Weekend Report: Grizzly Gauntlet and Super Sunday!
Saturday was well organized with Jerry Bedbeder and Brian Dean at the helm. Ian had organized a winch day and the team duly pitched up with Rob Kakebeeke standing in for Chris Loedolf (Chris’s wife is on short finals with their baby)!
We had an early start with June Sterling and Mark Segelberg doing a dawn patrol (or so it seemed) in the Rotax Falke. Later in the day, Hans quickly converted and soloed in the Rotax Falke. Congratulations Hans.! Johnny and I took off later in the Grob and we found the air masses doing strange things. We even had the two windsocks facing each other later in the day.
Briefing for the gauntlet got underway at 10.00 in the clubhouse and the entrants this time were Johan Gericke, Ari Cotton, Peter Farrel and Alan O’Regan. After Ari had launched and could not find conditions as conducive to a contest day as would have been desired, , the contest was called off. Ari, nevertheless, stayed up for 3 hours. Frank Dorey, one of the students of the day, took an aerotow and then a launch in the Rotax Falke which he considered very worthwhile in those difficult conditions.
Rene Heise brought a friend with him for an intro flight and then had a check flight himself and a solo launch later – the last flight of the day. Unfortunately Rene tells me that he will be leaving the Cape and relocating to Pretoria soon. This is a great loss to us at the Cape Gliding Club but we wish him all the best in his future in Pretoria - and at Orient !.
Jerry has asked me to thank his team for the day : Alan Procter – tuggie, instructors Mike Pascoe and Grove Steyn and his assistant duty pilot, Brian Dean as well as Rab Kakebeeke. 6 Winch launches were achieved with Rudi an avid supporter, as well as the students, flying the Ka13. No cable breaks happened but on the last launch we had an overrun.
SUNDAY
What a fantastic Day!!!!! With this one - you snooze , you lose!!!
Jokes aside, the day got off to a fairly late start and our lonesome duty pilot , Henry Barnes (well done, Henry) did very well on his own. Unfortunately his partner did not pitch up!! Actually, Helmut arrived with his uncle, Giso, and stayed to help Henry despite a very bad cold. Our first flight was a pre-booked birthday flight and the chap who flew with Peter Clemmence (Simon Blumer) had a wonderful flight on Vic Peak.
Once we knew Vic Peak was working – well that was IT. Gareth Floweday took off at 12.15 and only came back at 3.30 – and then for a RELIGHT!! Behind him was myself, Guy Pfefferman, Mike Allen, and Craig Hopkins. (in the 13) each having an hour each . In the singles were Gehard waller, Randy Cullen, Nicky Oberhofer and Kevin Mitchell. Kelvin Holmwood got into the wave above the northern dam wall but had to stay local. Everyone else was up at 8.5 and flying all over the valley to Jan du Toit’s, Slanghoek, Waaihoek etc - all at 8.5!! The last flight of the day landed just after sunset. Thanks to the tuggie – Paul Troskie, who worked very hard and had a long day. Also thanks to Peter Clemmence and Quintin Hoole and Andre who stood in to help out with the Rotax Falke. We achieved a full time sheet for the first time in a long while!!
Remember that the weather can be very disceptive – don’t take anything for granted – you might be pleasantly surprised!!!
Just a note to Dave Starke after his operation and on the mend - we are all thinking of you, Dave! Get well soon.
See you all this weekend
Alison
We had an early start with June Sterling and Mark Segelberg doing a dawn patrol (or so it seemed) in the Rotax Falke. Later in the day, Hans quickly converted and soloed in the Rotax Falke. Congratulations Hans.! Johnny and I took off later in the Grob and we found the air masses doing strange things. We even had the two windsocks facing each other later in the day.
Briefing for the gauntlet got underway at 10.00 in the clubhouse and the entrants this time were Johan Gericke, Ari Cotton, Peter Farrel and Alan O’Regan. After Ari had launched and could not find conditions as conducive to a contest day as would have been desired, , the contest was called off. Ari, nevertheless, stayed up for 3 hours. Frank Dorey, one of the students of the day, took an aerotow and then a launch in the Rotax Falke which he considered very worthwhile in those difficult conditions.
Rene Heise brought a friend with him for an intro flight and then had a check flight himself and a solo launch later – the last flight of the day. Unfortunately Rene tells me that he will be leaving the Cape and relocating to Pretoria soon. This is a great loss to us at the Cape Gliding Club but we wish him all the best in his future in Pretoria - and at Orient !.
Jerry has asked me to thank his team for the day : Alan Procter – tuggie, instructors Mike Pascoe and Grove Steyn and his assistant duty pilot, Brian Dean as well as Rab Kakebeeke. 6 Winch launches were achieved with Rudi an avid supporter, as well as the students, flying the Ka13. No cable breaks happened but on the last launch we had an overrun.
SUNDAY
What a fantastic Day!!!!! With this one - you snooze , you lose!!!
Jokes aside, the day got off to a fairly late start and our lonesome duty pilot , Henry Barnes (well done, Henry) did very well on his own. Unfortunately his partner did not pitch up!! Actually, Helmut arrived with his uncle, Giso, and stayed to help Henry despite a very bad cold. Our first flight was a pre-booked birthday flight and the chap who flew with Peter Clemmence (Simon Blumer) had a wonderful flight on Vic Peak.
Once we knew Vic Peak was working – well that was IT. Gareth Floweday took off at 12.15 and only came back at 3.30 – and then for a RELIGHT!! Behind him was myself, Guy Pfefferman, Mike Allen, and Craig Hopkins. (in the 13) each having an hour each . In the singles were Gehard waller, Randy Cullen, Nicky Oberhofer and Kevin Mitchell. Kelvin Holmwood got into the wave above the northern dam wall but had to stay local. Everyone else was up at 8.5 and flying all over the valley to Jan du Toit’s, Slanghoek, Waaihoek etc - all at 8.5!! The last flight of the day landed just after sunset. Thanks to the tuggie – Paul Troskie, who worked very hard and had a long day. Also thanks to Peter Clemmence and Quintin Hoole and Andre who stood in to help out with the Rotax Falke. We achieved a full time sheet for the first time in a long while!!
Remember that the weather can be very disceptive – don’t take anything for granted – you might be pleasantly surprised!!!
Just a note to Dave Starke after his operation and on the mend - we are all thinking of you, Dave! Get well soon.
See you all this weekend
Alison
posted by CGC Reporter at 5.6.06
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