Irish National Hot Air Ballooning Championships

Trotter

21st September... The balloons are back!!

I'm playing a part in organising the National Ballooning Championships this year and I'm delighted to say we've got it back to Waterford. Some of you might remember the event in 2001 when there were 30+ balloons flying over the city twice a day.

If everyone can pray, hope, dance etc. for decent weather, we'd really appreciate it!! For the week of the 21st, we need low winds and some sun please!

Theres a lot of pilots signed up for the event this year and there'll be a number of launch sites around the city and county. There'll be a couple of launches at least from the park.

For those of you who are really interested in photography, there should be some great chances to get some interesting shots.

I just hope the weather is ok.. it'd be nice to see Waterford in the news for something good for a change.

The way it'll work will be probably 2 launches a day from different sites depending on the wind speed / direction. One will be at 7:30am ish and the other later in the evening.

Dub13

Is the end of September the best time of the year to be having something like this if you need the weather to pay its part..?

I know its pot luck in this country anyway.

Sully

Hey Trotter, can you PM with any info you got on that and links to past photos. Would be much obliged thanks.

Trotter

Dub13 wrote: »

Is the end of September the best time of the year to be having something like this if you need the weather to pay its part..?

I know its pot luck in this country anyway.

Would you have preferred to have it in June or July? We could have watched them all take off and streak across the sky only to be challenged by the RAF in a matter of minutes

September is as good a month as any.. and it has been successful in that month before. I completely agree with you though.. its pot luck.

kensutz

Hoping to get some photographs of the event and maybe some behind the scene shots too

Trotter

kensutz wrote: »

behind the scene shots

Me asleep in the back of a landrover is about as exciting as the behind the scenes get lol

What kind of shots are you after? Maybe I can assist!

kensutz

Just some stuff for the papers. I know the chances of getting into a balloon will be impossible.

mike65

The weather will be fine. I did a deal with God, its why summer has been shiote

Mike.

Trotter

mike65 wrote: »

The weather will be fine. I did a deal with God, its why summer has been shiote

Mike.

You B*st*rd... Its your fault I'm counting down the days to meeting my new batch of primary school clients who have spent the "summer" eating sugar and playing playstation. They'll be like human fireworks in the classroom... Hallucinating thinking theres a heap of balloons floating past the window lol

Dub13

I hope you get the weather,I presume the wind is the main thing you need to avoid.

Trotter

Dub13 wrote: »

I hope you get the weather,I presume the wind is the main thing you need to avoid.

A little bit of a light breeze is ok.. anything over that is a no go. Its too difficult to inflate them when its windy. Besides.. its a hairy feeling landing in something with no wheels when you're zipping along at 10-15mph.

Trotter

Here's some photos of the 2001 championships in Waterford. I'll add any more that I come across during the week.

Aquos76

Here is the Launch Schedule for this event. The base HQ for the event will be the Manor Court Hotel on the old Kilmeaden road and flights will take place in the vicinity of the city throughout the week.

Launch Schedule

Sunday 21st Sept

1800 First mass launch – The Peoples Park

2100 Welcome function hosted by Mayor of Waterford City

Mon 22nd Sept

0800 Mass launch, Fahey,Smarts Castle

1800 Mass launch, The People's Park, Waterford

2030 Press evening – night glow - public welcome, The North Quay Ferrybank (Tues and Thurs eve as alternatives if weather unsuitable)

Tues 23rd Sept

0800 Mass launch, Manor court Hotel and Mount Congrieve Field

1800 Mass launch, The People's Park, Waterford

Wed 24th Sept

0800 Mass launch, Fahey,Smarts Castle

1800 Mass Launch, Lismore Castle, County Waterford

2130 Sponsors and all crews BBQ / Dinner function (Venue TBA)

Thurs 25th Sept

0800 Mass Launch, Faithlegg Hotel & Golf Club practice area

1800 Mass Launch, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny

Fri 26th Sept

0800 Mass launch, The People's Park, Waterford

1800 Mass Launch, Fly in Task

The public are welcome to call the Championships Hotline — 087 9300700 prior to each scheduled flight for details of whether the flights are going ahead and their location.

The public are actively encouraged to come out and see the balloons as they launch. Parking and viewing facilities will be provided. The balloons will make a spectacular display in the skies over Waterford so bring your camera

mike65

http://www.wetterzentrale.de/pics/avnpanel1.html

Mike.

Heathen

cool.. i was only living here a year when this happened last, it was great, back then we actually had summers.. infact me and the lads used to have all our hols taken by the end of the summer cos we used to take days off when it was nice and go boozing,, funny that in the last 3 years i have had on average 10 days left at the ned of the year cos we dont actually get summers anymore BOOOOURNS!!

Dub13

Some great Pics there from 2001,looks like it was a great day.

How much do they cost...?they must also cost a lot to fuel.

Trotter

Dub13 wrote: »

Some great Pics there from 2001,looks like it was a great day.

How much do they cost...?they must also cost a lot to fuel.

Depends on the size of the basket and the envelope (the big bit!) The bigger the balloon the more it costs to keep the air hot because you're using more gas.

You're looking at 15k+ for the whole lot..

Redundo

Weather forecasts for next week are available here and synoptic charts are here.

Would photographers, and by that i mean amateurs, be allowed access to the take-off events? And what kind of access could we expect? Would there be restrictions of any kind?

Trotter

Redundo wrote: »

Weather forecasts for next week are available here and synoptic charts are here.

Would photographers, and by that i mean amateurs, be allowed access to the take-off events? And what kind of access could we expect? Would there be restrictions of any kind?

You'll be allowed quite close to the balloons. Take the park for example.. The balloons took off from the pitch last time and the crowd were kept at the cycle track. Thats close enough to get some good shots. There won't be flights for the general public.

The take off schedule will be updated as much as possible on the pilots page of the event website..http://www.waterfordballooningclub.com

kensutz

Looking forward to the early morning take offs. Seeing as I'm working evenings it should give me a good opportunity to get in there most days.

Trotter

kensutz wrote: »

Looking forward to the early morning take offs. Seeing as I'm working evenings it should give me a good opportunity to get in there most days.

I won't be around on the morning flights but if you'll be around for the first flight on Sunday night, probably from the park, drop me a PM.

The night glow on the North Quays should be a photographers heaven. It's pencilled in for Tuesday night at 10ish I think.

Aquos76

Trotter wrote: »

The night glow on the North Quays should be a photographers heaven. It's pencilled in for Tuesday night at 10ish I think.

Well thats according to this weeks N&S, they say 10pm on Tuesday night, but from the official website they are saying Monday night at 8.30 which is a more realistic time in my opinion. 10pm on a school night is to late I would imagine.

Mon 22nd Sept
0800 Mass launch, Fahey,Smarts Castle

1800 Mass launch, The People's Park, Waterford

2030 Press evening – night glow - public welcome, The North Quay Ferrybank (Tues and Thurs eve as alternatives if weather unsuitable)

Trotter

Aquos76 wrote: »

Well thats according to this weeks N&S, they say 10pm on Tuesday night, but from the official website they are saying Monday night at 8.30 which is a more realistic time in my opinion. 10pm on a school night is to late I would imagine.

K.. I'll confirm that the night glow is on Tuesday night at approximately 9:30pm. Thanks for spotting the website mistake

The reason its so late is that theres a scheduled mass launch earlier that evening and by the time the pilots launch, fly for a while, get picked up by the retreive vehicles, and back to the North Quays, 9:30pm is even putting us on a very tough schedule.

greatgoal

hope the weather holds out guys,best of luck,raging ill miss this,ill be down there with the missus from the 3rd to the 6th oct....ah well.

mike65

Bump, I've bought some filum are we going to try to organise a group snap session for any of this? And where is Smarts Castle?

Mike.

kensutz

I'll have me cameras with me. Smarts Castle is out Dunkitt way afaik

mike65

Found it - between Mullinabro and Dunkitt (highish flat ground which makes some sense!)

Mike.

Trotter

Website updated with launch site map!

Its not technically spectacular but it does the trick

Launch Site Map


Weather looks good.. wind seems slightly quick though so inflating the balloons may be a bit of work.

Pilots are arriving steadily now too so its looking good for this evening.

If I can help the photographers out at the launch site lads I'll do what I can. The public won't be flying but I'll try to get you into good spots on the ground at least.

Trotter

Interview with the event director on WLR now lads!

Dub13

Whats the weather like for you lot down there...?its very nice in Dublin.

Trotter

Weather is glorious.. slightly cloudy but lots of sun. Slightly on the windy side for the balloons but we expect that to drop off around 6pm.. The weather Gods seem to be smiling on us. The drop off in the wind speed is supposed to happen tomorrow also its all looking good.

Aquos76

Trotter, whats the "Fly in task" on Friday evening, All the other events have a launch location, but nothing is listed for this one.

Dub13

Trotter wrote: »

Weather is glorious.. slightly cloudy but lots of sun. Slightly on the windy side for the balloons but we expect that to drop off around 6pm.. The weather Gods seem to be smiling on us. The drop off in the wind speed is supposed to happen tomorrow also its all looking good.

Sounds like its all setting up nicely for you all,I hope it goes well and we have some good pics here over the next few days.

Trotter

Aquos76 wrote: »

Trotter, whats the "Fly in task" on Friday evening, All the other events have a launch location, but nothing is listed for this one.

Ah yes.. the oul fly in. I love this one.

"Fly-in task - The launch field becomes the goal and the pilots are dispatched to take-off from a launch point of their choice a minimum distance away. A large target is laid out on the launch field."

Basically its a map and wind management exercise.. You have a designated landing field which is given to the pilots on the morning (co-ordinates / grid ref etc). They take off from wherever they like once its outside the distance set by the officials.

They then have to fly in and try to drop the balloon in the landing zone. The craic comes in when you take off because balloons can't steer!!

The good fly in pilot picks a point that he knows the wind direction will blow the balloon right across the landing zone.. maybe 8 - 10km away.

Closest to the zone wins!

SO.. I won't be telling anyone the landing zone for that one because its top secret. So much so that I havent been told yet either.

There's no official mass launch site because all the pilots will be trying to outwit each other and take off from places where they think they'll pick up the right wind to take them over the landing zone.

Many will get it wrong and head off all over the place! Once you're wrong, theres no point worrying about it, ya can't really steer back!

Last time I did the navigation for it, I was absolutely sure I was on a winner and the spot I'd chosen would lift us into the right wind direction and we'd go NW right into the zone 10km away. I even put up helium balloons (the little ones!) and watched them sail off in the direction of the zone. We inflated the balloon in a field behind a chaps house. The pilot said to me.. "Are you sure this is the right place now?".. I said I was and off we went....

.. in the opposite direction :rolleyes:

chickenhawk

Trotter wrote: »

.. in the opposite direction :rolleyes:

Brilliant!!

Can't wait for it. Hope the weather holds out!!

I'll also have to remember that ye have right of way!

Trotter

chickenhawk wrote: »

I'll also have to remember that ye have right of way!

Hehe.. Are you a pilot yourself?

chickenhawk

Trotter wrote: »

Hehe.. Are you a pilot yourself?

CPL at the moment. Everyone I've been talking to is looking forward to some air to air shots. But don't worry we'll stay well out of your way.

Trotter

Just to all the lads who are taking photos at the event, I'll have my camera too but I'll be seriously busy at the launches.

Could I ask for a few photos to be sent my way? The last time I had no chance to take photos and I was the only fella in Waterford who had none, and I'd spent my days workin on the flippin thing.

kensutz

I'll sort you out as promised

kazper

hi guys, was just out the front chatting to neighbour when 2 hot air baloons passed over us , castlecomer co. kk, was this just a test thing or what? a blue one and a smart telecom balloon, looked cool, got some pics byut have to find camera lead

Trotter

Yeah that was just a few of us making the best of the weather! It was excellent flying weather this evening.

kazper

yeah it was very cool to watch, will ye be heading this direction again in the championship, would love to see some more and my daughter was amazed, she thought it was a giant parachute, never heard of a hot air balloon, bless her.

Sully

Trotter: Those pictures you included, are they yours?

Trotter

kazper wrote: »

yeah it was very cool to watch, will ye be heading this direction again in the championship, would love to see some more and my daughter was amazed, she thought it was a giant parachute, never heard of a hot air balloon, bless her.

Theres going to be a mass launch from Belline Equestrian Centre on Thursday night. Thats where we took off from this evening. You can expect a whole lot of parachutes in the sky that night There was lots of spectators there this evening too! Maybe you could take your daughter on Thursday night to watch the launch?

Sully wrote: »

Trotter: Those pictures you included, are they yours?

I didnt take them but I got them from a friend of the family who was there last time. Why do you ask?

Sully

Trotter wrote: »

I didnt take them but I got them from a friend of the family who was there last time. Why do you ask?

I'm doing the detailed page for the event on Discover Tramore (the brief one is already up) which I hoped to include pictures of previous events but I dont use photos without permission from the copyright holder.

Trotter

Sully wrote: »

I'm doing the detailed page for the event on Discover Tramore (the brief one is already up) which I hoped to include pictures of previous events but I dont use photos without permission from the copyright holder.

None of those are in Tramore Thats like doing the Discover Waterford site and putting the Pyramids on it!




In terms of copyright, I'm not actually sure who took the photos. I just asked a friend if there was any around. I suspect they came from a few different people. Sorry I'm not much help on that front.

Sully

Trotter wrote: »

None of those are in Tramore Thats like doing the Discover Waterford site and putting the Pyramids on it!

I put some Waterford City events on the Events Guide also, as a lot of tourists like to move around a bit between the different places surrounding Tramore. This would be an event a lot of tourists would love to go see so I have it listed.

In terms of copyright, I'm not actually sure who took the photos. I just asked a friend if there was any around. I suspect they came from a few different people. Sorry I'm not much help on that front.

Its okay, I can work around it

Trotter

Sully wrote: »

Its okay, I can work around it

Fingers crossed there'll be plenty of better ballooning ones around this time next week anyway!

mike65

I just drove around the Smartcastle area and its going to be shouded in fog I'd say, there is no local high point to get above it for pix either.

Mike.

Trotter

mike65 wrote: »

I just drove around the Smartcastle area and its going to be shouded in fog I'd say, there is no local high point to get above it for pix either.

Mike.

Have faith young Michael.. haven't the people we ordered the weather from today done the business?

Trotter

To answer my own question there, our weather producing people may not have been so spectacular at all!

The forecast is for no rain this evening but the wind speed and direction is not looking helpful.