Results thru task 12

Here are the top 10 after tasks 1-12:
1 DONNER, Nick USA
2 HEARTSILL, Joe USA
3 PETREHN, John USA
4 MIZUKAMI, Takao JPN
5 MESSINES, Francois FRA
6 BOLZE, Stephane FRA
7 PETREHN, Paul USA
8 SCHNEIDER, Uwe GER
9 KOSTIUSKEVICIUS, Rimas LTU
10 FUJITA, Masahiko JPN

For complete results: http://www.balloon2006worlds.com/results/HABWC06index.html

Again, theses are for tasks 1-12. As of 11:40pm here, provisional results for tonight's tasks (13 and 14) are also available on that page, but the overall scores haven't been updated to include those. I'm sure many people have already done the math themselves, but I've got an alarm set for 4:00am (5 hours from now), so I'm going to bed.

Let's hope for another pile of markers in the morning...

The roads

So it's been requested that I post more pictures. Here's some photos of the roads we've been on:


Keep in mind that these are actual roads on the competition map. In the old days, we'd be able to declare goals on these. I can't help but wonder what would happen if you got a task sheet that said "water surfaces are out of bounds" (like they all do here) and you declared a goal on this road:


Despite all the technology we're using, some things haven't changed. Just because it's on the map doesn't mean you should be driving on it. Remember Ft. Custer on the old Battle Creek maps?

New hotel

We just checked in to the hotel that we'll be at for the next 2 nights. It's the Hotel Route Inn in Mooka. It's different in that it's a more traditional Japanese hotel, although not entirely. We still have regular beds, but each of us has our own room. That's a change from 5 of us in one room in Motegi. The rooms are small; in fact, my first impression was we're staying in a Chase Commander:


But it's very nice, and there's a plasma TV in the room. Another great thing about the hotel? There's these awesome carbonated fruit drinks (lemon and grapefruit) in the vending machine for only 200 yen (under $2). The funny thing is that they're 7% alcohol. It's like drinking Kool-Aid. And there's a grape one called a "sparkling chardonnay" that's essentially wine in a can. We figured that's one step below wine in a box. Here's Erica enjoying hers:

We've already cleaned out all the lemon flavored ones.

Tasks 13 and 14

An evening FIT and PDG in the flatlands west of Motigi. The winds died about 45 minutes before sunset, which made the approach to the FIT and the PDG's difficult to get to for some. Paul got to the FIT with 25m or so drop, then worked to the fly in until the very last minute, dropping his marker exactly 30 seconds before the scoring window closed (which is 5 minutes before sunset here). Although we weren't able to recover it, Joe and Erica did a great job of getting the observer into a position to verify the time of the drop, so it shouldn't hurt too bad. Absolutely no clue how the scores will play out. Here's a couple pictures that Shawn took, the first one from our inflation:


Still no scores from the 5-parter this morning. That means that the most recent overall scores (where the Americans were 1, 2, 5, and 9) mean nothing, as there are now as many unscored tasks as scored ones. There's bound to be some shake-up...

I realize that I've been "lazy" in my task explanations, particularly when it comes to distinguishing between PDG's (where no provisionals are allowed) and FON's (which have provisionals). I'll do better going forward. Tonight's was a PDG, but they allowed 2 goals to be declared to the observer before the flight. I can't even explain how the laptops with the map loaded have changed this part of the planning process. In 2 minutes, we can have 10 goals analyzed (direction/bearing) and relayed to Paul.

Two chase vehicles are essential to competition on this level. Knock on wood, we've had a vehicle at every single target so far. Usually Shawn and I never see a drop, as he and I pick Paul up as soon as he leaves the previous target, then talk him in until Joe and Erica arrive with the observer. Then we're off to the next one.

Tasks 8,9,10,11, and 12

Finally a big one. Five parts this morning, from a common launch point: PDG, JDG, PDG, JDG, PDG. Very cool flight, as there was a couple different ways to tackle the tasks as a whole. Paul thinks he did okay, but it sounds like Joe, Nick, and Johnny may have done quite well. The American team did an awesome job of working together; it sure would be a great time for everyone to peak. And having Al Nels and his team on the ground is an incredible asset.

Right now we are checking into our new hotel, so I am quickly posting this from the lobby kiosk computer. We have an afternoon briefing in about 2 hours, so it might be awhile before I can get my laptop up and post more detail. Shawn might have gotten some good video of Paul throwing on his last target as well.

Results thru task 7

So it's probably not the last time I'll be wrong. Some people did very well last night and actually moved themselves up. Here are the top 10 after tasks 1-7:
1 HEARTSILL, Joe USA
2 DONNER, Nick USA
3 HOWARD, Mike GBR
4 MESSINES, Francois FRA
5 PETREHN, John USA
6 PRAWICKI, Bogdan POL
7 KOSTIUSKEVICIUS, RimasLTU
8 SCHNEIDER, Uwe GER
9 PETREHN, Paul USA
10 DANKERL, Peter GER

For complete results: http://www.balloon2006worlds.com/results/HABWC06index.html

Looks good this morning, hopefully plenty of tasks. Unfortunately, right now everyone in the room is concentrating on packing and checking out of the hotel before briefing.