Day Three, My Worst Run So Far

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Another day with dicey weather.  Before the launch the task is switched from an Assigned Task which is too long to a Turn Area Task that has a minimum distance that is likely to be too long for the 2 1/2 hour minimum time.  The forecast is calling for a two knot average climb. 

I decide to start early today.  The usual start gate gaggle has formed with at least 30 gliders all circling at cloudbase -- round and round and round -- it seems like forever waiting on the gate to open.

The gate finally opens and we have agreement to start as early as possible.  Good start at 4500 feet.  We start out toward the west to the first turn area.  The South African Team announces a thunderstorm developing over the Danube.  As we glide toward the first turn cloudbase only lowers.  At the edge of the circle it is 3000 feet and getting lower to the north and east along the course line.

We nip the turn area and head to the northeast -- lower and lower with no lift.  We contact lift -- a one knot climb to 3000 feet -- looks grim on course.  I decide to make a huge deviation to the east where I know there are good clouds.

I reach the clouds and climb nicely to 4000 feet and resume on course.  The run is nice to the next turn with climb rates steadily increasing to 3 and 4 knots.  I have dumped my water!  It now looks like I will have to go well into the next turn area to stay over the required 2 1/2 hour minimum time.

The third leg is relatively easy, I round the next turn area 4 minutes over time.  This is good.  One more thermal may get me on final glide.  Bam!  A 6 knot thermal that grows to 7.5 and takes me to cloudbase -- and the last cloud a that.  This fantastice climb has erased my extra time.  Now I must worry about being early.  I am on final glide 35 miles from home. 

As I cruise, I am steadily losing on my glide so I slow down.  Slow down so more.  And some more.  I round the steering turn using as much of the distance as I can to get some time back on the clock.  It is raining in the steering turn.  I cruise home and land direct -- straight in. 

Another day with a crap shoot for the weather.  I have made it around but others have done much better.  I am delighted to find out the Ays Jonkers and his brother Attie have both done well.  The JS1 is proving itself nicely.

Today is another day.  All the days behind me are gone and I must simple focus on moving up the scoresheet.  Consistency is the key -- consistently good. 

WE