This article by Leigh Rogers was first published in The Wimmera Mail-Times on 9th of February 2011.
POOR conditions aren't goin to wipe the smile off pilot Buz Bailey's face.
Bailey of Warrnambool is a regular competitor at the Horsham Week Gliding Competition.
He attended his first competition 30 years ago and has now competed in more than 20 events.
Bailey said he loved being part of the event regardless of the weather.
"You never come to these events expecting the condition to be perfect. If you get a some good days then that is a bonus, he said.
"I've been to Horsham weeks in the past when it's been terrible weather the whole time, but then you get years like last year when it was fantastic and we flew seven of the eight competition days." Bailey said he enjoyed the social side of the event.
"It's a friendly competition," he said.
"We often sit up fo all hours of the night chatting everything gliding with the other pilots, and the conditions are always better here than what we have at my home club in south west of Victoria."
Weather conditions have restricted the pilots to just one day in the air from the opening three days, but Bailey took full advantage of this, winning the performance section.
"The first day was a non-event, but the second day was terrific," he said.
"We got to do our task and everyone had a great day."
"I managed to come home fastest but I had a lot of assistance. I got a good run as I made my way through the cloud line."
Bailey managed to launch on Monday but was unable to compete.
"On Monday the first group, which I was in, was able to launch but we struggled" he said. "The thermals were not strong enough so we weren't able to race."