The
weather was outstanding in the true traditions of Narromine and the pilots were
up to the challenge. Only one day was lost and that gave all an appreciated
chance to recover from the high temperatures and altitudes on the previous
days.
This year was the 15th Cup Week and one of our best. But
before we talk about this year lets recap what Cup Week at Narromine is all
about.
Cup
Week is based upon the famous Barron Hilton Cup in Nevada, USA. The aim is to
provide an event at which pilots may achieve their personal best or get that
goal in a safe and enjoyable environment.
The range of those attending is from
pre Silver C to world championship standard. All are equally welcome. Pilot performance
is often eroded by the sheer effort of preparation and sustainment for periods
of more than a few days away from their home airfield. Often a good day or the
best part of a day is missed due to a lack of readily available support.
During
Cup Week the Narromine Gliding Club provides the support needed including a
morning briefing, flight line operation and launch, SAR watch and three meals a
day. All a pilot needs to do is arrive with a glider or hire one from us and
fly. Even a visiting pilot guide and local map is provided.
Most
days start with a presentation on soaring. This year we were again fortunate to
have G. Dale who gave an hour of time before each briefing to discuss in his
personal illustrative and easily understood style how to get the best out of
ourselves, thermals and cross country soaring. G then flew tasks with pilots in
a club Duo Discus for a most reasonable cost.
G Dale gave a XC Soaring theory presentation each morning
This
year 41 pilots, not counting juniors who arrived early for the following pre
Junior World Championships, in 32 gliders comprised Cup Week. Let me share with
you a summary of each day:
•
Day 1 Sunday, 23 November. Climbs to 14,000 ft. Temperature
at 1400 over 44 degrees in the Pie Cart, so hot our European ground crew headed
to the club house as a heat precaution. One pilot told of 16 knots for 8,000
ft. 10 knot plus thermals were common. Terry Belair from Bendigo flew 797 in
his DG400/17. Derek Ruddock and Ian Steventon in the SCGC DG1000 completed 596
k with many flights over 400 k.
•
Day 2 Monday, 24 November. A weather induced and well
appreciated rest day. No one in Eastern Australia flew much this day.
•
Day 3 Tuesday, 25 November. Soaring in WA and Waikerie
promised improving conditions at Narromine. Tom van Blaricum from VMFG in his
Ventus b/15 completed a creditable 206 k task with Terry Belair launching early
to fight his way around 327 k. Many other pilots flew and reported mixed
results.
•
Day 4 Wednesday, 26 November. Wind SE to SW. The best soaring
conditions were still South of Narromine but many 300 k plus flights were
completed. A glance at the BOM four day forecast promised big things to come
and we were not disappointed.
•
Day 5 Thursday, 27 November. Wind ESE. Instability and a
convergence line developed North and South of Narromine. The big weather had
arrived and remained for the next three days. Geritt Kurstjens (I mentioned
world championship standard pilots) in his Quintus M flew a respectable 1035 k,
Arie van Spronssen turned in 803 k flying a DG200/17, Hans-Georg Raschke in a
club Discus b flew 659 k to mention just a few flights. 500 k plus was the norm
this day.
Convergence Line over Narromine
•
Day 6 Friday, 28 November. It got better. Wind now from the
NE. 300 k, 500 k and 600 k flights were completed by club pilots in good but
not ‘super-ship’ gliders. Phil Eldridge from RAAF Richmond in his ASW20 did 392
k, Mark Bairnfield from SCGC in a SZD55 flew 514 k and William Stalenburg with
Evelien Nijland completed 635 k in a club Duo Discus
•
Day 7 Saturday, 29 November the last day. The outstanding
cross country conditions continued. Wind was now a hot Northerly with 32
degrees forecast. It was hotter on the ground. Many pilots found strong lift
with the threat of thunderstorms they took the safe decision to return to
Narromine early and fly another day. A few connected with the trough line
running East of Narromine and raced along it for hundreds of kilometres.
Hans-Georg Raschke once again in the club Discus b flew 569 k to ‘win’ the day.
The good weather had now departed but not before the last 2014 Cup Day.
We
mentioned a ‘day win’. The whole purpose of Cup Week is to support pilots
achieving their personal best and goals. However, there is a fun competition. A
secret committee, secret so they are protected from graft and corruption, score
each pilot each day. This is not the OLC score. Points are awarded and fines
applied.
This year, for the fourth time, Terry Belair won the Narromine Cup.
His success story; launch first and come back last. Use the whole day.
Terry Belair picks up his Fourth Narromine Cup win!
Arnie
Hartley won the Rooster Award, awarded for the pilot, tug pilot in this case,
who either goes from hero to zero or zero to hero in the most spectacular
fashion. Yesterday I was cock of the walk now I’m a feather duster. Best you
ask Arnie his story when next in Narromine.
Speaking
of Narromine and Cup Week, next year we won’t run one.
The reason is Narromine
will be hosting the Junior World Championships in November 2015 and there just
isn’t room in the calendar. So set those new goals and we look forward to
seeing you in the last full week of November 2016.
Finally
we would like to thank NSWGA for their generous and continued financial support
of Narromine Cup Week. Costs are kept to a minimum with no entry fee and a once
only administration fee of $40 which goes to provide accommodation and some
food for the workers and tuggies. NSWGA has been (and we hope will continue to
be) most generous.
