CC08 Day 7 - Task 4

Photo taken over launch by Hamish Barker

We flew from Beechmont today under a very cloudy sky though conditions looked much better to the west which often seems to be the case on these moist days from Beechmont.

A 57Km task to Boonah goal was called and for me it was a carbon copy of Task 2 - launch, struggle around the hill for 45min, get rained on, head out to land. Perhaps I need to grow bigger balls to fly in comps because I just can't seem to sit with the idea that it's OK to fly an aircraft made of porous fabric in the rain. I chose to land not so much because I was already getting rained on at launch but because there was much worse looking weather nearby (towards the gold coast). About 9 got to goal. Much of the field flew through heavy rain along the course line with a few reports of parachutal experiences. Somehow most people were OK with that and I heard from several pilots comments along the lines of "Oh I couldn't fly out of the rain because that was the only place there was any lift". Enough said.

Several big names didn't get to goal, Fred, Craig C, Brian Webb so the comp results will be mixed up after today's task. Also the aussie team selection ladder for the worlds will be shaken up quite a bit as several pilots in the top 10 have said they won't be going to Mexico if selected.

Tomorrow is actually shaping up to be a good day for open distance, it's possible to launch at 8.30am and get away from Beechmont so a few pilots who aren't so concerned about a comp result are going to try for some big XC.