Last task - what a cracker...

Blast around the valley, then Tremp and halfway back before a short dash for goal. We all knew the upwind leg would be tough and decisive. So it proved... No goal for me but I'm really pleased with my flying today. After yesterday's mess it was good to finish feeling I'd flown well. Apart from the cancelled days 4/5 saw me fly further than I ever did in the UK, I also got more airtime in the last 8 days than I did in the last 8 months. I guess I'm a little down about not finishing higher in the rankings but given I wasn't exactly great first time around it's no big thing... On the whole it's been fun and I've now got loads of new friends to boot. When I get back I'll post tracks and pics so the blog is complete. Right then, donde esta cerveza?

Last day - lots to fly for...

Forecast looks good, it's tight at the top and lots of pilots are waiting to see how it will all pan out. I'm still kicking myself after yesterday but mindful that I need to stop that. I got goal on the first day. Let's see if we can't bookend the trip...

Day 6 - 64km to Oliana

Elapsed time so take the start when you're ready. Dunno why but I seem determined to 'race' around low and consequently slow... Still, I had a plan & then went and changed my mind. Given the drift I thought it would be easier to cross the canyon further south. Turns out that was a big mistake, paid for dearly. 20km and surely condemned to finish in the bottom third now. Still, others have had a far worse time of it so I should at least be grateful I'm back in one piece and just need to pack the wing, not the reserve as well...

Task 5 - Cancelled

A storm approached from the SW just as the start opened. I was running back to Tp2 as the cancellation was announced... Shame, it was a really good looking task too but a good decision and timely made.

More tomorrow hopefully, this should be the last day of storms,

it's raining really hard now!!!

Task 4 - cancelled

Dag nab it... 18secs to exit the start, slick & quick with the next 2x tp. The plan for the flats worked a treat and then a big storm put paid to loading my track on the bus. Just over halfway and reasonably quick too...

hasta mañana...

Well prepared today, just over halfway in 4 hours :-(

Big delays on launch today with a heavy inversion. No excuse for not being prepared but I blew the start big time and couldn't get far enough. East early enough before the wind changed... 55km out of 90 something... very lower third. Bbq tonight, new day tomorrow.

C+ = must try harder

No goal today, 111km for circa 95km actual via a much bigger zig zag across the flats then hopefully an 'easy' run to Organya...

I actually got a really good start but had an awful preparation period and conditions on take off were tricky so I was far from settled. Alternating between being gift wrapped in Enzos and Icepeaks and getting a kicking at the inversion does nothing for pre task jitters.

I then proceeded to ruin my good start by topping up to Tp2, I should've stuck longer with the gaggle and ended low and on my own after Tp2. Fighting the headwind all the way back down the ridge was tough and I couldn't work out where would be best to make the jump behind.

In the end I opted for about 2km shy of the canyon. Occasionally I'd be with others but I was flying my own route now. A succession of low saves followed and I got back in the game at Tp3.

It wasn't clear here who was heading for Tp4 or who was off to Tp5 so I didn't wait to find out but pressed on low. Every stage felt like there was a headwind but there were still triggers pumping from the terrain. I could gain 1,000m but would suffer massive sink pushing to Tp4. I got decked just over halfway but lucked into an amazingly easy retrieve. Much tougher 3hrs in the air together with poor preparation did for me today.

Must work harder for height tomorrow (& take fleece, void bladder, trust gps, be ready to launch before briefing, etc)

I sort of feel C+ is a little generous, but making the start is a challenge in itself somedays...