Florida Ridge: Day Five

A short downwind barbecue task to the Lake Placid airfield was called today so we could get back in time for the awards ceremony and a nice dinner prepared by the folks from the Gator Bait bar and restaurant we often visit. The winds were so strong early this morning that I quit setting up my glider. However, by 11am the gusts disappeared and the winds slowly relaxed. I continued to push myself to be more aggressive so I decided to take the first start gate today even if no one else did. I launched early and quickly climbed to the top of lift that wasn't much higher than tow height. I soon had the entire field bobbing up and down at the top of lift with me while we drifted away. The start clock flipped over and no one immediately left. I was going to go, but I wanted some company on this mostly blue windy day with a low ceiling. Oleg finally headed out and his little squad followed. I expected to see Oleg turn around and hopefully trick a few into going without him. However he kept going. We glided over the swamp and forest north of the Florida Ridge that is definitely not inviting. Everyone was zig zagging around looking for lift. We would fine little bumps, but nothing that most of us wanted to turn in. I saw a cloud form and quickly dry up over a quarry so I decided to check it out. Oleg and a few of his group also headed towards that area. After a couple of turns Oleg and his followers left, but I stayed with to other rigid wings and was rewarded with a strong climb that turned on just a few moments after the other group left. The rest of the field was groveling down low as we passed over head in the now rapidly forming clouds. I stopped for a climb that probably wasn't strong enough and Oleg started to catch up. I pressed on for a long climb towards goal. About 2/3 of the way through the glide Oleg passed by me 500 feet over my head! Oleg later told me that I took a bad line and he caught up by staying more east directly under the forming clouds instead of the upwind of the clouds like I did. One more quick climb and I headed into goal. After landing just short of goal yesterday, I wanted some more altitude in the bank before I left but not so much that I would come into goal with too much altitude. I left when the machine said I had 500 feet. Unlike yesterday, I was hit with strong lift just before the end of the runway. It was too turbulent to fly really fast, so I couldn't convert the lift into speed.

I was second flexie for the day behind Oleg. Linda and Mark both made goal. It was Mark's first trip to goal. Lauren, flying in the sport class also made goal for the first time today.

From the beginning, I viewed this meet as a practice competition. My main goal was to fly more agressively, especially on final glide. (I am tired of arriving at goal late and with several thousand feet of altitude). I pushed myself and came in second only to Oleg on two of the three days. I pushed too hard and landed short of goal on the second day, but it was good to see how far I can really push. I am already looking forward to my next competition to see how much I really (re)learned.

Florida Ridge: Day Four

The weather finally cooperated today. Haze domes and wispy clouds started appearing about 1 hour before the noon launch window opened. We had a task that took us north northwest to a point west of Lake Placid, then northwest to an intersection and then into the wind back to the airport Avon Park. Most of us took the first start clock and began our journey. The lift was mixed today; some climbs were weak and broken while others were smooth and strong. The wind from the south southeast continued to increase during the day and probably accounted for some of the broken lift late in the task. Almost everyone got slowed up somewhere today. I was very low south of Lake Placid and warned Monica that I might be landing. I found a nasty little thing that slowly turned into something useful, but I lost the lead gaggle in the process. Once I got back into the game, I lost GPS reception and had to circle back after passing the first turn point. I had another slow climb and then things improved. I ran a nice line of haze domes to the second turn point and then turned into the wind. The first half of the last leg was fine, but then the bottom fell out. I got hammered with serious long-lasting sink and was soon struggling to just stay in the air. Once again I radioed to Monica that I was low, drifting from field to field about 15 km west of Avon Park. I did anything to just stay in the air. I was drifting away from the airport, but was slowly climbing. I finally had enough to make a run to the airport. The flight computer said I had goal by 400 feet. I actually believed it this time. About a mile from the airport I got slammed with heavy sink and it became obvious I wasn't going to make it. I did my best to sweet talk my glider towards goal. I end up landing at the end of the runway on the airport, but was 1300 feet short of goal. Crap.

There were more happy people at goal today, including Bo who offered some sound advice on getting the most out of a marginal final glide. I just heard that Linda landed 5 miles short of goal and Mark landed near the first turnpoint.

Florida Ridge: Day Three

Everyone was ready to fly this morning, but the wind started picking up and you could tell pilots were concerned by the way the talked and kept looking up whenever a gust would come through. However, Davis was convinced the winds would back down later in the day and they did. The task committee called for a late 3:00 start and a funky course to the southwest, then to the northwest, then back to the first turn point, and then to a small airport to the south. Although the wind backed down, there were no signs of lift in the blue and no one wanted to go first. Finally some of us got bored and launched.

My first climb was amazingly good, good enough that I thermalled up while stowing my tow line. I was in a thermal with Oleg, Scott, another flex wing and a rigid wing. I missed the next climb just as the start window opened. I found another climb and was ready for the second and last start gate. It would have been nice to fly with Oleg and Scott since the people that joined me, with the exception of Campbell, followed but didn't help search. I got low at the first turn point and passed Oleg coming back. Ouch.

I headed out to the second turn point low over nothing but orange groves. I prepared a landing technique for orange groves as I groveled low towards the second turn point. I found a reasonable climb and several other pilots behind me joined in. We got high at the second turn point and headed back to the third (first) turn point. I stayed on course line while everyone else veered to the north. I found a sweet smooth 500 fpm climb that let me shake everyone except Campbell. I got down to 600 after rounding the third turn point and once again had to venture over the orange groves to snag a climb.

I went on final glide with the machine saying I had it by 400 feet. It sure didn't look like I had it, but the machine kept sticking with 400 feet. I kept hearing Mike Barber (in his Star Wars "use the force" voice) saying "trust the machine, Tom". I was getting concerned about landing short in the swamp when I spotted a couple of birds crossing my path heading to a circling buzzard to my right. Once again I heard Mike say, "don't follow the birds", but I did. I should have listened. The bird stopped circling and moved on. Now I was too far away and sinking fast. I called Monica on the radio as I got below the top of the cell tower next to my intended LZ. Right after Monica confirmed my message I found a weak bubble that finally got me high enough to make another attempt. This time I left with -40 showing on the machine. I guess I was fed up! I made it in with just enough altitude to snag the goal and swing around and land.

I was the second flex wing in for the day behind Oleg, but lost a lot of points for following the birds. I lost 24 minutes that I probably didn't need to lose. Another lesson relearned.

Plant Along Fisheating Creek

Beach on Fisheating Creek