East Coast Championship - Day 6

We had our sixth flying day in row at the East Coast Championship today.  The forecast indicated showers and/or thunderstorms would develop late in the day, so the task committee selected a 59.2 km out-and-back for the open class and a small 35.9 km triangle for the sport class.  We also used earlier launch and start times.

The initial climbs in the 5 km start circle were weak but consistent.  Most of the field took the first start time. I had a great start with Larry, but decided to glide down the west side of the Choptank River while he chose the east side.  He and Paris hit a strong climb while the rest of us suffered with weak and broken lift as we drifted off course line to the west.

I got stuck low at the first turn point.  I cobbled together a couple climbs until Christian marked a good climb that lifted us high enough to venture upwind.  I became ultraconservative as I watched Christian, Jim, JD, and Charlie land below.  Mauricio turned back to join me in the anemic thermal that became my new home.

We spent a long, long, long time slowly climbing as the sky over-developed, cleared out, and then started filling with inviting cumulus again.  Our persistence paid off as we slowly clawed our way up to a newly forming cloud.  From there, we flew back home to goal.

Mauricio at goal!

Rich won the day, humiliating the rest of the field!

Rich

(The task committee is a big fan of Rich after he presented some home-brew beer to the committee as thanks for our attempt to call acceptable tasks.)

Brian, Nick, Randy, and I drove into Denton for dinner this evening. After a good meal the Public House Restaurant and Pub, we walked through a car show on main street.

The scores are available on Soaring Spot.

Flights: 1, Duration: 3:29, Distance: 36.8 miles