This article by Guy Harley was first published in the Australian Gliding magazine, July 1979.
Horsham week again lived up to its reputation as one of Australia's largest regattas this year. However, the superb soaring conditions for which it is renowned deserted it and tasks were disappointingly short on many days.
The organisers achieved a maximum daily launching rate of 61 and an average of 54. Maximum distances for the tasks were Open/15M: 394 km., Standard: 317 km., Sports: 181 km. Average distance of tasks were Open/15M: 235 km., Standard: 195 km., Sports: 120km.
Conditions for the week started well and by Sunday, the second competition day, some pilots were reporting 10 kt thermals and ceilings of 12,000'. But on Sunday night a jet stream deposited a band of low level cloud across south eastern Australia. Heating from the previous hot weather did provide some thermal activity on the Monday with 2 kt thermals to 2,500'. In the event only three pilots got home whilst many abandoned the tasks.
By Tuesday the jet stream cloud had cooled the environment and the temperature trace showed an isothermal gradient, or an ice-o-thermal gradient as one pilot insisted, at 11C from ground level to 6,000'. Naturally no tasks were set.
On the Wednesday organisers expected the jetstream cloud to move north. Consequently they set tasks in a north westerly direction along the southern boundary of the jetstream. Conditions at briefing did not lend themselves to optimism which may have explained the addition of icebergs and polar bears to the list of hazards on the blackboard. In the end the organisers, and not the comedians, were proved right and good times were made on the conservatively short tasks despite a 3,000' ceiling.
The promise of improved conditions was squashed when the effects of a low to the south and an associated cold front were felt on Thursday. Strong winds and a 3,000'ceiling once again forced the organisers to set short tasks. This time "snowskiers" was added to the list of hazards. But pessimism proved unfounded and most aircraft got home at a reasonable speed.
Friday and Saturday saw a continuation of the poor conditions generated by the low. Tasks were short and slow. Special mention must be made of K. Nolan's effort in winning the final day in Sports Class in his Olympia. The Yellow Witch seems to have an antigravitation device installed.
Congratulations must be given to the organisers who maintained an efficient and safe operation whilst being cheerful and helpful to all competitors.
OVERALL RESULTS
Overall Winner: B. Woodcock.
Open / 15M
1. H. Dunn 979
2. D. Wilson 842
3. W. Johnston 784
Standard
1. B. Woodcock 986
2. S. Brown 876
3. W. Johnson 803
Sports
1. G. Harley 920
2. H. McInnes 761
3. D. Simpson 753