32.881678,-111.854982,Francisco Grande, Casa Grande, Arizona,
USA

The task:

Three days in a row we have had cumulus clouds in Casa Grande and today we had
more than enough to make for a great task. The winds were strong out of the east
south east in the morning yet again but the forecast was for light winds after 1
PM. The task committee called a 100 km out and return task to the east to the
mountain range north of Picachio Peak. We wanted to go to the mountains again
for better lift, but we found good lift under the cumulus clouds.

It was blue all morning and until about 1 PM as the ordered launch began. I
pinned off at 1,500' AGL in light lift and climbed to over 7,000' as a gaggle of
us drifted back to the northwest in a ten mph wind. I pushed south to the nicely
forming cu's and found strong lift marked by Jonny and a few other pilots.

The timing was exquisite. Half a dozen of us were able to get to cloud base at
10,300' just as the 2 PM window opened. I was off quickly but didn't push too
hard and soon I had Zac come in under me and I was able to follow him from the
right and above as about of a dozen of us headed for the hills south of Casa
Grande.

There wasn't much lift on the hill sides so we headed for the flats to the east.
I found weak lift but after a few turns saw Zippy turning behind me in slightly
better lift. We didn't stay there before pressing ahead to find better lift.

Zac, Olaf and Joe got higher and headed east. I followed below and behind and
figured that they were just too high for me to catch up with them. I soon lost
track.

There was a very nice looking cloud just before the mountains and the lift was
quite strong. I caught up with Larry Bunner and Mitch and we climbed up in
smooth lift. Larry didn't stay in the lift as long as I did and I headed out
toward the first turnpoint at the south end of the mountains.

I was quite high at 10,700' and it was easy to get the turnpoint and then the
next one at Houser. There were plenty of cu's going back to the southwest. I saw
Larry low on the hills before the second turnpoint. Larry hadn't stayed long
enough in the good lift.

There was plenty of lift under the cu's and Mitch and I were flying back
together. After getting the third turnpoint at Chambers I headed alone out
further south. As I approached the hills south of Casa Grande I saw two pilots
way to the south. One of them looked like Zac. Did I catch up with him?

I went around the hills to get under the cu's on the west side. I had planned to
go from south to north up the ridge line but went to the cu's to try to get up
under them. I only found weak lift. I then saw Zac turning over the ridgeline
back to the east and Mitch above him. I flew back under Zac and sure enough the
lift was much better.

That's all it took to get back to the goal at the Francisco Grande.

http://soaringspot.com/2013scfr/results/flex/daily/day3.html

http://soaringspot.com/2013scfr/results/flex/total/day3.html

The flight: