and is set up in the dark and tied down on the line so she can familiarise herself with the opposition. Ever seen toy story? I swear I got up in the early hours to find a WW trying to mount her! Pesky Americans, she was a virgin after all. 3 Arrows saw an eclipse of the moon on the same night! (a ball on a power line – too much beer?).
The Florida Ridge (no ridge in sight by the way) is the most southern flight park located SW of Lake Okeechobee so there can be a problem with cool air coming off the lake in certain wind directions, which can kill the lift early. The lake is so big it creates its own sea breeze effect. The flight park has open air showers, diy coffee machines, swimming pool, fridges filled with cold water, blue lagoons with islands that grow every day, wi-fi, tap water that you can drink but you wouldn’t want to as it smells of bad eggs but is full of minerals that are apparently very good for you - you soon get used to having a shower in it. The people that own and run the park are very friendly, there is a local pub called the “Gator Bait” that serves freedom fries, fantastic salads and stays open for food late with a karaoke on Fridays as long as you know country and western or Elvis! 3 Arrows was lovin’ it and Mr Whippy had a smile on his faceJ they didn’t get up and do a turn though.
A quick 1.5hrs from Ron’s to the Dover ferry then 1.5hrs crossing followed by 3hrs to Düsseldorf airport with no hassle at all. We arrive at the airport in the early hours, dump the gliders and other kit at ‘arrivals’ where Ron and Johnny stayed while I parked the car, again no hassle and only 90 euro or 50 euro if you can get into the cheap long stay.
LTU were great ~ Zero hassle on getting the gliders on the plane and at little or no extra cost. No queues to check in, security or boarding! Why would I want to depart a London airport again?
Why Dusseldorf? Guess you all know that checking hang gliders on planes in the UK is impossible, believe me I tried every option and airline, escalating to Board level at Virgin – seems the largest piece of sporting equipment they will accept is golf clubs!
All going fine so far. Will it last? Will it balls!
We arrive at Miami and now the hassle starts. Car hire? What a bunch of tossers! Even if you get it printed in blood and pay in diamonds they will still cock up. The van we ordered was not there. I called the depot to be told it was in Orlando because I had ordered it for Orlando even though I had the receipt from U-Save to prove it was booked for Miami Airport! So we head off to the U-Save depot where we are informed that it was ordered from the 8th and that it’s my problem and to go away! Getting angry now. Not my problem? AGGRRRRRRAAAAAAAAHH. After a long wrangle and several phone calls we get offered the bus they use to ferry people to and from the airport. It smells of wee and has a few dents but it will do the trick so we take it. Insurance is the next issue; all drivers included? No, only 4 in a 12 seater (well 9 seater as the back seat is missing!!? I shall say no more on this.
It seems there are 2 days wasted with people running around getting put on insurances and finding roof racks.
I suppose at this point I should introduce the ‘team’:-
Bruce Kavanagh - Posh Bloke (WW T2)
Dave Matthews – What’s a tent? (Litespeed S)
Johnny Carr - 3 Arrows (Airbourn C4)
Nigel Bray - Dogleg Fred (WW T2)
Rich Lovelace - Happy Sad Lad (Aeros Combat L)
Ron Richardson - Mr Whippy (Moyes Litespeed RS)
Sue Brooks – our fab Retrieve Driver, thank you Sue (Chevy LT 3500 Bus, Van o wee)
…. and Grandson George – George McD - navigator
We arrive at The Ridge for a couple of days practice flying prior to the comp starting - for those that have gliders that is! Mr Whippy’s is a day late and mine (Happy Sad Lad) is 2 days late (now a very Sad Lad)! So as the others enjoy some fantastic flying with a sky filled with cu. I sit fixed to the Internet and Voipcheap trying to track ‘ma beyatch’. She arrives with Camble skid pants (XLAtos pilot, very nice guy who could squash you with his little finger) the evening before the comp starts and is set up in the dark and tied down on the line so she can familiarise herself with the opposition. Ever seen toy story? I swear I got up in the early hours to find a WW trying to mount her! Pesky Americans, she was a virgin after all. 3 Arrows saw an eclipse of the moon on the same night! (a ball on a power line – too much beer?).
The Florida Ridge (no ridge in sight by the way) is the most southern flight park located SW of Lake Okeechobee so there can be a problem with cool air coming off the lake in certain wind directions, which can kill the lift early. The lake is so big it creates its own sea breeze effect. The flight park has open air showers, diy coffee machines, swimming pool, fridges filled with cold water, blue lagoons with islands that grow every day, wi-fi, tap water that you can drink but you wouldn’t want to as it smells of bad eggs but is full of minerals that are apparently very good for you - you soon get used to having a shower in it. The people that own and run the park are very friendly, there is a local pub called the “Gator Bait” that serves freedom fries, fantastic salads and stays open for food late with a karaoke on Fridays as long as you know country and western or Elvis! 3 Arrows was lovin’ it and Mr Whippy had a smile on his faceJ they didn’t get up and do a turn though.
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