R&R and a team open heat - Mexico Day 12

All was quiet, not even a mouse stirred as we lay in having a "well earned" well at least needed rest as the sun came up.  )  Things began to stir as Gordon arrived and coaxed grant into action to send the organisers an email of formal complaint on his Day Two score.

The rest of us appeared one by one and Steve B set something going on the stove which seemed to involve a lot of sieving and boiling, looked a bit like the inside of a babies nappy by the time he had finished.  Carl was in harness fixing/ drying mode after a camel back blow out yesterday and then moved onto a bit of domestic housework with a broom, very impressive.

The Bat Harness dries out

window shopping, nice boats

he only popped in to buy some bread

With everyone sorted  we went our separate ways, Steve and Gordon opting for massages, Wayne and Grant off to see the Monarch Butterflies who live up near one of the turn points in their millions, Carl pottering about and Kaz and myself a spot of fishing in the lake and a bit of window shopping.

Boat picking

 fancy one of these at the bottom of your garden ?

We all returned safe and sound with Gordon feeling very relaxed if a little excited, lucky it was only an hours worth, and lucky he is not 30 years younger, age has it's benefits.  Steve in zone Steve mellow and chilled. Wayne and Grant (particularly Grant) buzzing about the Butterflies which did sound pretty impressive and looked amazing on his video.

Tea not to be :)

We had a fun time fishing and caught supper but gave it a break and let it go for another day and Carl caught up on some more zzzzzzz's

Titanic sets sail

Team bonding started with a boat trip on a speed boat to see Valle de Bravo from the water. It is amazing the wealth that resides around the lake with houses and hotels down to the waters edge and then back up in to the hill side. Boats , more boats and microlight sea planes it is all here and going on.  The speed boat was nice but not very speedy as they are limited to slow when on tour still at least no one fell off.

Posh places

Happy sailors

Grant wants one

Some puppy training and a fashion shoot back on dry land then back to the house for a team chat and open heart session, lets see if it helps tomorrow ;)  The Moyes boys head off for a Moyes meal in uniform and the house goes quiet again.  wayne joins Kaz and myself for a super steak out, the best since we have been here and we put the world to right between us.

the lost boys and girl

Everyone is back for a relatively early night in preparation for the final phase, can we pull our socks up and pick up the pace, we shall see

No Kylie, overshadowed and out on the street - Mexico Day 11

The morning started bright enough with a positive vibe in "de house" and Gordon tapping away as he worked on regaining Grants score from day two, things seem to be looking better that way.

Gordon works his magic

Egg and tomato rolls for lunch yummy, Carl makes me jam and toast what more can you ask.  We pick up Gordon from the HQ , Carl and Steve from the laundrette , they must be dirty boys and we a re off. Hi-me recounts his rally driving experience from yesterday when he put his truck through it's paces and burnt half the petrol supply to get Grant back up for a relight yesterday.  We opt for a change of music to see if our fortunes change and Kylie gets a miss.

The Early  Birds 

Wayne and myself get our now customary Early bird slots and the girl with then is back ;) Task set at around 120 k taking us south into cartel country before back north into the cloud shadow, interesting. Pilots are twitchy but a reassurance that there is a large Police and Army co ordinated operation going on specifically our benefit in the dodgy area puts us all at rest, not.  A comment on air misses also gets added asking pilots to be more considerate and also report any bad doings.

Phippsy gest going

12.30 and we are off with Wayne launching just in front of me, everyone climbs out and we all have radio com's, good so far.  Cloud base is at just over 12,000 and lots are making it so eyes wide open, Steve B complains about some guy on a Combat cutting it fine at less than a metre, think I know this guy too.

Gordon Stages

Steve B looking Hungry

As the start approaches various pilots are in various places some good some not so good. Carl gets a cracking start smoking the field, the rest of us are from average to poor but at least we are away.  All around TP 1 then off to see what all the fuss is about to the south.  Carl is with the lead pack, Grant Gordon and Steve  in the second  group, Wayne and myself cover the rear.

The boys get TP 2 and are out of there, I came in on TP and it all looks pretty normal to me down there. Wayne gets TP  2 and comes back to join me in a 5 up but only finds 7 down, he drops out and is the first victim landing where the bad people live ............... We get a message to Hi-me who fires up his Truck and is on his way with the look of urgency on his face, what Kaz is with him!  Wayne pops up on the radio, he has a lift with the French, phew panic over.

Carl is in trouble and drops off the lead gaggle and lands, damn. Gordon and Grant keep making progress and Steve gets stuck for a while. I make a huge tactical error and take the same route as Carl hoping for good air under the clouds, guess what same result and end up landing on the high ground in a very pretty place, some consolation.  Grant and Gordon push on and pick their way through the tricky bits by TP 3 and then around the dodgy landing bits around TP 4 and not goal but n to fast.

Another day another landing (not a bad one as it turns out)

We in Wales ??

Steve is on the move again and picks off TP 3 and heads to TP 4 where he ends up with a group landing in a very tight area and looks a bit shaken and stirred as a result but no damage.  Hi-me and Grant come to fetch me with little drama except the state of the track as it turns out I have landed just down the road from where he was born!

We all join up and head out for some street food to console ourselves and fill our belly's.  Food was great company was fine all things considering and the men in white were different.  Wayne recounts his experience to the south and whilst he was not kidnapped he also did not see any sign of official presence either.  They also picked up Robin H in that area who's experience was a bit more tense and was very pleased to see them.The town was buzzing being Saturday night shame we are all to tired to make themes of it , still a rest day tomorrow. 

eating on the Street

We even risked the Ice Cream

The war of attrition continues and whilst Laurent T who tumbled some days ago is back in the fray , this is not a place for the faint hearted, the over ambitious or the in experienced, certainly when it comes to competition.

Quote of the day " just get me out of here, I don't mind where to, but now would be good"

Tip of the day " Shade bad, Sun good"  it really is that simple !

Back on track(er), more tree topping and an early night :) Mexico day 10

It was a tired crew that arrived at breakfast but Gordon was ready as ever to fight the case to regain Grants score along with a little help from Phil c and others back in the UK, thanks guys.  I whipped out a quick blog, Carl dribbled out something wet and slimey (the food here does not agree with him, Steve whipped up something very healthy for his lunch, Grant talked to home and Kaz whipped up some super rolls for lunch then we were off dropping by the laundrette to pick up clean underwear.

Clean underwear

Hi-me looked as fresh as ever which is remarkable as we keep him up late every day and he drives whilst we cat nap in the back.  Everyone seems a little later on launch but things go as usual with the added bonus of a spectacular fly by from a microlight which will be filming the fun from the air later.

Microlight fly by

Tree hugger

Get set

Wayne and myself have early bird slots which give nice rigging areas on the front and at my end even some grass.  Pilot briefing went almost well and we have a 133 k task with a forecast for cloud shadow in the afternoon shutting things down.  the launch window gets moved forward and there is a bit of a rush to get ready.  Wayne is off at number eight and I follow straight after him and we gert climbing. Grant is next, carl , gordon and finally Steve, we are all in the air.

Gaggle starts to gaggle

Message comes up that someone has not got their tracker, guess who? it's Grant. Another message, no tracker no score!  They will allow him a re light from the bottom landing field. Grant heads down  as does Hi-me and in what seems only a matter of minutes (time flies when you are enjoying yourself) they are back on launch and with a small army helping Grant to rig he is air borne with enough time to catch the first start, amazing.

Things go well to start with and I manage to keep up with the big boys and take TP 1 in good shape. Back towards T/off and things still going well, leave a climb over the "G" spot a little early as it gets busy and starts to fade. ver T/off and on course for TP 2 all good (ish). 3 up behind launch start to climb, Carl is a couple of clicks ahead calling a 7 going 10 up, what to do? Could do with a bit more height but should have enough, lets go............ arrive 500'  below a couple of gliders, broken lift not good, gliders above leave, not good  nowhere to run too, not good.  Sink onto a tree lined ridge just north of goal, landing acceptable close to the ridge but the National grid bar my route out o better fields. Up and down (mainly down) until I am forced to set up to land which involves a trip over the cables . A couple of beeps and I get one shot at this, a 360 over the cables, better not fall out of it and we are in lift, the vary counts up and we go up, phew.  Well behind now and Gordon is out front going for it with carl and Grant not for behind.  No news on Steve as he has a radio issue, wayne is down near TP 2 but in good company as Manred has bombed out there, even World Champions make mistakes, just less of them.

I bumble onto TP 2 as the guys push on past TP 3 & 4 and the cloud shadow moves in, Gordon starts to get excited on the radio as the race builds.  Around Tp2 and off to TP 3 and the guys are nearing the end and things get tense, Carl and Grant get past Gordon and make goal :)) Gordon is not that far behind, we have got our three in :))))) I manage to get TP 3 with a bit of patient flying but the day is over so land in a nice big field not far from the one I landed in on my very first flight here. 

Cute dog

field retrieve team

Kaz and the Kids

Steve B makes goal to give us four in and gets his confidence back on track, nice, could do with one of them myself.  Retrieve is good (except) for Carls bacterial issues and we get back at a sensible time after what was a bit of a tense day.  Grant gets a blocking for forgetting his tracker then a huge congratulations for pulling it out of the bag  (with the aid of Hi-me).

Happy Steve in Goal

Goal field food 

Kaz and I eat in as things now starting to catch up with me after 5 days of completion and over 30 hours airtime.

Romantic meal in

Quote of the day " Oh you have come in the back door"

Tip of the day " even when you are a bit peckish don't get greedy!"

Broken Knuckle, Exploding Glider and Tumbling - Mexico Day Ten

This may be a shorter than usual one  as a very late retrieve see's us sleep in a little and we have a lot of work to do today so will miss the morning stuff.

Wayne is back having spotted a couple of likely looking suspects in the bottom of the toilet pan after a long pee, nice.  I get a "late" early bird spot, getting into this on the front stuff and everyone else is in a good position bar Wayne who is back in the trees.

In flight snack bar

caught in the act

Pilot briefing - debate on taking us into and untried unlandable area where apparently they expect good lift - pilots win and we get an extra TP to keep us "safe".

Gordy takes a power nap

Calm before the storm

Window opens and off we go, big start gain and most of us get a pretty good one, turn point one comes and goes as does turn point two with no real issues. my radio goes down so it is nice and quiet and I have not got a clue whats going on.  Turn point three was always going to be one of those where you could get it wrong and several did including Wayne unfortunately.

Emily and the Live Trackers

Hi-me leads Wayne to launch

Get high here up to 13,500' before heading off to turn point four and the field thins out. Some good climbs around and we need them as after TP 4 its an into wind leg before the "easy" bit into goal.  Get high and take it easy into a long valley and push on. Gliders are coming back low and high, hmmmm.

I get into a good position and get reasonable air to the TP turn and return to find heavy sink taking me quickly into trouble.  Push my luck onto the closed end ridge, 20 kph of wind has to go somewhere and fortunately it goes up and pops back into the safe zone.

The area I crossed not 15 minutes earlier that was working has now gone to sleep and I struggle towards goal but deck it short.

You guessed it another session of Mexican Hospitality before Hi-me finally finds me with some sightly grumpy  pilots on board. gordon has landed just past me whilst Carl and Grant mad goal along with half the field.  we set off to find Steve who is down near the last TP. It takes a long time but the bounus is we get some cracking street food on the way.  Finally we get Steve and Hi-me has negotiated with his brother to pick up Wayne. We get back at midnight.

first there were two

then their mates turn up

Steve is aching after a hard landing and we need to fix his knuckle (on is glider ) in the morning.  An Italian exploded his glider by flying into the power lines at goal despite a very good briefing by Gordon on them on day one, he gets off lightly with a broken wrist.

Street food at it's best ......

man in the shadows eating something

Our scores Tumble as we get a good pasting by the other teams, still tomorrow is another day, regroup, refocus and drink Tea we are British!

Quote of the day "it was a real shock"

Tip of the day "keep in communication, check chargers work on 110 V"

Steady Eddie and we all are ready - Mexico day Nine

After a late night back for some we still manage to keep to schedule and even get some lunchtime rolls made having lost total faith in the "packed" lunches which turn out to be a bag of snacks which go on a first come first served basis.

Gordon heads off to the team leaders briefing with out trackers and the rest of us have breakfast and sort kit which is now getting little on the dusty and smelly side.

Wayne is still not great but elects to come up the hill along with Kaz as Team support crew which is much appreciated.  Gordon call in to see if I want an "early bird" place which after yesterdays performance seems a good idea and I am lucky enough to get pulled out of the hat and get one.

The ever cheerful Hi-me arrives spot on time and we load and go picking up Gordon and Wayne on route, nothing much to report from the meeting other than a glitch in Carls score from yesterday which will hopefully get sorted soon and should both his and the teams position improve noticeably :)

on the front line

wow you certainly loose weight at these comp's

Emergency services got it all covered 

Up the hill it is the same as everyday, sunny, cool, with the wind up the hill and flyable, what a place this is,  We all have good rigging spots on the font with me eighth early bird to go before the main field so at least we will all be in the air early.

yesterdays downfall B10 small ridge to the wnw 2 hours soaring

Task set, briefing nice and quick and we have a team chat to see how to get around the 90k task and just as importantly how to get Hi-me to goal which is t two and a half hours away around the side of the Volcano.  All sorted and I get ready as the start counts down,

ready for revolution at the briefing

Dummy, sorry I meant wind dummy ;)

The air is good and it is nice to climb out without the crowds, now just an hour and a quarter to wait until the start. take it easy and relax, that's what Carl said, so I did and amazingly the time flew by as the gaggles increased and son it was time for the off.  Same type of start as yesterday once again saw a massive formation of gliders fly out to the start which must look like something else both from the ground and on the live tracking.

We quickly spread out with Carl racing ahead and grant hot on his heels, Steve is in go for it mode, Gordon gets a little stuck at first turn point and Phipps is taking no risks.

We all round the turn point and head to the second, one we have been to many times and just in front of yesterdays nemesis for me.  Gordon catches up Carl still leads the Brits.  Gliders start to struggle on a tree lined ridge (they are all tree lined out here) and it's not long before Steve becomes a victim landing at the foot of it after some tree topping.

The rest of us make it outing head off towards goal and into the bad lands Carl still pushing on is joined by Grant Gordon is closing and I carry on a steady rearguard action. Grant is struggling big time, we all go quiet, grant reverse from the tree tops and is back in the game.  Carl is calling a glide to goal and Grant not far behind, Gordon is strangely quiet.

The ground is high and even at 11,000' you do not have much to play with and its flat so having "friend" around you is a good idea and I have a few :)  Convergence cloud ahead and as we get under it woof up we go in an 8 up the glide angles come down quickly, 10:1 and I am off at 12,500' and 16K out. Th ground drops away and fills with greenhouses, lots and lots of green houses, best keep going.  100kph soon builds to 110kph as the figures get even better, in the distance beyond the green houses is the biggest field in all over Mexico and in it are some gliders.

A glider appears on my wing tip, the speed builds to 129kph its going to be a race, wish my arms were longer.  The comp sounds happy and we are in, phew, about time, first goal in the 2015 world's and about time, fingers crossed for some more.  An untidy landing and Carl calls me over to where he and Grant are. No Gordon, he has landed out on top of the plateau making "Steady Eddie" a scoring pilot and the team with three in goal.

Three Amigos in goal

Phew thats feels good

any more coming

It's a good goal to make with a never ending supply of beer, Red bull, Pizza and dancing girls, OK I made up the last one.  A text from Wayne and Kaz is much appreciated who had been keeping up with the action on live tracking.

The field empties

Hi- me and Steve arrive in good spirits and we bundle into the Truck with a stack of beers and off to find Gordon which turns out to pretty straight forward, by a cemetery and surrounded by the usual crowd of locals who had set fire to the verge to keep him warm, well that's what we think they were doing.  the beers disappear and we have there wee stops for Carl, hmmm.

Back to base too late to score but just in time to eat out, then off to bed and zzzzzzzzzzzz, well after a bit of a goal field bonus :)

Quote of the day " I'm coming in"

Tip of the day  "  Stay high, stay high - race race race"  that goes back a few years!