Bicc Pau

[Diamond Dave]

Thanks Albert, so in someways you are thinking along the same lines as me.....?
But the main thing is you are not telling me I am a muppet for thinking about it.
Murrays' post also 'suggested' it could be a good opportunity.
Where I got my birds from, they sent their young birds to 430 miles so I am thinking the yearlings should do 500 easily.

[Bowbroom]

It’s not so much about the distance but the conditions on the day and it’s that determines the time on the wing
600 miles into a warm tail wind is a world away from 400 miles into a stiff head wind

[Diamond Dave]

Thanks for that BB. - do you have a good long range weather forecast that you use.?
I use XC weather and the bbc weather app which doesnt do France. I also like the BBC weather map UK
which gives you a good graphic of cloud and rain down as far as Spain but nothing that forecasts beyond 5 or 7 days.

[Bowbroom]

Try the Met office site

[Murray]

It’s not so much about the distance but the conditions on the day and it’s that determines the time on the wing
600 miles into a warm tail wind is a world away from 400 miles into a stiff head wind

That's right, it's the hours on the wing that get them.

[Devo1956]

This is the weather site i use, https://www.accuweather.com/en/fr/renne ... e_vignette

[Albert]

When you try to go into it in depth, it won't work, you either send Y/L or you don't. When flying south road the prevailing wind is S/W, and I don't believe that all these men that are preparing thier yearlings for these races are looking that far into the future. Any race flown in a nose wind can be difficult, its the chance you take.

[Bowbroom]

I have a simple view, if after studying all available info, and all things being equal, if I think that the birds will probably not get home on the day of liberation then I wouldn’t send if a winning bird can’t get home on the day then imo it’s not a race anymore it’s a homing event too many factors outside your and the birds control.
As far as yearlings go, they’re only yearlings for a year they’re old birds for the rest of their lives, experience and patience has always been my watchword
I have sent young birds to 372 miles and yearlings to 450 miles on the days when I thought they could do it on the day

[Diamond Dave]

When you try to go into it in depth, it won't work, you either send Y/L or you don't. When flying south road the prevailing wind is S/W, and I don't believe that all these men that are preparing thier yearlings for these races are looking that far into the future. Any race flown in a nose wind can be difficult, its the chance you take.

Yes Albert, I can't find a satisfactory weather forecast that indicates where the wind is going to be.
The Bicc is a bit better than some other organisations because you don't need to book them in advance.
So, I am preparing a couple of yearlings anyway in the hope the weather is going to be kind - if not, they won't go.
I have 2 x 2yo that weren't good enough to go to Pau that will be going anyway.

[Diamond Dave]

I have a simple view, if after studying all available info, and all things being equal, if I think that the birds will probably not get home on the day of liberation then I wouldn’t send if a winning bird can’t get home on the day then imo it’s not a race anymore it’s a homing event too many factors outside your and the birds control.
As far as yearlings go, they’re only yearlings for a year they’re old birds for the rest of their lives, experience and patience has always been my watchword
I have sent young birds to 372 miles and yearlings to 450 miles on the days when I thought they could do it on the day

Cheers BB, I like the philosophy but it seems that in this day and age, and for whatever reason, experienced birds are getting lost too.
In anycase, my yearlings have already been over the channel 3 times this year so is there any reason I can't
call them 'experienced' rather than call them yearlings?