In memory of Jez
Webcam on Chabre: https://www.skaping.com/sisteron-buech/montagne-de-chabre
Wind meter on Chabre: https://www.balisemeteo.com/balise.php?idBalise=35
Tracking: Flymaster (lt.flymaster.net/bs.php?grp=7716)
Here we are for the 19th Chabre Open.
The week before the comp was hot, with some storms. We flew every day from Chabre with some nice distances and conditions thrown-in.
The forecast looks good for the next couple of days, and then... we'll see (just like last year).
Let's hope for some great flying.
Day 0, Practice Task, Saturday June 27
9:30 Safety briefing and ready for the practice day.
Weather forecast was largely for a light South wind day, no local over-development and generally blue skies. It was right.
A 44km task was set with the start at 14:00 around Col St Ange then heading to Col St Jean. Back towards launch, up to Beaumont them across the valley to 7km from Sigoyer.
The day seemed to have an inversion 300m - 500m below cloudbase making the climbs fairly sporty and broken. Getting above the inversion was the game, base was lovely and cool at 2800m rising through the day.
First in goal was Marijn van Rijsewijk on board his Recreation class Ozone Swift6. Second Gabriel Pierron on Ozone Photon and third Marco Maas again on recreation class Swing Stellar RS. First woman in goal was Chelsea Mckenzie on her Ozone Lyght. Congratulations, and also to the 64 in goal. Not an easy task on not an easy day.
Tomorrow we start for real
Nice to say, the forecast looks good. Light winds starting from the SE then around to the SW.
125 pilots were whisked up to launch with a huge inversion in the valley.
A 78km race to goal at Chorges was set via Col St Ange, Bonnet Rouge, Veynes, Roche de Arnoux and La Rochette.
It was a pretty blue day, with long periods between thermals on launch. People trickled off. The first pilots got to the start line pretty fast and high at 2800m. As time past more and more arrived. A large portion of the competition were ready and high at the start. As the start opened a stream of pilots crossed mostly straight to Beamont. A quick climb there and off to Bonnet Rouge which was relatively bouyant.
The glide to the sail plane ridge was a bit trashy and getting out from there needed some patience, the front gaggle got away. From there there was a choice of going off track to Aspres, or direct to Veynes (not many did that). Aspres was working but then on to Veynes got tricky. If you got out, you got high and floated nicely along to Charance where there were climbs but not always. A few just pushed on, making it more difficult for the price of going (maybe) faster.
If you got high, the glide was easy. A few got to goal in orbit, some fell short.
68 (Amazing) pilots made it to goal. First in again was Marijn van Rijsewijk (Ozone Swift6) followed by Henk Alberts (Ozone Delta4) and Solal Eglar (Niviuk Artik6). Seventh and first woman was Anna Hadders (Ozone Lyght). Well done everyone.
Day 2, Monday June29
All of the results are on the results page.
Task reports by Mark Graham