I had a great time. I think everyone did.
31 hang glider pilots flew, including 4 rigid wings, and 5 paragliders.
Saturday's HG task was straight distance with double points back from any turnpoint - minimum of 10 miles out - and a bonus of 10 points for getting back to Mary's. Rigid wings were handicapped, scoring 0.8 per mile. Soaring conditions were excellent, with lift to over 11,000ft over the mountains, with a 20 mph southerly wind below about 7,000ft for much of the route. Vince and Rich flew 128 miles to to Fall River Mills. Few pilots who went north made it back very far because of the headwind, but other pilots flew south and had a tailwind to return. Scot scored 62 by doing so, and Charley Warren and Michael O'Leary also used this to their tactical advantage. The paragliders had their own task but had a difficult time launching from Potato hill because of conditions. Reavis however flew out to Mary's for a personal best. Several PG pilots who were not in the competition came up to St John and flew from there.
Sunday's HG task was 11 miles out to Gilmore peak and double points for the 5 miles back to Mary's, with a maximum 15 point bonus for landing on the hour, and zero bonus for landing on the half hour. It turned out that the soaring conditions were rather poor, with a strong inversion and gains of less than 1000ft over the mountain, so the task proved surprisingly difficult. Only 5 pilots made it - but it was fun to watch Bruce Bousfield, Ben Dunn and Scot Huber burning off height to get down on the hour! Vince beat Rich by one minute, to get first place.
Final results were.
1) Vince Endter --142.24
2) Rich Sauer --141.24
3) Ben Dunn --98.3
4) Scot Huber --98.0
5) Kurt Bainum --64.0
6) Bruce Bousfield --61.7
7) Leo Jones --60.0
8 ) Greg Sugg --57.6
9) Joe Jackson --51.2
10) Monte Cole --46.1
11) = Charley Warren --41.0
11) = Michael O'Leary --41.0
12) Fred Clement --39.0
13) Ryan Goebel --26.0
14) Bob Stanley --25.3
15) Ken Muscio --25.1
16) Tom Elhart --21.0
17) John DeAguiar --19.2
18) Bob Newman --16.0
These are all the scores I have - I think everyone else who flew went out to Mary's.
The BBQ was great - thanks Ernie. The prizes were great too. Please remember to thank the sponsor for your prize. If you are unsure who donated your prize let me know.
Thanks to everyone who helped - too many to list, but you all know who they are. And thanks of course to all those who showed up. I hope you will post your stories and thoughts.
Leo
31 hang glider pilots flew, including 4 rigid wings, and 5 paragliders.
Saturday's HG task was straight distance with double points back from any turnpoint - minimum of 10 miles out - and a bonus of 10 points for getting back to Mary's. Rigid wings were handicapped, scoring 0.8 per mile. Soaring conditions were excellent, with lift to over 11,000ft over the mountains, with a 20 mph southerly wind below about 7,000ft for much of the route. Vince and Rich flew 128 miles to to Fall River Mills. Few pilots who went north made it back very far because of the headwind, but other pilots flew south and had a tailwind to return. Scot scored 62 by doing so, and Charley Warren and Michael O'Leary also used this to their tactical advantage. The paragliders had their own task but had a difficult time launching from Potato hill because of conditions. Reavis however flew out to Mary's for a personal best. Several PG pilots who were not in the competition came up to St John and flew from there.
Sunday's HG task was 11 miles out to Gilmore peak and double points for the 5 miles back to Mary's, with a maximum 15 point bonus for landing on the hour, and zero bonus for landing on the half hour. It turned out that the soaring conditions were rather poor, with a strong inversion and gains of less than 1000ft over the mountain, so the task proved surprisingly difficult. Only 5 pilots made it - but it was fun to watch Bruce Bousfield, Ben Dunn and Scot Huber burning off height to get down on the hour! Vince beat Rich by one minute, to get first place.
Final results were.
1) Vince Endter --142.24
2) Rich Sauer --141.24
3) Ben Dunn --98.3
4) Scot Huber --98.0
5) Kurt Bainum --64.0
6) Bruce Bousfield --61.7
7) Leo Jones --60.0
8 ) Greg Sugg --57.6
9) Joe Jackson --51.2
10) Monte Cole --46.1
11) = Charley Warren --41.0
11) = Michael O'Leary --41.0
12) Fred Clement --39.0
13) Ryan Goebel --26.0
14) Bob Stanley --25.3
15) Ken Muscio --25.1
16) Tom Elhart --21.0
17) John DeAguiar --19.2
18) Bob Newman --16.0
These are all the scores I have - I think everyone else who flew went out to Mary's.
The BBQ was great - thanks Ernie. The prizes were great too. Please remember to thank the sponsor for your prize. If you are unsure who donated your prize let me know.
Thanks to everyone who helped - too many to list, but you all know who they are. And thanks of course to all those who showed up. I hope you will post your stories and thoughts.
Leo
