Page 25 - Demo

24activity was there but took some finding and with a good breeze the chill factor well down. Most were targeting around the 200m launch mark and it took most of that height to make the 10-minute flight. I had my Plus X storm with light ballast in for most of the day. There was a no flight zone over the town setup which did narrow down choices a little but over the whole competition only about 3 planes got close or into the zone, so it didn%u2019t really affect things overall. On the first day we managed almost seven rounds and were pleased to be packing up as it was getting cool being out there all day.Great night was had by all meeting up for dinner with everyone again looking at the forecast for next day wasn%u2019t great with both wind and rain. We assembled at the field the next day with a bit of a slow start, and it was predicted to have heavy rain by around lunchtime. The cold wind was already up there so brass ballast in the wings, and we continued the competition up until the end of 10 rounds an attempt was made on round 11 but the rain started becoming quite heavy so finish time for the day was around 2 o%u2019clock. Most planes were just holding in the breeze and finding suitable lift corridors with some finding enough for a complete 10-minute flight. Landings were a little doggy, and many missed the spot as turning into high wind took them to far away to return. Dave Prately had some bad luck with a model cross over and lost his model, lucky he maintained a 11th position to make the flyoffs. Results of the finished ten preliminary rounds gave me a 400-point margin in 1st place into the flyoffs to be held the following day. Everyone was keen to pack up as more rain was due. The locals held their AGM for LSF (League of Silent Flight)The following final day was flyoff day and we were split into 3 groups ranked on position of the preliminary rounds. These flights were to be 15minutes long and a total of three flights each. The day was little better and some manged to get up to an 11-minute flight but the was plenty of people well over the 200m limit and an average flight of 8 odd minutes was normal. Thermals did arrive but with the wind climb rate wasn%u2019t usually good enough to get back from far downwind and carnage happened in the last round 7 out of 12 pilots landed out! I got lucky and manged a 500-point margin to take first place and Dave Pratley finished 5th overall! I forget every time how brutal Jerilderie description is honestly bloody cold with the wind taking all the feeling from your fingers. But there are so many great things and number one is comradery! It was so cool to catch up with everyone again and would love to make the effort to do a few more comps over the ditch now I have the time. Super thanks to David and Mandy Pratley who have always been there for me.Thank you to my kiwi friend Ken Fox who called me in the flyoffs group fantastic job, and we hooked up together well like usual.As usual the whole competition ran like a clock with 35 odd pilots in the conditions Thank you so much to the LSF organizers, once again a great 46th Jerilderie!Soaring Rocks Rowdy