Grand Prix Fisticuffs

Another day of fresh north westerlies today. It seems the good weather is going to come next week. Typical of a gliding competition. So we were in for another day of racing along the ridges, with the odd thermal climb to cross gaps. I was a bit nervous at the start as the obvious route was to the  same ridge that brought me undone yesterday. Today, same wind, same start height and I cleared the saddle with 500 feet to spare. Go figure. The day did have its little wrinkles though. The bottom turn was in the area shown in the photo. 

I had to fly through a pretty heavy snow storm to get in and out. (You know it is snow when it just bounces off the canopy)



Tom was having a good day in front of the pack until he got really low near the top turn and had to grind his way up a ridge. From a height the locals didn't think could be done. But he still finished a creditable 5th.



And what of Bruce? Not a great day by all accounts. He landed in a paddock on the third leg. It seems that French farmers are a feisty lot. Just about everyone who has been in a paddock this week has had issues with the landowner. Poor old Bruce actually got in a punch up with his farmer. Most unpleasant. Police involved and everything. There truly are some psychopaths out there.

Let's hope he can put that experience behind him and put in another blinder tomorrow, as he is still very much in the hunt.

Graham.