Pilot project : Istra

Pilot project: I S T R I A Day one The Town of Roch is situated on the Istria peninsula, 10 km east from the City of Buzet. First records of a small hill town date from year 1064. On the front of the North gate there is a crest, placed in honor of the town`s 930.anniversary. On the ground floor there is a small lapidary. The exhibition includes objects from the Roman era found in this area. Most prominent buildings inside city walls are churches ...The St. Anton`s the Abbot Church from the 12.th century, ...The Parish Church of the St. Bartol, ...and the small Church of the St. Rok, built in the 14.th century. During the 15.th and 16.th century here was home of a Croatian literacy, publishing and printing, founded on the Glagolitic, an oldest Croatian alphabet. Here lived Shimun Greblo, a priest and a Glagolitic scholar. The Small Glagolitic Academy is named after Jurj Zakn. Elementary students learn Glagolitic alphabet, used throughout this area long ago. Today, Roch is one of the Green Istria`s crown jewels. Visitors can enjoy in peace, tranquility, and reminders of ancient times. Outside of city walls, cultivated outdoors present plenty of opportunity for relaxation and various activities. The City tourist map displays geographic and general information, as well as activities on disposal to visitors. Thanks to geographic and meteorological characteristics, Roch is a traditional gathering point for Croatian paragliding pilots. Competitions, such as Croatian Paragliding Open, are traditionally organized here. Pilots gather in the morning. They board the transport which will take them to starting places. Nearby Roch are similar towns – forts: Buzet, Motovun, and Hum. There are many paragliding starting places in the vicinity, for all wind directions. Flying caravan is driving towards the Brgud paragliding site. This site is situated 900 meters above a sea level, on the west side of the ridge stretching from the point of the Uchka Mountain towards the city of Plomin. Following an arrival, pilots unload their equipment. All of the paragliding equipment fits in one larger bag. Therefore, paragliding pilots can use terrains usually unavailable to pilots of larger and heavier aircrafts. Often, they climb to the starting place on foot. Members of GSS (Mountain Rescue Service) are also present on the site. Briefing is held prior to the beginning of the race. Birds are thermalling in front of us. Conditions are good. Test pilots (we call them probes), are first to go. They will check air conditions first hand, and brief ground crew by radio. A Paraglider is an aircraft without propulsion, so it`s flight range from certain altitude in calm air is limited. Most efficient competition paragliders have L/D ratio around 12, meaning they can travel up to 12 meters horizontally for ever meter of altitude they lose. However, today`s race is set on the 43 km track. Paragliders seldom fly in calm air.. Therefore, in order to gain altitude pilots must use updrafts. One way is to use the updraft of the wind climbing over a slope, or some other obstacle. The other way derives from uneven warming of Earth`s surface from the Sun. Some surfaces accumulate warmth faster than others, so air above them becomes warmer and lighter than surrounding air. Pilots endeavor to circle inside updrafts of warm air, so called thermals. Doing so they can go very high, all the way to the cloudbase, which will form on a certain height from a condensed moisture contained in rising air. After a climb pilot will fly away, searching for a next thermal. This way big distance can be crossed. World record distance achieved with paraglider is more than 500 kilometers. Race is on. Sky is covered with cumulus clouds. Each cumulus is in fact visible part of thermal updraft. Some pilots make use of updrafts right away, other must do some work. I am preparing for a takeoff. After checking the wing and rest of the equipment, I`m away. The feeling is unique. Separation from the ground, the wind, speed, freedom! Soon after me a tandem, or a paraglider wing for two, took off. Pilot and a passenger are not competitors, rather a tourist and a trusty guide. Each pilot is equipped with a GPS receiver and a variometer. GPS tracklog can be used for displaying flight trace on a computer screen. A variometer register changes in a air pressure, then signals changes in altitude by sound and visually. Circling begins upon entry in a thermal column. With each circle I am higher above a ground. Flying above Brgud I can see Kvarner bay, Plomin, and inland of Istria. Apart from navigation equipment, other pilots help me too, circling and showing position of thermals. After trying and testing some thermals, I am able to climb one thermal all the way. I see Uchka mountain, City of Rijeka, Kvarner bay... ... Islands Krk and Cres. I am frequently checking speed, height and climb data on GPS and vario. Rules of this competition dictate a top height of 1800 meters above the sea level. Higher than that is restricted. Near top height I am leaving the climb, and directing myself towards the first checkpoint. Most of other pilots are in front of me, seeking a climb more towards inland. I am turning around following completion of the first checkpoint. The route is set towards the summit of Uchka, with nice cumulus clouds above it. I managed to catch up with some company, but also lost plenty of altitude. In order to continue we must search for the next climb. I am meeting again with the tandem, a paraglider for two that took off soon after me. Tandem passengers can fly without special training. This way they can have free flight experience, in hands of capable pilot of course. Little by little, we cover the massif of Uchka. After gaining of some altitude I fly away, passing the summit from the west, towards the second checkpoint. I am crossing over the Uchka tunnel entry and the road that goes through. Catching up with one group. With plenty of altitude we can fly straight. Crossing over the Chicharija plateau. Sky over Chicharija is filled with cumulus clouds, as far as eye can see. The west coast of Istria emerges in distance. Lupoglav is closing. We fly over the small town and resume towards the second checkpoint. It is located near Roch, from wich we set off this morning. I am arriving quite low, and turning towards the third checkpoint. Fortunately, I managed to find the climb, with another pilot in it, right away. In the stable updraft we rise above 1000 meters ASL, and continue with the climb. Reaching 1500 meters, I am exiting the climb and setting towards the third point. Before me is the cumulus shadow which I must fly over. Shadowed area does not receive warmth from the Sun, therefore produces no climb. I am approaching the Lupoglav again, with a significant lost of altitude. Exiting a shadow area I am quite low, and struggling to find any climb above the small ridge. There is not enough wind, and I am unable to find a thermal. I am sinking more and more. I see another wing on the meadow below, so I choose it as a landing spot. This is the last point of today’s flight for the Hungarian pilot also. Within 2 hours and 14 minutes I managed to cross 37 kilometers of todays route, with maximum height gain of 1705 meters. Still, I am 16 kilometers short of the goal. Newer mind, let`s hope for a better result in days ahead. Morning is the time for a first briefing of the day. Competitors are briefed on results of the yesterday`s race, and about the competition task for current day. So, you are commended regarding orderly behavior on the takeoff yesterday A system of priority entry to takeoff spots worked well Damjan, the organization crew member Everything proceeded smoothly, without setbacks, and I hope we will continue in a same manner. We have quite a situation regarding the score; it seems that first seven competitors are all grouped within 300 points range. So just one mistake in today`s race can change everything. Even more so in female rankings, since difference between first two is only 34 points. So every mistake counts, as well as every curve. Kristijan, the official meteorologist Good day everyone, and welcome to another classical weather report Here is the situation for 14.00 hours local time. We see a high pressure system above our part of Europe, which is above Istria With these stable conditions the fair weather is guaranteed. Godfrey, the competition director Again, we set out for Brgud. Today’s route is 65,5 km long, longer than race yesterday. I am locking on to climb soon after takeoff. Day is quite different than one behind. Updrafts are present but cumulus clouds are not, meaning there is no condensation of the moisture. Present high pressure system will last only for two more days. Cirrus and cirrostratus are only clouds in the sky, which suggests upcoming change of the weather. We sail above the Uchka ridge, and approach the summit. Flying by summit of Uchka is a unique experience. Behind towers and other objects I can see the City of Opatija, and further towards the City of Rijeka. Race is again set over the Chicharija plateau, above which there are no cumulus clouds today. I fly towards the checkpoint above Lupoglav. After completing the checkpoint I turn back to Uchka. Today I have plenty of altitude above Lupoglav, so I can casually fly over yesterdays landing spot. Anyway, distance between me and the ground is shortening. Sinking even lower I manage to stay up using slope winds only. Being low I am forced to use any updraft available. Of course, circling above power lines is not something to recommend. But lacking any suitable landing, I manage to ride up, away from lines. A colleague is joining me. We climb into the blue, and set off to the third point. Crossing Uchka again, this time from the north. The next point is over Paz, a village above the field of Boljun. Thermals are getting weak and rare. The usable part of the day is coming to an end. I manage to cross Paz quite low. Village is visually dominated by the 15.th century fort. It is late. I cannot find any thermals above field of Boljun. 3 hours and 40 kilometers after the start of the race, I will land. I am landing near few pilots who finished here too. By landing in groups we make it easier for the official retrieve to find us, pick us up, and return to Roch. It the last day of the anticyclone. The cold front is approaching from the west, with south and south-westerly winds picking up ahead. The most famous Istrian take off spot for south winds is Raspadalica, few kilometers away from Roch. A road goes through the willage of Gornja Nugla. Like Roch, Nugla is also known from Glagolitic era. In the year 1405 the local Church of St. Jelena bought the famous Missal of the prince Novak Didislavich. We arrive to the destination after a short ride on the macadam road. Raspadalica takeoff is one of most beautiful and most organized in Croatia. It is on a plateau, 545 meters above sea level. Beautiful scenery includes the City of Buzet on the west, northern Istria, and the Uchka Mountain towards south-east. The wind is quite strong. Accurate wind speeds are determined with help of the measuring equipment. Strong and gusty winds make deciding about today’s race difficult. Fortunately, we are never short of brave probes. One of best Croatian pilots will check air conditions with a test flight. It seems like the wind is slowing down. Official meteorologist gives a sign to go. Start was not successful. Conditions are not suitable for a safe take off, and the wind is picking up. After short consultations today’s task is cancelled. Plenty of wind makes some think they can take off without a paraglider. But flying is not the only activity available. On the way back we make a stop and visit a proven terrain for the abseiling, the controlled descent down a rock face using a rope, under a supervision of the experienced climber. From the top of the rock we can see Upper Nugla, the village wee passed through on the way up. After setting ropes and bolts, bravest ones are ready to go. A distance between the summit and the base is some 20 meters. Looking down the abyss feels unnerving, and the hardest part is to let go and decide to go down. However, our able instructor is on top of things. Not like flying, still very exciting. Altitude is not as high, but it is impressive never the less. For the last 10 meters rock bends inward. Rest of the descent resembles an elevator ride along a small cave in the rock base. The gear is hanged on a rope and pulled up, where another candidate awaits. After a thrilling climbing experience we return to Roch. The rest of this day we will use to enjoy some classic tourist past-time. We board the bus and set off to Porech. The first scene on this trip is the old town Buzet, with numerous churches and a 15. th century middle age architecture, The Great and the Minor City Gate from 16.th century, and the old Captain`s Palace from 17.th century. We drive below Motovun. The best preserved middle age fort in Istria can be seen on a top of the steep hill. In ancient times, Iliric and Celt tribes built forts on the site where Motovun is situated today. Name of the city originates from Celtic word Montona, meaning the town on a hill. Next we will pass through Vizinada and Višnjan. We are passing by old Istrian stone houses, characteristically red soil -crljenica- with olive orchards, vineyards, Mediterranean plantation... ...and new touristic estates. We arrive in Porech, the most visited touristic destination of Istria and Croatia. In the city there are 30 hotels with more than 95.000 beds, 13 auto camps, nudist camps, 16 apartment estates, villas, bungalows, and family houses. We will spend this afternoon in the Blue Lagoon, tourist settlement situated within luxurious natural Mediterranean park. The lagoon is located south of the center of Porech. The most prominent feature is the Water Sports Center, connected with others by beautiful promenade. Nine beaches and one marina of the Blue Lagoon complex are awarder with the Blue flag, which symbolizes protection of the environment and the nature. Despite strong winds some still manage to fly. South wind is getting stronger, forthcoming upcoming change of weather. But there is enough time for swimming and lying in the sun. It is the last day of the competition. A beautiful morning followed after cold front, thunderstorms and rain. After such a change, mandatory wind in this area is -the bura- from north-east. That is not good for flying from Raspadalica, so we wait for a change in the wind direction. Welcome to the last task briefing for this competition. We are still not shore if there will be a task. First, we go to the CCR020, the 2 kilometers radius cylinder. Next on the way is the first turn point Chrnica. After Chrnica we go down the ridge towards the Church of St. Toma. (STC056) Then we fly to the Curve starting place, (TAV510). After that we fly along the ridge again. As you can see today’s task is mainly above the ridge. Next turn point is above the factory in Roch (RTV036) After that we fly out, towards quarry in Chiritez (TKA027) Keep in mind that this cylinder has 1 kilometer radius. Finally, we arrive to the official goal line (BSP155), and the end of the race. The windsock is calming down. Bura is getting weak, and the wind direction is about to change. The test pilot is ready. Slavonian pilot is highly skilled, and very soon he is off. There will be flying after all! Pilots check their equipment, gather wings and move towards take off. In the mean time, our probe reached the cloud base. Conditions are good, obviously, and the race begins. From a steep slope at the edge of the plateau, a flock of colorful wings is taking off. Soon they fill up the sky. There is an abundance of thermals, and we reach 900 meters in no time. Updraft is stable, but the air mass is never docile, especially within a thermal. Paragliders possess no solid internal structure, so they are susceptible to turbulence and prone to collapses. A skilled pilot keeps his craft under the control, and the flight goes on. We pass 1500 meters above sea level. Wings are everywhere, and by their position I can visualize position and shape of thermals. A cloud street is stretching towards north-west, all the way to Slovenia and the City of Koper. I reach the first turn point above CHrnica. Here I join rest of the group. After some time we set off to the second turn point near Roch. Again, I fly above Raspadalica, this time at altitude of 1700 meters. But I sink fast trying to reach next turn point. Near Roch I am on the ridge again, striving to stay up. Another joins me. We seek next thermal together, but keep sinking even lower. It seems I will end this race before the goal too. Still, there is a hope. Sun is shining on crop fields in the valley, and something is cooking above. Vario decides to make a beep. My companion and I are resolved to make a use of this lift. The air is not rising evenly within a thermal. Sometimes I am higher, sometimes the other pilot is. Eventually, a stable lift takes us to the cloud. We are off the hook! We can relax and refresh. Air temperature is about 17 degrees lower here than 1700 meters below. Other pilots thermal under the cloud too, being careful not to be sucked in. Inside a cloud there is almost no visibility, like in a fog. It really is. Whilst hovering in fresh air under the cloud, above landscape of the Green Istria, I am calm and tense at the same time. I strive towards second turn point, towards Uchka and Kvarner in the south-east. One group is gaining altitude before the last part of the race. I join them. Turning towards next turn point. Altitude and thermals, I have plenty of both. Colorful flock of wings is sailing in the blue sky. There are no waves behind them, only invisible tracks in the air. I am getting low, but it doesn`t matter anymore. The goal is here. Dear competitors, I want to greet you in the name of the City of Buzet, and from me personally. Valter, the mayor of Buzet I wish to thank you for choosing Roch and Buzet, and being seven days in our company. I believe you will a keep fond memory of Roch and Buzet during following year, when I expect something similar to be organized here again. In the meantime, I invite you to come and fly in our area. Thank you again, and I wish you best of luck. Thank you very much.