Lee Patterson <<email>> writes:

I have been checking the scores etc. and reading your reports about the days flying. One thing that is missing from the report is the tussle between the real gliders!! I noticed on day 6 that Joel Mckay in a Moyes Sonic, landed just behind you and had plenty of the so called faster gliders behind him. Also heard that Ant Coleman nearly made the 107 triangle in a Sonic.

There are a couple of pilots in Funs and Stings that appear to be doing well also but I am not sure of their experience. From my point of view, these pilots read your comments and would get a lot out of reading some positive comments and also constructive critic comments, about their class, from a pilot as experienced as yourself. These are the pilots of the future and should be more noted. They appear to be beating people on gliders that cost at least double and go half the distance!!

Of course, the idea is not just to go far, but go fast. These "floater" class gliders just can't do that. But if pilots fly them within their characteristics, and tasks don't have terrible upwind conditions then the can get there, even if a bit slow. They then place much better than the faster pilots/gliders that have tried to go fast and far and ended up decking it.

For example, Allan Bond on an Airborne Fun made goal on a down wind task on the last day in a Fun (and wasn't the slowest one to goal, as many pilots were unable to make the last start time). He started early (first) and stayed within the glide characteristics of the glider. Heck I saw a paraglider come over goal that day, and another paraglider went 50 kilometers further than goal (and was looking for a ride back at goal).

The "floaters" have their own contest within the contest and James Crago, thirtieth overall, won that class with Joel McKay a mere eight points behind.