Rob Kells Memorial - Day 5 - Almost

We had a diamond-shaped 111 km (69 mile) task today.

I planned to take the first start to avoid possible problems with sea-breezes, lake-breezes, and an approaching front.  However, I let "group think" change my plans once I was in the air and in the end I landed short when the day quickly faded.

Since I had time to kill, I took pictures in the start circle.

I played one-to-many start circle games and ended up in a sub-optimal position and time.  I had a close call over a large orchard, but slammed into a strong climb that lifted me out of purgatory.  At the end of the next glide I ended up low again, but this time there was immediate ride out.  I sniff around for a long time before Derreck and I found a budding thermal that got us going again.

I was greeted by a large airliner coming at me as I approached the second turn point.  Needless to say it was impressive and a bit scary until it made a sharp turn to the south.

I quickly rounded the 2nd turn point and worked my way to the 3rd turn point with Charlie.  By then the day was dying and I glided to a large pasture field short of goal.

Once again the love-bugs were out in force.

The score is available online.

Flights: 1, Duration: 4:14, Distance: 59.3 miles

Rob Kells Memorial - Day 4 - Stuck

We had a fun task to an airfield near Lake Placid (north northwest) and then south to an intersection to the south southwest.  We had a mix of cumulus and blue sections and most importantly, the winds were light.

I got knocked off tow by a strong thermal that took me to base over the field.  I watched two tows end early below me as they also hit turbulence.  I was at the start circle for the first start, but flew back upwind and waited for the second start.  I had a great start and quickly moved ahead of most of the pack hopping from cloud to cloud.  Everything was going great until I crossed a large green field south of Lake Placid.  I got low and groveled as the pilots that started with me passed by and then the pilots from the next start time flew in as I finally started climbing again.

The rest of the trip was low drama.  I shared a mix-master with Greg and Ricker followed by a 800 fpm (4 m/s) smoothie with Jeff and a couple other pilots.  I took a weaker climb with Mark before starting a long buoyant glide into goal.  Goal was filled with many happy pilots.

We all gathered across the road at the grill for dinner, drink, and stories.

The results are available online.

Flights: 1, Duration: 4:10, Distance: 118 km (73.3 miles)

Rob Kells Memorial - Day 3 - Zero

Luckily I rarely land in the start circle.  Unluckily, today was the exception.

The task was delayed 30 minutes after a small gust front spun a Dragonfly tug and a few gliders in the launch line.  A short while later, the task committee shortened the task about 30 km.  We chilled until it was time to launch.

The launch line was chaotic today as pilots started lining up on both sides of the staging line after receiving conflicting instructions.  I ended up in a line that was stalled for awhile as the other line was cleared.  I watched several gliders land as I waited for the tug.  Oh joy.  James towed me southeast to a large cloud and didn't wave me off as we climbed through the customary height.  I took this as a sign to look upwind for a new thermal the tug pilots could us to drop pilots in.  I cruised all around the cloud and didn't find a single bump of rising air.  I finally turned tail and headed back to the flight park.

I was ready to land when I noticed several pilots turning downwind.  I knew if I missed the climb I couldn't come back to the park but went anyway.  Luckily, I found the bottom of the climb and was spared a quick landing.  I found another climb to the south but was now far south of course line.  I pushed crosswind to the north, floundered in broken lift before pushing even further north to a building cloud.  I was just too low to reach it and had to turn downwind over Mark who landed earlier.  I quickly drifted low over orchards and trees before turning into the strong wind and hovering down to a smooth landing.

A deputy sheriff stopped by to check up on me.  We had a fun discussion about hang gliding including some deprecating comments from me as I compared my performance to the gaggle floating by overhead.

Dave stopped by on his way to pick up Mark and offered me a ride back after picking up Mark, which would spare Bill a long trip to LaBelle to cross the canal.  Thanks Dave!

As expected, pilots made goal and I suspect many others covered most of the course.  Its not pleasant getting a zero for the day, but I had a fun flight and realize that sometimes things just don't work out they way we want them.  Tomorrow is another day.

Flights: 1, Duration: 0:48, Distance: 15 miles

Rob Kells Memorial - Day 2 - Dragging an Anchor

I was dragging an anchor all day yesterday and it was my fear of getting low in breezy to windy conditions.

We had a crossing downwind task to the northwest and then a crosswind leg to the north-northwest.  Total distance was 122 km (75.8).

The task was postponed for 30 minutes by the task committee.

Most of us fought the wind waiting for later start times.  I botched the first glide out of the start gate and got pinched from the main gaggle.  A secondary group formed and we slowly made our way to the first turn point.  The crosswind task was more difficult but I stayed high (and horribly slow) until I was close to goal.  I was looking at the ground close to goal, but managed to float in very late.

Lots of pilots made goal, almost all of them faster than the pilot dragging the anchor!

Flights: 1, Duration: 4:00, Distance: 75.8

Rob Kells Memorial - Day 1

I took a quick "smoothie" flight early yesterday morning to test out the first of several changes recommended by a very experienced group of pilots (Dustin, Jeff, Jochen, Paris, and Zak) Friday evening.  The change provided noticeable improvement so I made additional changes before the day's flight.  I was concerned about test-flying during a comp day, but it worked out great and the glider is handling much better.

The task for the day was a crossing downwind to the northwest, then downwind to the west, and then cross wind to the north.

I was not inspired by the sky as we staged our gliders on the field.  The sky was blue, the air a bit breezy, and no signs of lift.  However that changed as launch time approached and by the time I launched it was weakly soar-able.  We tip-toed through the sky to the first turn point.  Watching pilots occasionally land below only encouraged my cautious mood.

The day improved and the last leg was much faster.  Unfortunately, the pilots choosing the later start times flew in the better conditions and caught us.  Still, its always nice to be at goal after flying with a gaggle of good friends.

Jochen

The love bugs are outrageous.

Scores are available online.

Flights: 2, Duration: 3:26, Distance: 50 miles