1st day: Baulmes - La Breguettaz
Quite a cloudy day, with some brightening and a moderate NW wind, has been announced. After the hike up to the Suchet I took off enjoying perfect soaring conditions, however thermals were still not really in place, just a single one above La Croix. Therefore I decided to head directly towards "L'Antenne Première", avoiding the risk to land in at "Cerny". But this path was full in the lee of the Suchet and I have been literally washed down reaching just the other side of the valley. A couple of other pilots (with Cricrou, Lolo) joined me on the same landing spot. We hiked all together towards "La Dent Vaulion" validating on that track "L'Antenne Première". We found very nice take off conditions at the Dent the Vaulion with some great brightenings. I struggled at the begging to catch the nice thermals but finally I found a nice upstream that suck me up close to the cloud base. I enjoyed a spectacular view over the Valley the Joux. Despite being 100% on my speed system I had to pull the ears to avoid the clouds. Just, afterwards I had to work again hard, as with my maneuver put me out of the nice up lift band. I validated the next turn points "Pierre Ferdinand" and "Orient", "Brassus" I missed by a few meters. I did not put it in the right order in my flight instrument thus it was a flight by view and estimation... On the flight back to la Breguettaz I validated also "Le Cret Blanc". I was really happy with my day as most of the pilots too.
Hiking: 17 km +1709m, Flying: 36 km
2nd day: Saint_Aubin - La Breguettaz
Weatherforcast: NE wind and good thermal conditions just perfect for a task starting in Saint-Aubin ! From the lake we hike up to "La Roche Devant". I decided to fly directly towards "Mauborget", skipping the turn points in the east. At Bullet I worked it out to reach, via Les Rasses, in flight the "Chasseron". Later just after the "Suchet" I did not turn out full thermals and headed towards "L'Antenne Première". A big mistake as I faced head wind at the next mountain edge and not the push of the north, local conditions dominated. Thus I was forced to land in just below the "Antenne Première". Another walk to the Dent the Vaulion. There I found difficult starting conditions. Just zero wind or a light back wind and this at a cliff take off site. I took my time for having a not too bad start window and needed also a second trial to inflate nicely my Alpina 4 (not the easiest for zero wind conditions...). But then in the air, it was against my expectation and observation of other pilots, I've been catapulted above 2000msl. That was the opportunity to reach "La Pierre Ferdinand", going there was easy as have been pushed by the backwind but going back wasn't and I had to land in at "Le Pont". Now I had to run in order to reach the goal in time. That I finally achieved with a reserve of 15 minutes.
Hiking: 19 km +1567m, Flying: 51 km
3rd day: La Breguettaz - Baulmes
Overdevelopment with potential thunderstorms have been announced for the afternoon. Therefore the race committee decided to install a flight ban from 2pm on and a goal closing at 3pm. I had a bad night with swollen thyroid glands. So my energy level was really low at the start of the race and I took it without pushing much. Reaching "La Mathoule" I was really tires and did not want to go up by hiking to the Suchet. Thus, despite the stable conditions I tented to reach the Suchet by flight. But I could not do it, I just landed in before the turn point circle ready to make the last meters by foot. Looking at my watch I realized that I would not have the time to do it with flying back to the goal before the flight ban. So I re-launched immediately and headed to the goal with big ears applied. I finished the race exhausted with a little disappointment as i could not push at the last day as I wanted to.
Hiking: 15 km +886m, Flying: 7 km
Video from Yanick Turin:
Some pics done by O.Dufey, F.Wagner (Valley de Joux 1), J.Bouquet (Valley de Joux 2), V.Voltz (day 2). See the all pictures on google photos.
