The popularity of the SAGA coaching week seems to be growing year by year. This year's event at Waikerie attracted close to 40 participants albeit with vastly different levels of experience and skills.
The week got off to a slow start, with many people arriving late Saturday and all through Sunday. After the first day's flying, Bernard Eckey, (Head coach for SA & NT) announced the program for the week and introduced Giorgio Galetto, this year's guest coach from Italy. Giorgio, a multiple Italian champion and former World Champion, provided coaching for coaches and gave us valuable insights into the areas of thermalling and ridge flying. Bernard's emphasis for the week was to set a goal and work towards achieving it. For some of us this was long tasks up to a thousand kilometres; for others it was their first (deliberate) outlanding or simply to improve one particular aspects of their flying. As a result a lot of pilots can now look back and can be proud of their achievements.
The daily program included lectures before or after flying, covering a wide range of subjects. This year we were fortunate to have had Mike Hancy amongst us for a daily weather analysis in the morning. This was followed by a discussion about various safety issues by David Conway.
A maximum height of 4500 feet made things rather interesting on the first day. The combination of the limited height and numerous gliders made gaggle thermalling quite spectacular to view from both the ground and the air. Combined winch launching and aero tow operation added to the attraction. Most people who went on task completed it. Yours truly made it to the first turn point before turning back. I gained a lot of valuable experience flying with other gliders, both in the cruise and in the climb but discovered that trying to keep up with an ASH-25 is rather tiring stuff! Late afternoon we were joined by the SA participants returning from the junior nationals. They did us very proud indeed. Not only did they take first and second place but they also provided by far the biggest contingent at this year's event.
Flying conditions improved rapidly during the week. Tuesday was my lucky day. I went with Bernard Eckey on a 510 km flight in his ASH-25. It turned out to be a fairly good day, with thermals to 7000 feet. We were chased by both self-launching ASH-26E gliders flown by Peter Reid and Brian Rau as well as David and Cathy Conway. It was certainly an interesting learning experience for me and a good introduction to racing. Nigel Zimmermann did well completing a 312km task.
Wednesday was probably the pick of the week, if not the season. The weatherman was talking about strong thermals to above 10,000ft, and the entire morning schedule was abandoned to allow for an early start. No specific tasks were set, allowing pilots to set their own goals for the day. David Conway and Giorgio Galetto declared a 1000km flight in David's Nimbus 4DM, which he had been converted into just prior to the event.
Other pilots declared 750km, including Phil Hollick, Gavin Wrigley, Cathy Conway, Paul Clift, Nigel Zimmerman and Bernard Eckey. Nigel managed 634km; a brave effort but ending in an outlanding just over the Victorian border. Ulrich Strauss took the Balaklava Mini Nimbus with a 750/800km in mind, but due to deteriorating weather managed only 565km. Gavin Wrigley's 750km attempt ended in a still impressive 540km. Paul Clift managed to complete his first 750km flight in his PIK 20 and David and Giorgio covered 960km.
Many other pilots declared 300km flights, including Ann Philcox and Mark Tyler and myself. As many as 26 gliders went out on task. Congratulations to must go to Ann, whose only prior cross-country experience was an 80km flight from Stonefield to Waikerie. However, the batteries in her glider had run flat halfway through our flight and although Ann lost all electrics she managed to complete the task and claimed her Silver C distance and height. Well done!
I was not quite so lucky. Due to battery problems my logger went on strike and I was unable to claim neither my 300km nor my 5 hour flight. Lack of preparation - I guess. But then again, plenty more opportunities out there! The 40 degree temperatures might have contributed to the melting of Colin Strauss' Pik-20D battery. He quickly claimed the ASK-21 and reached 13,500 feet under sea breeze clouds late in the afternoon! Jade Palmer achieved just under 400km but without a flight declaration.
Meanwhile, the long distance pilots run into trouble. Cathy Conway reported wind speeds upwards of 40 knots above 10,000 feet. With the final leg of the task directly into wind and reduced visibility due to dust all "hot shots"returned home without reaching the final turn point.
Still, all pilots had smiles on their faces during the evening debriefing. Most participants had exceeded their goal for the week and were quite rightly very happy with their achievements.
We needed 40 degrees to break an inversion at 3000 feet on the following day and not a single complaint was heard when a rest day was declared. After a morning lecture several pilots (myself included) took the opportunity to hone their table tennis skills and some pilots set out for a short out-and-return to the river in their bathers. A good time was had by all.
Flying on Friday was up to the usual high Waikerie standards again. The tasksetters opted for a cats cradle towards the south-west. It worked remarkably well due to cumulus clouds marking the strong lift under the leading edge of the approaching sea breeze front. During the wind-up dinner Giorgio was thanked for his efforts and received the series of three Martin Simons books on sailplanes as a gift. John Wheatcroft received special praise for bringing the Balaklava winch to Waikerie and making the participation more affordable for the younger pilots amongst us. Waikerie Gliding Club president, John Hudson, was thanked for his efforts as tug pilot and Jean and Marie Hudson received a standing ovation for preparing a truly excellent but very affordable dinner every night of the week.
Another coaching week had come to an end without a single flying incident and with safe and affordable soaring over ideal cross country flying territory. It turned out to be a fun week but a very educational one at the same time. Combined winch and aerotow operations worked well again and proved very safe due to Andrew Wright's effort on the radio. I can't wait for the next one.