Endless Summer
Bernard Flytec Reports - April 15-17
Monday, April 17, 2006
Flytec Day 2, no task
It was windy! Set up my glider. Pushed it on a cart all the way to the other end of the field. An hour later, pushed it back on the cart to the tie down lines.
Hope to have a task tomorrow. The forecast for wind is less.
posted by benyl at 4/17/2006 10:47:00 PM 0 comments
Morning wind
Woke up to overcast skies and fog this morning. There is about 1 hour before the briefing. The wind is about 5-10 mph. Seems like it is picking up. Looking at the forecasts, I think it will be another windy day.
posted by benyl at 4/17/2006 07:22:00 AM 0 comments
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Short Day
It is funny. When I first got here, I wasn't reminded of what was missing. We set up camp in another spot, not because we didn't want to be reminded of Chris, but because of convienience. It was just too damn far to walk a mile across the runway to get a forgotten item. We changed up the routine a little and it was good for the first two days.
Today, things changed... or maybe they stayed the same. I greeted a bunch of people that I hadn't seen since last year. Many "How you doing?" questions with that look of "concern" that wasn't really asking how I was doing, but more "how do you feel without Chris being here. Are you ok?" I always answered: "Doing good" which I am.
Today's task was the same as the last task we flew last year. The same one that ended in sadness. For what ever reason, the wind blew and let only one rigid wing finish the task. Everyone else fought the 15 mph cross wind (but it felt like a headwind as the climbs weren't strong). Everyone's track logs look like a sewing machine pattern... Thermal and drift downwind, fight up / cross wind, turn and drift downwind again.
A few people didn't get out of the start circle. A few more just outside. More yet got the first turn point. Some getting close to the second. When the task was called, I thought about how bitter sweet it would be to fly it. As I wrote last year, Chris, Brett and I flew together for most of the flight, probably the most we ever flew together during a task ever.
The reminders didn't end there. Brett and I decided to go to dinner at the Thai Lotus House. Last year we went many times. Otto remembered us very clearly. Always the three of us coming into the restaurant. Sitting at the same table. Otto sat us at the same table. Asked us some questions that I am sure he had been waiting a year to ask.
It looks like the wind might be stronger tomorrow. Tuesday looks like the normal Florida conditions will return.
Brett did well today as usual. He either won the day or was very close. The rest of us Canadians were either in the start or just outside. Tomorrow is another day! haha.
Later.
posted by benyl at 4/16/2006 08:15:00 PM 0 comments
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Heat
It's getting hot in here.
Wow, the heat and humidity really got to me today. I think that I had some mild heat exhaustion and of course the normal first day sunburn. Wonder if I will ever learn.
Got to fly the new Litespeed 4.5 late in the evening. Broke a weak link at 1000 ft when the tug got above me and I pushed out to climb. I get the pressure was just too much for the two year old weak link. haha.
Climbed with the glider and played with the VG. It has a bit of a left turn in it. Brett fixed it. Hope that it flies straight tomorrow. Really tired. Time for bed. Comp starts tomorrow.
Later
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