Article by Peter Lissenburg

Birchip 2011 was a lot of fun!

Easter this year 2011 was late, just about as late as it can get, being the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring, (autumn in our case) equinox. Nice thing about Easter is there's always a lot of moon at night, making the drive to Birchip on Thursday night after work more interesting, as you can still see the sights in the moon light. Accommodation at Birchip is camping at the caravan park, Andy and Joe's place, or camping at the lake, oh and the caravan park has some cabins and motel rooms if you're quick with the booking, and you can camp out the back of Joe and Andy's. We had chosen the lake this time, and it was a good decision. I think the other options are fine too, but it was the lake for us this time. 8 tents on 2 adjacent sites makes it a cosy scene, central cooking and gossip over the camp fire, power for charging and the fridge, all was well catered.

Birchip is located in the northern middle of western Victoria, about 300kms North West from Melbourne, 400kms east of Adelaide 200kms south of Mildura. Usually dry this past year has seen the worst flooding in memory.

Day one was hard. It looked hard right from the start, heading out to the paddock to set up. The usual indecision, and we started setting up at the north east end of the paddock. Good decision, as the wind was straight down the stip for my tow at least, and I think for most of the day. Set up was comfortable with so much grass, and no dust. Sunny breaks, but not hot, pity that, not hot, and what, now rain as well. Oh I don't like the look of that. But the clouds look good, well formed. A pity, I've forgotten what it's like to fly with clouds. 10 to 15 years of drought, has been good flying, but dry on the ground and in the air, so no clouds. Well I never know what to do with them anyway. That's sour grapes if ever there was!

The task is announced on the radio, 69kms to Tresco a little north of east, heading toward the remaining flood waters upstream of Swan Hill. Getting away on the first tow is always a great start to the day's fly. It was not particularly easy, but I had a wedgie to mark my thermal out of the paddock.

Once I got to bank it over into something decent, Grant flew over, and above me into the lift. I spent the next 20 minutes trying to catch him. Didn't do it, but we climbed together, playing in the light lift which was the boomer of the day.

At the top around 3500', we procrastinated a little, checking it was the top, and then headed out. I did a turn or 2 more, so Grant would get ahead a few hundred meters. That was a mistake, smoky top surface and once he was below me, and a kilometre away he disappeared! Well he was heading for that cloud, but that's ... hmm a long way? No sun on the ground? I'll head for the sun, off course line, but a better bet I'm sure. Well, that was a mistake. Down to 800' and grovelling into anything. The occasional turn got the hopes up that I would still climb out. But 12 kilometres drifting at less than 1000' was as much as I got.

For a total of 24 kms towards goal, but I'm sure it would have looked better if I'd straightened out the track I did take. Wes, our ever present and diligent scorer, didn't see it that way though. He got out of the paddock but didn't get the second thermal either, unusual for him. And Grant? disappearing off to that cloud too far away? He got to goal. Maybe I should have had a go at that. Paul Kelly also got to goal, Andy Philips in his Malibu was 16 k short, Beavo in the Ventura halfway at 34k short, then me! Oh I'm up there with the boys!

Back at the paddock a lot of towing and lots of packing up was going on. Well it was a hard day from the start.

Day two was more popular, same strips, more sun, no rain, some clouds. Goal a task of 69km to Mystic Park, just a little to the south of yesterday's goal. Hopefully I'll get to see it.

Again, MiHa our driver par excellence, got me off the ground promptly and into lift, another one tow day. Climbing out with Hughy, meat head par excellence, and off we go. A bit start and stop of an "off we go" to begin with. But then the cloud flying kicked in, and we cruised most of the way without really getting low. Some very small stubble fires dotted the landscape and a few where close to our track. They came in handy. Not very strong, little or no smoke above a few hundred feet, and quite smooth, with clouds forming above and a little down wind.

A little over half way, I was getting tired looking up at Hughy, as we climbed I was taking note of the next cloud to go to. Grant and Beavo had given an short talk on XC flying in the morning, Both emphasising the need to look at the clouds as you climb, because you can't see what they look like when at the base of the cloud you are climbing to. I always wondered about that, how do you figure out which is the best next cloud? When they all line up and just look like a line of cloud bases. Now I know, look before you get high, ahh, simple when you know how..... Well I had this beauty picked out, somewhat off course, but there was nothing much down course line anyway. And as we where pretty close to base, I headed off. Looking for Hughy I saw him as usual a little higher and still turning, in something light.

Well, off I doddle to this good looking cloud. Which proceeded to fall apart, what the ..., oh well there might still be something still there or in that direction as least. Hughy will just cruise off down course line and get to goal first. There was something, and I did get up again, but it was slow. Still thinking about Hughy cruising into goal, I headed off for the next cloud. A bit downwind of another small stubble fire. That got me up to where I could survey the scene and try to figure out where goal is. Old and dim my eyes are, and the brain a little too I suppose, so I just looked squinty eyed at the GPS, at the roads below. Looked for Hughy's glider in goal, and still couldn't figure it out. Well I decided it must be over there, so I headed off for my final boat about. It was then that I saw Grant circling down. No gliders in goal yet. How did I do that? Funny how perspective changes so fast. I was happy about getting all the way to goal. Then when I get there, all I can think about is how fast did I go?

Well even if I did get there a bit early, I didn't do it fast, that's for sure. Still, back to the fist frame of reference, I was very happy to have had such as great time in the air. And Hughy? There where no clouds down course line from that last cloud we climbed to together. But that's where he went down course line, not seeing me off to the north, he had a smooth glide to the deck to land 4k short. Not a happy chappy, but better than the previous day, as packing up in the tow paddock is always a bummer.

The goal paddock on the other hand was a very happy place. Two first time XC flights saw the low airtime pilots get the 69kms to goal. What a way go, hope it just keeps getting better for them.

There where more than a few odd glances being directed at the sky at goal. The arrival of the Archaeopteryx was a great and welcome surprise. Some pilots had flown with it not knowing whether it was Peter or Marlies. It was Marlies who took off at 11:30 am at Boort some 77kms to the south east of the tow paddock. Flew to the tow paddock then to lake Boga, and the goal at Mystic Park, for a total of something like 160kms. Arriving at about 4pm. Some pilots arriving at goal afterwards had related flying with her, and making the mistake of going to the "better part" of the thermal where she was climbing well. Forgetting about the 80fpm sink rate of the little angel, ahh referring to the beautiful glider, ahh and of course Marlies as well..... The paddock where we landed was a bit rough, and so Marlies landed just across the road, performing a perfect approach and touch down.

Day 2 saw only 5 pilots left in the bomb out zone. Adrian Cook, a low hour pilot on our team is about to have better day tomorrow.

Day Three.
My memory has faded day three completely away, leaving the whole of the comp a beautiful Easter, full of lovely thermals and good flying. However raking through the mud and dust in the forgotten corners I do reluctantly remember that,... I bombed out. Four tows and I took the little scrap of lift on the forth and landed two paddocks away. But for some, day three has something to be remembered for. Adrian came to the comp looking for some cross country flying. On our team and we talked and gestured, ranted and raved, then buggered off and left him to it. Well buggering off in a nice thermal is a fun thing to do isn't it? Today we did the same and more taking, gesturing and pushed him to the front of the queue. Off he goes and then we get back to sorting ourselves out.

"Where's Adrian?" Well he's not back yet. There, circling and, yes climbing, drifting up and out of the tow paddock. When asked later what it was like, a startling "It's a paradigm shift! So different, learning so much more." I have to say it does remind me of the first time up and out. Yes a good feeling. Adrian got out of the bomb out zone with 8.9kms and troubled the scorer with his first cross country. Way to go Adrian.

Goal was to the north, the east side of lake Tyrrell, on the Robinvale road. Must be something about that goal paddock. Last year I did a beautiful fly of some 80 kms, ending it the other side of the lake and 20kms the other side of the goal paddock. Dim eyes and I don't believe the GPS. That must be the dim brain bit.

With little or no cloud, the day proved to be better with quicker climbs to 4,500'. Quite a line up in goal. Ten including the only floater for the day Noel Bear on a Falcon.

Again the Archaeopteryx appeared, this time piloted by Peter Eicher. Again flying from Boort to the tow paddock and then to the goal paddock. Touching down after a comfortable flight of some 140 kms. Maybe more as he enjoyed roaming about in the late season's thermals.

Thinking back on the time I spent in the paddock, I do remember how nervous I was to get out of the paddock and get going. I was frantic about it. I should have calmed down and relaxed a bit, probably a lot. The same attitude in the air, got me nowhere, zipping from one scrap of lift to the next, spending the precious thermal search time being frantic. Must chill out, just enjoy it.

Wesley's account of Day 3

Despite my advanced age and encroaching senility, I do remember day 3 to some extent.

A quick setup, do the rounds to get the task organised, then think about flying. I went early - not sure why now, but it must have seemed like a good idea at the time. Nothing on tow, nothing after releasing, then a little bubble at around 500 feet over the tree line. Considering the lack of lift I'd been experiencing, I decided to take it, drifting away from paddock while climbing slowly. For the first 1000 feet I could have made it back, but as committment time approached, the thermal also improved. In the end I topped out near the edge of the start cylinder. I was happy about that.

Hughbert and Tim were marking a thermal not far away. Thanks guys. They left when I came in under them. By the time I climbed out again, the boys were marking another thermal for me. Tim once again left when I got there, but Hughbert hadn't climbed out as well and waited for me to join him. Meanwhile, Tim had found a better thermal and was pulling away from us. As we glided towards him, he went on glide, heading more to the NE. We found lift in the same area and had a very nice climb (my best for the day).

Hughbert was still a bit above me, and when he topped out he headed to the N. I hadn't seen this. I didn't know where Tim was, but there was a chance I'd spot Tim circling later so I kept a bit right of the course-line.

There was a glider cicling up ahead, low, but hopefully marking something. Turned out it was Andy. Andy and Tim were on the same channel and Tim's earlier deviation to the NE was in response to Andy calling him over to a goodie.

We all ended up in that thermal, with Tim coming back to it after deciding the wet ground (from the flood) for the next few kms might be too much of a challenge. Hughbert had been struggling and got to it a lot lower.

Tim's next bubble eluded me, but not Andy. I did find lift though and more after that. Tim got to goal just ahead of me, then Andy and Hughbert. As others arrived we heard that Grant had landed back at the paddock (last I saw him he was high and heading back that way) and had a hard time getting out again.

Day four. Wind is turning to the East, and so a task to the west north west. The clouds have disappeared since day 2. The wind was light, and it did seem a long way between drinks.

Not wanting to be left in the paddock, I started early and had the first tow. Miha towed me straight into a thermal and I joyously banked over and started to climb. Well it didn't last for long, but I was chilled out and went for a search. Over the back fence and a little. And then gone. OK back to the paddock for another tow. 500' over Russell's house and there it was. Climbed to 2000' and watched others come in below. Picking the best climb from each I stayed above them. Oh this is sooooooo much better than yesterday. It was still light and not getting high. Slow climbing.

At about 3,500 I headed off, no one else was, and I was getting itchy to go. After a kilometre or so there was a little lift so I started to turn. Not much, but I looked to see that no one was following. So I kept turning to try and drag them out. I need them to help find something better. It worked, or they started moving anyway, but I found nothing better. Got down low, 800' Headed for the best trigger a farm house with yards. But before I got there I got a really goody. 600fpm climb to the top at 3,500' again.

Most of the bunch had past me while I was low and I looked out to see someone off in the distance. Off we go again and catch them, but low. Really slow climb here, and then off again. It turns out I caught up with Wes, and we crused off together, with someone else, turns out it was Paddy. We spread out a bit with me in the middle, good place to be.

Paddy heads off to a town, Lascelles, bit far off course line for me, no clouds to drag me off that way today. So Wes and I proceed. Getting low, I see Wes higher but turning. Scoot over getting lower. Nothing on the first pass, I decide I'm getting too low for a second pass, even with Wes on the radio calling me over. But I'm much lower than Wes now, so look for a trigger point, likely spot, thermal source, anything to get me back up... please! Farm house with extensive yards, dam, not dam bad, dam with little water, good, scoot faster and before I get there the varios makes that lovely beep. Good strong lift to 4000'. Ahhh that's better.

Now where's goal? I don't know, so tootle off again in the general direction. Stop for a few turns here and there. No wonder I don't get to goal fast. But it was a beautiful day cruising around over the sunlit country side. Who wants to waste that hard earned height.

Couple more stops for lift and I must be getting close now. Where is it? Squint at the GPS again, push a button or two and get the display zoomed in a bit, Well I think I pushed that button twice, so that should be an 8k circle on the screen. And I'm inside it so I must be within a glide from 3500'. OK off I go again and there below me are a couple of gliders! I'm here and I haven't actually gone anywhere yet. That wasn't a 8k circle, more like a 2k.

Well in comes Grant below me. With me being at goal at 3000', it was probably a good thing to be arriving at goal below me. He passes the paddock at Goal and lands with Paul Kelly a kilometre further on. Hmmm, no goaly today, Hughy gave the goal beer to Nicky, Beavo and Grant's driver, thinking it was a good bet it would get to goal that way. So I figure it would be the best place to land, bigger paddock too.

Paul Kelly got there fastest, just a little faster than Grant this time. Then Hughy was only a couple of minutes behind them, Wes, Tony Cross then me and last to actually get to goal was Curtis. However he wasn't the only one flying around the area. Paddy had GPS compass trouble and had flown quite a bit further, circumnavigating a nearby forest only to end up 1.4k on the other side of goal. Piotr held the next best distance leading a bunch at a little over half way to goal.

A few in the bomb out, but Adrian again troubled the scorer with another personal best distance and height gain.

Day 5. Last day, people need to drive home, so a short day is usually planned and is expected today. Wind in the east, out to Beulah, 49.4kms. Forecast seems to suggest a lower lighter day. Certainly started out that way for me.

One tow again, thanks to Meha. But it was a real scratch out with Andy Schmidt. Getting to only 2000' and having drifted about 5 kms getting that high, I headed out with trepidation, not expecting to get far at all. Down to 800' just a few ks further, got another bit of lift to get me back to what I expect was the top 2000' But the wind showing on the dual dams below and to the north showed something odd going on, so I wandered over to find the best lift so far which pushed me through my expectation up to 3500' wooow this is cooking. Now I could feel like really heading out on course.

Heading for the silos at Curyo seemed to be a good bet. There was something there but I couldn't sort it out properly, and although I did gain a little was not really climbing. But a few hundred meters further on was another goody. but to 4000' this time and off again. All this while, the silos and hay sheds at Beulah are visible so I'm pretty sure I know where goal is. Now just the joy of cruising off to find another couple of thermals.

Beautiful day cruising above the patch work laid out before, beside and behind me. How can anyone not want to do this? A few years ago I flew Sailplanes, just to Solo and little more. There was talk of "Getting busy in the office" when the thermals where rough or weak or hard in some way. The office being the cockpit. My office flying a hang glider is all this below me. I'm really here, it's not out there, with me in here. This really is flying. Not detracting from the gliding guys, they where great, enthusiastic, friendly and really cared for what they did. But hang gliding is the "flyingest flying", quoting from a high hours airline pilot in the 1970's.

So there I was, beautiful day flying about the country side looking to get to goal at Beulah. Well I headed to the hay sheds, having landed there not long ago, Hughy may have had a hand in specifing the goal paddock. As I neared the town, I glanced at the GPS, well yes alright I squinted at the GPS and vaguely, through unfocused fuzz, saw that the goal was south of my track. Ahh that put it at the "dead" centre of Buelah, the cemetery. One glider was in the paddock already, turned out to be Tim Hannah, Grant had arrived before me and headed out for a bit more of a fly, coming back to land somewhat after I did.

11 in Goal, including Beavo and Andy Philips in floaters, but scored in Race Class as they have a bit of experience going for them. Brad Elliott was very happy to get into goal, arriving at 4:44pm, with stories of getting low. Tony Cross won the day with a time of 0:52:28, then Paul Kelly, Grant, Hughy, Steve Whalley, Beavo, Wes, me, Tim, Brad and Andy Phillips.

Next closest to Goal at over half way as John Duffield, then a long way toward the Paddock was Noal Bear in the Falcon.

Back to the Comp headquarters in the BCG conference centre, get the BBQ going, volunteers jump in to supply the hungry. Everyone coming in, sorting out GPS's, flying gear, camping gear, who owns this left in the retrieve car. Who's going, who's staying for the morning. Wes busy at the computer getting the scoring for the day, and the comp finalised. Plenty of beer for those not doing the driving home tonight, lots of food, lots of happy faces. Sun going down, getting cold quick, into the warm and light for the awards.

The Birchip comp is famous, or is that infamous, for the trophies, for a hang gliding comp we have a bull on top of the tall column. Well that's because of the Bull in the main street of Birchip being the centre of the Mallee, so of course the well known Mallee Bull.

And the results, drum roll please.....
Floater
First place, Neale Halsall
Race
First place, Andy Phillips
Open
Grant Heaney

All the results and track logs are available at http://www.sacra.biz/fttf/

You know, if I put my track logs on Google Earth. and zoom out so I can see the whole global, I can still see my tracks. In my book that makes my flights at Birchip, Globally Significant!

Cheers.
Pete L.