The Cape Gauntlet roared into life after somewhat subdued performances in recent months.
The conditions at Worcester started with low-scudding rain (you get the picture) but the eager Gauntleteers were undeterred by the conditions prevailing at briefing and waited through the morning for the conditions to improve.
And improve they did. By lunchtime the cloud bases were rising toward the forecast 5500ft and the showers of rain had abated in the Worcester area, and a launch time was set for 13h30. Franz du Toit was ready as ever in MIV and the smallish field took to the grid with Adriaan (K17) Hepburn losing the "grid bingo" to take first launch.
The prevailing SW wind showed just how difficult it was to stay up on the Audensberg with K17 opting to thermal over the golf course instead of 'parking' on the ridge. He was soon joined by Peter (ID) Farrell, Ari ("never say die") Cotton, Kim Carter-Brown & Alan O'Regan in GOK, and after taking his panel apart at the launch point, Quinton (II) Hoole. Craig (LW) Fussell joined in much later (flying a real glider - see picture).
Unusually, two start points (Waaihoek and the Quarry) were declared to allow competitors the opportunity to optimise either a northbound or eastbound first leg. Most opted for northbound, but on rounding Mitchell's Peak, it was clear (not!) that the Tulbagh valley was unflyable, and Saronberg was not even visible. Turning south GOK, K17 and ID headed for Robertson after getting enough height at Waaihoek to make the jump to Keeromberg.
The trip to Robertson was fast (lots of 200kph sections) and bumpy, but at Robertson the cloud base was significantly lower and GOK needed airbrake to duck under the base (4000ft at the corner and 3300ft further on). At this altitude it looked possible to get to Ashton, but operating so close to the limits was to nobodies taste and everyone elected to retry to the north, with GOK only just making back over the spur (remember the wind was SW!).
The transition from Keeromberg to Waaihoek was challenging with the worst sink on Brandwag nearly catching out the entire field, but in the end everyone made it to Jan du Toit's for a top up before the jump West to Waaihoek.
Waaihoek was "gangbusters" but the low cloud base (4300ft) precluded 'jumping' the saddle between Mitchell’s Peak and Waaihoek. The Witzenberg looked perfect - capped with orographic cloud - and Saronberg also had a 'hat'. With K17 reporting difficult conditions for the transition to the front ridge, GOK elected to climb in front of the orographic cloud on the Witzenberg and Kim C-B demonstrated her eagerness to "go for the gap" between and above the clouds in the crossing of the Tulbagh valley.
K17 (not one known for his lack of "gung-ho") was again reporting difficult conditions at Porterville, with ID concurring, so GOK turned on the northern flank of Saronberg and headed back to the Witzenberg. More cloud-gaps allowed GOK to make it onto Mitchell's Peak and romp home after what has to be one of the most stunningly beautiful flights she's ever made - sun-dappled, rain-washed vineyards carpeting the valleys between blackened mountains. Nothing can compare with a down-sun, tail-blown final glide with plenty of margin.
A day of discovery. Kim's secret is out, no longer a closet cloud-gap demon! And with such good judgement on ridge-running that we look forward to some solo performances. Also, even though it was COLD (10C at 4000), the ridge was cooking – proving that it IS only differential heating that is required.
Provisionally, then, the unverified scores have K17 neck and neck with ID followed by LW, II and Ari. GOK, owing to a problem with the FLARM power supply, could not submit a trace. Pity, on handicap it may have given the boy-racers a run for their money.
Next Gauntlet on 2nd December. Can you handle it?
