The James Lawson Post

I first met James in Killarney. James is a bloody good bloke and he inspires me to fly fast and kick ass. This post is dedicated to James.


Age: 30
Nickname: Seagull
Hometown: Armidale, NSW
Glider: Gradient Avax RSF
Current World Ranking: 50
Favorite Website: gregbabush.blogspot.com
Been known to say: Just a minute guys, I've gotta go to my tent.

Task 5 Pre-Worlds 124.6km

My final flight in the Pre-Worlds has been one of my most memorable flights ever. The task was a 124.6km flight from Mt. Borrah to goal at Gravesend.

I launched 10 min before the first of 4 start windows and quickly climbed to cloudbase and by 2:05, 5 min after the first window opened, I departed on course.


Today I focused on flying fast and not turning in light lift. I pushed ahead with a small group of 8 or 10 pilots early on course for the first 20km. After a bit it was just Chris (Ching-Long from Taiwan who lives in Dallas), Grant (who won the day), Bima from Indonesia, Nikolay from Russia, Gin from Korea and myself. Around 30km on course Grant and Nikolai pushed ahead, Chris got low and fell behind, leaving just Bima, Gin and myself. We had to go left around some large development and the three of us flew alone together for the next 50km. Around 100km Nikolay joined up with us along with another pilot flying a Gradient RSF.

At this point 100km out I could see the gaggle around 5km behind us. Nikolay and the RSF had a fast climb to cloudbase and pushed ahead, again leaving Gin, Bima and myself alone. We eventually reached base and went on course. It was late afternoon by this time and we were heading onto the flats, a big blue hole. I took the above photo of Gin as we just transitioned to the flats. I took a left line alone and maintained above the others but began to get low as none of us hit any lift. Bima found a small bubble and Gin and myself joined him. Within minuets the gaggle caught us.

For the next 40 min. I climbed in weak lift with the lead gaggle, while slowly drifting toward goal. The gaggle left for goal from about 8km with a 7/1 glide needed to reach goal. With two landings just short of goal this comp. I stayed behind with Prentice to climb just a little higher. Finally I made goal in this comp, arriving with about 150m of altitude. I was exhausted and so happy to make it in on this last task. For this last task I finished 6th in serial class and 29th in open class. For the competition I finished 15th in Serial Class and 64th overall. In the team results, the Borrah Chingones, which included David, Godfrey, Gil and myself, placed 5th.

This last flight is now also my second longest flight, with my longest flight being 145km from Telluride to the San Luis Valley near Monte Vista the day after the 2003 US Nationals in Telluride on my DHV1/2 Firebird Grid.

Final Results:

Overall:
1st: Arnaud Secher: Gin Boomerang 4: France
2nd: David Chaumet: Airwave Magic FR2: France
3rd: Enda Murphy: Advance Omega: Australia

Female:
1st: Michele Baptist: AirCross Trialp: Belgium
2nd: Kari Castle: UP Trango 2: USA (Congrats!!!!)
3rd: Viv Williams: Nova Tycoon: Australia

Serial:
1st: Steve Ham: Airwave Magic 4: Great Britain
2nd: Hans Bausenwein: Gin Boomerang Sport: Germany
3rd: Arne Aarsbog: UP Trango 2: Norway

Task 4 Pre-Worlds 90km

Task 4 was a 90.1km task north to Bingara. This was the first race start of the comp, and used an 80km entry cylinder around goal. Goal has eluded me again and I landed less than 3km from goal having flown 87.8km. Grrrrrr.

Task 3 Pre-Worlds 56km

Task 3 was a 56.4km task from Mt. Borrah to Bendemeer, with an interval start. Cirrus cloud cover made for light lift and challenging conditions.

25km on course I came to a large shaded area with no way around. I worked some light lift over some recently plowed paddocks at around 100m and ended up landing 27.7km on course, finishing 24th in serial class and 85th overall.

Task 2 Pre-Worlds 121km

Today we had a long task from Mr. Borrah to Warialada, 121.8km. 14 pilots made goal, the fastest in was Jean-Marc Caron from France with a time of 4:12:33. I flew 110.6km and landed at 6:55pm, 5 min. before the task/goal closed, having a total flight of almost 6 hrs and about 10km shy of goal.


Steve Ham was the only pilot on a serial class wing in goal today. I finished 5th for the day in serial class and 29th overall.

I've been camping at Godfrey's and the past week hay fever has hit me hard. A runny nose and sneezing outbreaks are all too common. We've been enjoying goat every night: goat stew, goat t-bones and goat stirfry, and David and I build a campfire to eat by. I love looking at the brilliant stars of the southern sky.

Day 3 Pre-Worlds Blown Out

Average winds of 30kph and gusts over 50kph prevented us from flying today.


Cloudstreets danced across the skies.


Brett Z. and myself with the Indonesian Team.


This kangaroo's fear of humans was overcome by the tastey bit of grass it was devouring. A group of us were able to get within 3 meters.

Day 2 Pre-Worlds 45km Canceled

The day started out looking like the epic day we've been waiting for. Winds were strong and building when we arrived at launch, and eventually blew a steady 30kph gusting over 40kph. The task was suspended just before launch opened and an hour later it was canceled.


Brett Zaenglein on the west launch.


David and fallout in the distance. We have our fingers crossed for a great day tomorrow.

Task 1 Pre-Worlds 61km

The day started out with the first bit of sun we've seen for what seems like forever. Early morning winds on Mt. Borrah were quite strong, gusting over 30kph. We went to launch at noon and winds were blowing 20kph gusting to almost 30kph. The sky was beginning to get darker and by 2pm there was 90% cloud cover. A task was set going downwind 60.6km to Baan Baa, with individual start times from a 2km start cylinder.

Pilots esentially ridge soared for the first 45min until finally getting some usable thermals. I waited on launch until pilots were climbing out and by that time the winds were even stronger on launch. Some pilots launching with competition wings were going straight up or up & backwards. I was waiting as today was my first flight on a new wing, the Boomerang Sport, and I wanted to wait and see if conditions improved or deteriorated. Once pilots began to climb out I knew it was time to go, but by this time I'd broken one big rule I've set for myself at competitions: launch early.

I launched 1 min. after Godfrey and quiclky climbed out below him. The wind drifted us over the back of Mt. Borrah and I slowly climbed out in 1-2.5m/s lift. Godfrey and some other pilots who started climbing before me were 200m above me as we headed on course.

One quick downwind glide at 60kph was the extent of my flight, going about 12km. Pilots seemed to be grouped in 3 main areas: the bombout, 10-15km on course and goal.

I have only positive things to say about the Boomerang Sport after one fight. The handling was a joy, lighter than my Zoom Race, more reponsive to my inputs and it carved turns effortlessly. I felt the wing was noticably faster than the Zoom, both at trim and with speed. I can't wait to fly the Boomerang Sport tomorrow.

Early Morning - Day 1 Pre-Worlds

For the first time in over a week I awoke to sunshine and blue skies. A few alto stratus clouds linger in the sky, showing moderate winds in the upper altitudes. Reports are coming in that it's blowing quite strong on launch. Here at the ranch I've been enjoying stories and fun with the Indonesian team who are also staying out at Godfrey's.

Last night Mr. Gin loaned me a Boomerang Sport. Thanks again Phil! I'm excited to fly the new wing this week. Mr. Son flew this wing last week during the Kiwi Open and it is the final proto, which is the same version that passed DHV. I've never known a wing to have an scent but this wing has a wonderful aroma of incense that puts a smile on my face. I can only wonder about the history of the wing...

This evening I'll post an update about the day.

David & His Bow 'n Arrow

A few days ago I was helping David Prentice look for a lost arrow from a previous unsuccessful hunting endevor. The quail and rabbits were good at eluding David until we were driving home from town two nights ago. With the Scooby Do Mobile David rolled a rabbit which we promptly cleaned and set in the fridge to marinate overnight. The following afternoon we enjoyed a tastey rabbit stew.

Today David was successful with his bow and arrow and killed a wild goat on Mt. Borrah, near the North Launch. He said he saw about 20 goats and around one hundred kangaroos.


Blue, our retrieve driver, helped cut the meat for tomorrow's goat roast.

Kiwi Open Closing Party

L to R: Luke, Kari, Bob, Me, ?, Bri-dog. The Kiwi Open is over after just 2 tasks flown becuase of continual rain and foul weather. A tropical cyclone has been sening wind and moisture over the entire eastern half of Australia causing storms and flooding.


Max JeanPiere from France flying a proto-Boomerang won followed by Didriche Erwan from France flying an AirCross Ultima 3 and 3rd was Charles Cazaux on a Boomerang 4. The French actually took the top 4 places plus the top female finish which was Caroline Brill flying an Advance Omega. There were 143 pilots competing in the Kiwi Open. Brett Zaenglein had the highest finish by USA placing 23rd followed by David Prentice in 32nd and myself in 72nd. Thomas Regensburger from Austria finished 1st in Serial Class on a Gin Boomerang Sport, and I placed 20th of the 70 pilots in Serial Class.


Fabrizio from Italy gets Kari's autograph.

David Prentice's Photo Page

This is a gallery of shots by David Prentice from last week. No one want's to see pictures of rain so we haven't posted any of our current shots....