Race & Rally: Day 4

After spending the night at yesterday's goal, Lake Wales Florida, we got a text message telling us to move to Quest Air for the day.  After a quick breakfast we drove to Groveland Florida and setup.  Davis gave us the weather forecast; light winds, blue skies, and relatively low top-of-climb (4000 feet / 1220 m).  We were staying local since the winds to the north were predicted to be too high for flying today and tomorrow.  Carl presented the task, a 4-sided polygon that started at Quest Air, extended south to the intersection of Route 33 and 474, then back to the northwest to a turn point at Center Hill Florida, then northeast to a turn point 5 km from an airfield called Flying Baron Estates, then back south to Quest.  Total distance was 101 km (63.1 miles).

Pilots rushed to get ready in the 45 minutes between the morning meeting and the opening of the launch window.  Most of my time was spent entering the data for 3 new waypoints into my flight computer.  Although rushed, most pilots seemed ready to go when the tugs fired up.

I was about 20th in line and could see the earlier pilots were sticking.  I had a quick tow behind Russell and was dropped off in a good climb.  Most of the field was bouncing off the inversion at the top of lift for nearly an hour and were glad when the first start time rolled around.

I had a good start but made a minor mistake stopping for a climb that wasn't worth it near the first turn point.  However, a strong climb north of the gliderport allowed me to reconnect with most of the lead gaggle.  It was a good day; I saw several pilots make low saves with strong thermals forming almost to the ground.  Although uncomfortably low a few times, I never thought landing was imminent.

I was too cautious on my final, but after my poor showing yesterday, I wanted to be at goal so I arrived about 500 feet (150m) too high.  I wasn't fast, but did get to watch many pilots land.

Almost everyone was in a good mood after a long, fun, and safe, day of flying.  The drivers, including mine, didn't have to leave the shade tree all afternoon.

Amy after a grueling afternoon of not chasing.

Richard (Looking for sponsorship from a beer company?)

Stories

Red Shoes

Flights: 1, Duration: 2:57, Distance: 63.1 miles

Race & Rally: Day 3

It was a bit funky today on the Race & Rally.  The weather was much better than yesterday, but still breezy, blue, and low.  Excitement replaced "bad weather jokes" as everyone busied themselves with preparation for a day of racing at the Marion County Airport in Dunnellon Florida.

The task was a 152 km (95 mile) dog leg through Quest Air to the Lake Wales airport to the south.

We had an ordered launch with a 30 minute open launch at the beginning.  A few pilots took advantage of the open window, but most waited for their allocated turn.  The climbs initially looked weak but it was soon apparent that some pilots were climbing higher than predicted.

My number was in the middle of the queue and gliders were already near the 15 km (9.3 mile) start circle when I launched.  I had a long, but reasonably smooth, tow to 1900 feet (580 m) where I released into a climb.  (The vario wasn't beeping on one long stretch, even behind the tug).

I drifted through the start circle 1 minute before the next 15-minute clock, so I flew back upwind for 0.3km to get the 2:45 start time.  That was my first mistake, as I lost my flying buddies Dean and Pete.

I glided down across the trees but finally found a climb and became instantly popular with a half-dozen pilots in the area.  My newly adopted gaggle (Charlie, John, Alex, and a few others) was making progress, but was flying too far west towards the sea breeze for my taste, so I made a 90-degree turn to the east when I saw someone climbing.  Second mistake.

I had a couple other climbs and glides but deviated from course line, got low and pinned to a field northwest of Groveland.  Third mistake.  I hovered down in the westerly sea breeze for a no-step landing.

Aside from landing 1/2 way into the task, I had a 1+ mile hike out to a locked gate.  Fourth mistake.  At least the cows kept me company.

I later learned a dozen or so pilots never got away from the field before the sea breeze shut everything  down.  Many of pilots from the first three starts made goal.  The gaggle from the fourth start that I ditched flew another 25 miles (40 km) or more than me  Sigh.

Still it was fun flying and I hope I make at least different mistakes tomorrow.

Flights: 1, Duration: 2:24, Distance: 43.7 miles

Race & Rally: Day 2

Amy, Richard, and I left Quest Air for the Marion County Airport in Dunnellon Florida this morning at 8 am.  We were greeted by blustery winds that never abated.  We had a short pilot's meeting at 11 am, a couple 1 hour delays, and then the day was officially cancelled.

We spent the morning using the sun to counteract the cold wind from the northwest.

Tomorrow looks flyable.

Race & Rally: Day 1

I assumed the first day of the Flytec Race & Rally would be cancelled when I awoke to rain and slate gray skies.  The forecast for increasing winds reinforced that idea.  However, when a task was presented at the morning meeting and then clearing skies without winds appeared around noon I gladly had to change my mind.  Most pilots had rigged and staged their gliders and when a pilots meeting was called as the launch window was about to open.  I assumed we would get instructions on the new launch procedures or maybe a 30 minute delay to accommodate stragglers.  However, Mitch described a rough tug approach, explained how difficult it is to tow in a west-northwest wind, and reminded everyone of the earlier forecasts for wind.  He then stated the day had been cancelled.  I was surprised, but not upset.

A small group of pilots suited up for flights and had a good time for a couple hours until the promised winds, probably reinforced with a sea-breeze, showed up.  As far as I know, everyone hovered in without incident.

I thought we were staying local, but got a text message late in the afternoon saying we would be towing out of the Marion County Airport in Dunnellon FL on Monday.  The airfield is large and provides a better angle into the forecasted northwest wind. Amy, Richard, Paris, and I will be driving north tomorrow morning.

Early

Pilots continued to pour into Quest Air Friday in preparation for the start of the Flytec Race & Rally on Sunday.  The forecast called for showers and thunderstorms after noon so I inhaled breakfast and rigged for an early morning "smoothie".

Without a doubt, it was the most beautiful tow I've ever had.  Cloud base was low, around 1300 feet (400m).  Paul towed me up to cloud base, then circled alongside the cloud until we flew across its top.  We emerged into field of brilliant white puffy balls of mist.  I pinned off and immediately flew over the tops of clouds doing wing overs until I was leaving vortices in the roiling tops of the clouds.  I flew through several cloud canyons until I emerge below the cloud base.

I gained several hundred feet in a weak climb near the field and then landed a happy man.

About an hour later I took to the skies again, after Dan G and before Roger I.  The tow was bumpy but I didn't find any climb until I was down to 1000 feet (300m) east of the field.  I followed a soaring bird to a better thermal nearby and started climbing in earnest.  Roger joined me as Dan landed.  Roger and I climbed to base around 2600 feet (800m) and then followed a lines of clouds upwind to the southwest.

The climbs were stronger and I had to run to the edges of clouds to avoid the higher base at 3200 feet (950m)  I continued to push upwind until I got low and had to turn around.  James, Ollie, Roger, and I all decided to land as a light rain started to fall.  We spiraled down and had good landings in a heavy sprinkle.

Pilots continued to launch as I broke down.  The sky continued to build and eventually we heard distant thunder which convinced many pilots that it was time to land.  Several large cells moved through before a few more pilots launched later in the afternoon.

A large group of us had dinner at Red Wing before returning to the club house for the evening.  The first meeting of the Race & Rally is Saturday evening.

Flights: 2, Duration: 1:27, Distance: 12 mile triangle