The task was a relatively short run to the west southwest to a turn-point south of LaBelle and then south to the airport at Immokalee.
We rigged our soggy gliders and lined up for launching.
Derrek modeling women's wear
I wanted to avoid being blown out of the start circle, so I delayed launching until 1:00, 30 minutes before the first start. I had a nice tow, climbed out with Charlie, Jim and Linda. We were at base just inside the start circle about 8 minutes before the first start. I didn't think we could maintain our position that long and decided to fly upwind to a large gaggle near launch. Big mistake. I plowed through strong sink and floundered around never finding the climb. I was just able to reach the park for another tow.
Thanks to Bill I was soon following another tug into the air. I was waved off upwind of the field just as the last start gate opened. I started pedaling as fast as I could trying to make up for lost time. I quickly caught a large gaggle, but once again lost ground as I flew off course to the west thinking I might be able to skip a climb under a nice looking line of clouds.
Several pilots caught me at the turn point were I wasted time trying to top out before heading south over very wet ground under blue sky. I was so focused on strategy, that I totally missed the turn point and had to fly 2 km back to tag it. Sigh.
After that I resigned to just getting to goal. I let a couple pilots get ahead of me as I just didn't want to risk landing short. Of course, I arrived at goal with 800 feet.
Ben at goal
Clouds chasing us
Although I didn't perform at my best, I had a great time flying with friends over lots of open fields.
Flights: 2, Duration: 2:16, Distance: 29.9 km
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