Day 2 (Brett)

Poor Kiwi sustained leading edge damage from rain & hail

The weather conditions as they relate to flying are quite different here than from home. Yesterday (Day 2) is a graphic example. The humidity was high (88%) and the surface temp 31 deg. Nothing too unusual there but typically in NZ we have a temperature inversion anywhere from 4 to 7000ft which would cause spread-out and cycling. Here the isotherm tends to be above 10,000ft so the cu's just keep going up until the thermal runs out of grunt or all the moisture has condensed.

The haze layer below requires your next climb to be identified before you are half way up your current climb

The other outcome is convective showers and thunderstorms later in the day. It can be a minefield dodging heavy showers, sometimes it isn't possible as a convergence line lies across your path and you just have to gain as much height as possible before punching through.

I found it difficult to establish a rhythm to my flying on day 2. I started OK but got overtaken after 100km by a gaggle who started 4 minutes after me, then had to penetrate rain and run to the back first circle to the back to reach thermals again. I had a low spot in a weak area which cost me time - but not as much as poor Couttsie who had a save from 700ft.

There was a huge CB developing over Leszno which we beat back but a few of the 15m class had to park up 30km from the finish until it was safe to land which cost them hundreds of points. One tried to punch in but got driven into the ground on his third attempt and sustained damage.