Jamie Wanders

Short of Severn.... | 1283186280|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover

...but still just tickled! Four hours over the gorgeous Welsh
countryside in smooth smooth lift the way I love to fly. We were
shooting for the river Severn near Myles' house but had little wind to
help us along. Carl and I started off together going over the back
then decided to scrap it as the day didn't look as great as we
thought. By the time we got back to takeoff, Kathryn had set out on
her own, so I went to chase after her. Caught up to her but we didn't
manage to stay together so long. She landed at the base of the Mynd
where I landed on my first Langollen flight.

Boy do I love a nice day in Wales!!!

British Nationals Day 1 | 1282496220|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
They called an ambitious 125km task for the first day of the British Nationals.  I was surprised because the day looked much like yesterday which was quite stable.  The only difference was we had nice south wind on takeoff.  Yesterday was dead calm all day at launch and we all ended up taking off on the north side either in nil wind or 1 or 2 mph.  


I got off the hill right in the middle of the pack and was feeling like I launched at just the right time.  Ben Dunn found a nice one for me and we circle up together well over launch, but not quite to cloudbase.  After hanging around launch longer than I would have liked, waiting for anyone to go on course, Kathryn finally joined me and we decided to go out together toward the first turnpoint.  We made a joking pack yesterday that we would fly and land together every day and finish the comp as co-women's-english-national champions ;-)  Neither of us is English, of course, but since we're the only girls here, we figured we were a shoe in.

So, the pack is intact so far.  We headed on course for the ridge north of launch where the first turnpoint was.  Gordon Rigg had given us a great little briefing before launch with heaps of tips on where to go and what works and what doesn't.  He explained exactly how and where would should work the ridge at the turnpoint which we did, exactly the way he suggested.  I was pleased with myself for being able to follow his instructions so well - usually I just end up off on my own, doing my own thing.

Unfortunately, it wasn't a normal day and his suggestions weren't so fruitful.  Kathryn and I worked the ridge together trying everything we could in the burbly air, surfed around in the ridge lift for a bit, but to no avail.  After quite a lot of trying, we had lost most of our altitude and had to glide into the valley for a landing field.  There were two others already there and another four came after us, each of them trying exactly as we had and each of them eventually getting too low and gliding out to our field.  

The view is beautiful from up there and if only the lift was smooth and beautiful, I would be very pleased.  I'm hoping for nicer air tomorrow, but counting my blessings flying with Damien feeling relatively comfortable in the somewhat rough air.  

Me amo Kathryn....te amo? | 1282253760|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
I've heard it said that the biggest source of discontentment is having too many choices.  We woke up this morning to yet another day of overcast skies and light rain and over breakfast had to make a decision about what to do.  Go two and a half hours south and fly Croatia (the likely site of the next women's worlds)? Tough it out another day in Tolmin and perhaps get a good task or two on Saturday and Sunday (missing the first days of the Brit Nationals in Laragne)?  Head three hours east and fly Bassano or Brescia where the sun is shining?  Drive into the Dolomites for a flight and risk the wrath of Carl for going without him?

In the end, we made the painful decision to head on to Laragne to be there in time for the Brit comp.  It was torture leaving.  Tolmin is one of the most beautiful places on earth and certainly one of my favorite flying sites/comps.  The organizers do such a great job and you really get so much for your money.  For 150€ you get a t-shirt, lunch every day, daily transport to launch and what I'm sure will be a fantastic party on Saturday night (that we will miss, sadly).  I can't say enough good things about this comp...if only the weather had been a bit better.   We also left Maria behind as she wanted to finish out the comp and then head to Austria before going back home to Colombia.

Of course as we finished packing up the car the sun came out and warmed up the gorgeous Soca Valley :-(

Here is a great video by Matjaz of what it could have looked like for us all week.

So tonight Kathryn and I are back in Bassano on our way to Laragne.  We're hearing reports that the weather is supposed to be great for that one....keeping our fingers crossed.  


Cancelled Task....but still in Paradise | 1282055400|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
The sky was looking quite nice when we drove up this morning, but it wasn't long before it started to overdevelop and turn pretty dark out in the valley along what would have been courseline.  Many launched  and stayed up in very light lift before the safety committee decided there was too much chance for overdevelopment and rain and cancelled the task.




But we flew anyway.  Only in Tolmin can we land after just a half an hour and still have a giant smile.  The lift was very very light and the air was perfectly smooth for checking to see that the turn I've had is finally gone (hopefully forever!).  I also had a chance to test Carl's GoPro!!

Just after takeoff....
...and coming in to land.

There are three Litesports in this comp....all Dutch (or with Dutch ancestors at least ;-)

Back in Tolmin.... | 1281962460|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover
...one of the most beautiful places in the world.  Again we drove into the valley yesterday afternoon on a bit of a high.  I can't seem to wipe the grin off my face here.  The scenery, the friendly, happy, active people,  the easy stress-free flying....I'm so glad to be back.

There are many more pilots than last year - we think around 70 or so and several top guys including Tom Weissenberger, Gerolf, Ilio and Primoz.  I think this place is becoming a bit of a haven for girl pilots.  We have at least ten this year.  Julia ran home to Russia to renew her visa, then flew back in to Venice yesterday.  Timothy drove down and picked her up.

Today was meant to be the first task day, but the weather isn't cooperating.  We drove up the hill for a noon briefing there, but found dark, ominous clouds overtaking the entire hill.  After thunder, lightning, rain and hail, we gave in a drove back down.

I love some of the odd things you find in other countries.  We arrived last night (Sunday) without milk for our nightly cup of tea and no supermarkets open.  Never fear!  The local dairy farmers have a vending machine that they fill with fresh milk and cheese every morning.  You buy an empty liter bottle for €.20, then pop it into the machine that fills it with very fresh, yummy full fat local milk!  What more could you ask for?!
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