Hi all,
As someone else remarked, competition flying is fun. It is challenging, it gives you a benchmark, it allows you to learn from better pilots, and it forces you not to be lazy every morning someone tells you where to go, and quite often its not the place (or the distance) you would have chosen by yourself. There are basically three levels of gliding competition in Australia. Nationals, State Comps and regattas by which I mean events like Horsham Week, the Queensland Easter regatta and similar. Pretty much they all run to the Nationals rules, the differences being the length of the events, the entry criteria and the tasks that are set. At regattas the tasks tend to be shorter and set over good country there is a more conservative approach to tasking in poor weather; while at the Nationals there will be some challenging and longer tasks set. Those who saw the town of Mansfield close up during the last Nationals at Benalla can attest to that! There have to be entry criteria, for safety of both the individual and the group. No one expects a P plate driver to enter Bathurst, or ride at Phillip Island. No one expects a wobbly cyclist to start in the Tour de France. The entry criteria are flexible. While the rules state minimum standards, they also allow the organisers some discretion, even at Nationals level. As a contest director at Nationals I have on occasion allowed someone to fly who lacked the formal entry requirements. This is done carefully, and with appropriate counselling and a watchful eye but I have yet to be disappointed in my decision. At State and National level it is often the case that pilots are in the air for 5 to 6 hours on each flight, and then go out and do the same the next day, and the day after it is an endurance sport, and at every level to do well you need a dose of commitment, good health, and preferably match fitness. At the last Horsham week I flew 5 days and more than 20 hours 2 days with more than 5 hour flights. And thats an entry level regatta, where beginning competitors are welcomed and encouraged. So if you have not done your 5 hours yet, enter a competition that problem will soon be solved! None of this is designed to discourage. Anyone with a minimum of experience can have a go at the regatta level, thats what they are for. Sharing gliders is common and welcome, flying in 2 seaters with coaches makes a good start, so I encourage anyone who is interested to have a go. Come to a coaching event Speedweek, Horsham Coaching, G Dales courses at Benalla, Lake Keepit and elsewhere. Read theres heaps of stuff on the website, Bernard Eckeys book is terrific, and just fly, fly, fly There is absolutely no substitute in this game for just doing it. See you all on a gliding site. Soon. Cheers Tim Tra dire e fare cè mezzo il mare
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