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Solstice Cup The 2009 event was a really really good bash! Pictures Saturday: Practice Day. We started at Butterfly's Chale Terrace site and the Epsilon 6 squeaked it along the coast to Whale Chine but wind was too far off for any sense. Along with Danny I ended on the beach for a quick walk up the fishermens path back to Funacre. Danny didn't enjoy that climb so much but at least he was back in the air, is now a lot fitter and pays more attention to briefings! We all set off to Atherfield for the lower wind gradient there and Evan showed us it was ok to fly, if a bit on the strong side. Again the Epsilon 6 did the business very nicely for me (it has a good turn of speed when you need it) but by the time Graham, Laurie and Cooperman had shown the assembled novices what not to do in strong conditions, we sacked it until tea time for a rebrief at 5.30pm. However by 5pm there were three wings in the air off the Red cliffs, Compton Bay, at the western end of the cliff run, and excited pilots closing in from all over. The IW club had as usual kindly made their sites open for the weekend, so site bobby DF didn't need his truncheon and notebook. It stayed on the strong side for the rest of the afternoon but pretty well everybody flew and we had two or three hours of enjoyable practice before the party. David, the bold new pilot from Grange farm flew his socks off and survived in style again, long may it last. We also had Eric (reasonably qualified, at 83, as an old pilot) not flying in those conditions. Sunday: Super Solstice! We had a highly detailed forecast from Predictwind.com which turned out to be very accurate indeed. Beginning light NW at the Reds, it would come on to sea breeze SW all along the Blackgang run later and finish with a westerly off Gore cliffs by dusk. GROUND HANDLING KNOCKOUT: Completed while the breeze fluked round from the NW to the SW and was good fun to take part in and to watch. Chris Beere was immediately disqualified for being far too good (and for having his boots caught in his lines during the entire launch window) while Mark sailed on through..... By the finals it was Mark, Laurie and Alan going head to head for the best of three attempts in a well contested tussle. Results: 1) Laurie Gavaghan, Independence Cruiser EN A, 2) Alan Davey, Sky Anakis EN B, 3) Mark Berret, Nova Axon DHV2 (dsq, glider rating). PRECISION: In the rising breeze most pilots managed to have a pop at the spot, which was set in the slightly tricky venturi near take off. It needed careful flight planning to bullseye and after the breeze kicked in properly. The window was closed and other tasks were declared open. Chris was nearly disqualified again (for being too good) but managed to convince the judges not to stitch him up as he was not taking it too seriously and he did score the only dead centre of the day! Danny was testing out new wings, not competing, so his good efforts did not score. Results: 1)Chris Beere, Sky Anakis EN B, 2) Evan Smith, Nova Artax DHV 1-2; 3) Rob Granger, Airwave Wave DHV1. DURATION: As forecast, the conditions were on nearly all day. Pilots mostly flew the Reds/Whites arena with some interesting landings and unexpected beachings punctuating essentially good soaring, busy but not crowded, interesting but not too challenging. It was just what the doctor ordered for our less experienced flyers and gave the others good opportunities for testing different wings and harnesses. As the day progressed, it became harder to stay up there so we moved to Funacre and The Terrace. Most pilots had filled their boots by that time and were content to sit in the sunshine drinking tea and relaxing.... until Butterfly skied out on the tandem, and everyone suddenly realised it was on; bigtime! There was then a rush of gliders setting up and taking off into buoyant air, smooth as silk, with huge smiles and astonished pilots everywhere you looked. One or two misjudged the extent of the lift band and ended on the beach but anyone who made it into the Blackgang bowl was rewarded with an extraordinary high flight, water visible all round the Island. Truly remarkable, a beautiful experience it was a pleasure to share with these lucky Solstice Cup Pilots. Eventually the wind veered soft and we touched down from 1500 feet in virtually still air. Even John Bently, who had elected for the beach and had a few navigational issues on the way back up was still beaming an hour later. Personal bests had been recorded by every pilot at the award presentations and many of those who had already left!! Results: 1) David Evans, Swing Arcus, (DHV 1-2); 2) John Bentley Gin Zulu (DHV 1-2); 3) Eric Hill Sky (DHV 1-2). DISTANCE - Cats Cradle: Evan Smith aced this one! Setting off fairly early, with Mark, Geoff and Laurie in tow, he made it all the way to Blackgang and most of the way back, picking up distance points all the way. He is a really good pilot, properly good, (in fact I may have to start disqualifying him for being too good), skilled, cautious and considerate, he is a lovely man. With a very well deserved, resounding victory in the Cats Cradle, he is the one to watch next year! On reappraising the log sheets, Mark's good score on his Nova was discounted as was Laurie's on his own Independence because their wings rated as DHV 2. Many didn't hand in their logs for one reason or another, and of those that did, some errors and ommissions were noted. In a serious comp (which this isn't) it does pay to read, understand and apply the rules! The final result for the Cats Cradle is: 1) Evan Smith, Nova Artax (DHV 1-2), 2) David Evans Swing Arcus 4 (DHV 1-2), 3)Rob, Airwave Wave DHV1 and 4)Ben, Independence Merlin DHV1. TESTIVAL: We were very well supported by manufacturers and suppliers this year with Independence Garuda (LTF 1-2), Cruiser (EN A) and Merlin (DHV 1) gliders, the Independence Mountain harness and their very nice new reversible Independence Emotion harness: Advance provided a very comfortable, light, full featured, beautifully detailed and innovative harness, the Success 2, along with the class reference glider Epsilon 6 (1-2). Danny loved it, just not sure he can afford it. Times is tuff! According to our high speed pursuit police driver test pilot, the Ozone Rush (1-2) is an impressively quick and nimble wing. He was racing round so fast on it he didn't use the bar at all and had to revert to his regular bus to cool down later. Skywalk had one of their renowned Chili (1-2) wings on the hill. They are noted for the "jet flap" system which allows slower flight than would otherwise be possible and super sink rates. One day all gliders will have something like this.... can't wait to give it a really good fly about soon. Sky Gliders were well represented too, with a full set of their lovely Anakis (EN B) wings and harnesses on hand. We will see many more of these on our hills I think. Very nice. Martin Nemec and Sky have come a long long way in the last few years. PARTY: Really good party; one of the best some of us can almost remember! Danny provided a beautiful fresh home made kebab in pitta for the discerning foodies, along with good solid barbie fare by the stackful! There was a superb atmosphere with around 60 guests. Most people were staying here at Funacre; the garden looked like a mini festival site with tents, pilots, tipi, friends, children, campervans, guitars, caravans, hubub and barbecues all over the place. Brilliant, the weather was perfect; warm, no wind at all, no bugs, a couple of spots of precipitation for a few moments, so we put up the colourful brollies, then starshine. BAND: Fresh from playing at the Isle of Wight Festival "kerOuac" gave a performance which left quite a few of us simply dazzled. What's happened to those little kids of a year or two past? Turned into talented young performers, that's what!