Travel south

This years team Romo arrived at the airfield last night having driven from RAF Halton on Saturday morning. The weather on the way south was epic - 30 degrees though! Cu everywhere! We spent the night in the team accommodation sorting out maps, loggers, batteries and leads.

The team is:

Dave Postlethwaite - R11

Olly Peters / Andy Hyslop - 26

Gaz Baker - R3

Crews are Gary Settery, Andy Done, Anna Hutchinson and Dion Veale.

Practice Day

Today is less nice... rain in fact. We might get to fly at 2.00pm local time. We have been sorting out gliders and prep'ing for Day 1.

Day 1

The official opening of Romo 2010 was undertaken this morning. Anna did the flag raising on behalf of the RAF. The sky was overcast but we put thegliders on the grid at 0900. Briefing was 1030 and the task set was... wait for it... 310KM. The fall back was 240KM.

The weather opened up to inbedded Cu to 2500ft at 1330 local. We launched and the day opened at 1400... still on task A. Olly and Andy in 26 are currently sat in Mc Donalds. No more clues... Poz and Gaz where last heard from around 60Km away from the airfield heading on task.

Roll on tomorrow... p.s grommit didnt help.

Poz did around 130km before having to pop the turbo. Gaz has called in at the second turning point. Crew are heading out to pick him up, some 130km drive. We have seen no finishes...

Day 2

Yesterday saw 3 finished in the 15-20m class (340kms), 2 in the Open class (360kms) and 1 in the club class (250km). All under a 2500ft cloud base with 2kt climbs at best. Legends.

Today is rubbish. Overcast with rain. No flying today. Outlook is alittle grim...

Day 3

More rain... No flying.

We invited the Dutch team over to watch a movie last night. They are now addicted to series "The inbetweeners" and suprisingly loved the film "Forgetting Sarah Marshal". Nothing to do with the 10 beers we fed them beforehand you understand...

Congrats to Anna who has been promoted to SAC from LAC today. Cakes all round then???

We have spent the day wiring up new batteries (the ones in R11 and 26 only lasted 40mins...), reloaded the latest French Airspace/tps, and getting ready for better weather over the weekend and next week.

Olly has to fly home for personal reason tomorrow but will be back out to France on Saturday morning.

Roll on the good weather. Pictures to follow when we remember to bring the SD cards to Mc Donalds (where the WiFi is...)

Day 4

Scrubbed

Day 5

334kms racing task. Andy H and Andy D in the Duo (as Olly is back in the UK). A rain shower just short of the airfield stopped most people getting home. Poz popping the engine at Romo town. Gaz unfortunaly landed 30kms out in the worlds muddiest field! See Pics!

Day 6

AAT 2.30 with 2 40km sectors. Gary flew with Andy H.

Day 7

Sunday A 220km task was set for the 15-20m class. We launched into an average sky with cloudbase around 2000ft. Poz and Gaz made it around the task, Olly and Andy had to pop out the donk with around 40km to home after top cover came in and cut off the sky at the last turnpoint.

Day 8

This morning the sky was overcast and light drizzle was falling. The French expected a cleance to come along at 13:00, and smack on time one did appear. All classes lauches but once again the sky did not look too clever... The task was scrubbed in the air. Condidtions did then start to improve (the best we have seen at this years Romo!) but only in a limited area. 3500ft with 4kts. Nice :) Some local soaring was had and then off to prep for the "Brit" night on the airfield.

Day 9

The weather has been wet and windy for the last few days of the comp. Its party night tonight and in the morning we head for the ferry back to the UK. Some piccys of the comp are now available in the Gallery section. Thanks.