Sunday Series - Tambo-Water Tower-Bromelton-Model 17 Aug

A great day flying from Mt Tamborine for me today. It was the first time that I've completed a Sunday series task with turnpoints. So I was very happy.

I arrived to launch late and most of the good regular pilots were launching as I started to set up at 11.50am. So I thought I wasn't going to have anyone to follow. At 12.15 I got in my harness and headed over to launch. Rod, Derek and myself thought for a minute that we may not even get off launch. The wind was coming over the back, so we prayed for a thermal to launch into. Only 5 mins later it came, and the 3 of us got away. Thank god for that.

Rod went to the right of launch and didn't seem to be climbing very fast, so I went left and prayed for something better. I found it, and got a good 4-5 hundred up to about 5,400ft. And with a big grin on my face I headed out on task. Rod and Derek followed. I had a good glide and found some scrappy lift near the Model airfield. Eventually after searching around I god back up to 5,000ft and headed towards Beaudesert. I found some lift with a green paraglider near Beaudesert and Rod and Derek came over under us low.

Cranking it up over Bromelton.

Great cloud formations looking back to the Kerry Valley.

I got back up to 4,700 and headed to the Water tower to claim my first turnpoint, but the lift was no good there and I dropped to 2,700ft. I then headed back to where I was and found a good climb back to 5,200ft and headed to Bromelton. I found some good lift on the way and managed to stay high. We all want to stay high don't we. I got to Bromelton (the second turnpoint) at 3,400ft. I found a nice but weak thermal right there and as I got higher it got better. At 5,000ft I got my camera out and took some pics and a movie. Rod and Derek were below me then and you can see them in the pic.

Rod and Derek below me over Bromelton.

At 5,450ft I headed back to the Model Airfield (the Goal). I hoped to get a good climb where I had found one on the way out to the north of Beaudesert, but only found light bubbles. Not big enough to turn in. I was sinking out bad and at 1, 200ft about 7km short of goal I thought I was going to have to land. I forged on and found a light thermal. After a lot of shifting around, I was climbing slowly at 200ft per minute which finally turned into 300ft per minute, but then I saw Rod come screaming over the top of me when I got to 3,200ft. I headed off to chase him, but there was no way I could catch him.

Some chicken sheds near Bromelton.

I landed at goal (model airfield) about 4 mins after Rod. Unfortunately I miss timed my flare and dropped the nose to make my landing not so good, but only softly touched the nose on the ground. No damage done. Because I launched after Rod I may be close to his time. I will have to wait till he posts the results to find out.

Just over 5,000ft over turnpoint 2 (Bromelton)

A video whilst thermalling over Bromelton.

It was an unexpected awesome day. With the S-SW wind I thought I may not get off launch. But with a great climb just after launching it all looked great. I managed to get a lift back to my car which was still back on Tambo launch with Rod, Don and Briano. Thanks heaps Don and Rod. So a great day flying with no dramas getting back to my car made it an even better day. I wish all days flying were like this.

Hope to see you on launch soon.