38 58 10.92 N,75 52 0.00 W,Highland Aerosports, Ridgely,
Maryland, USA

Again lots of conflicts in the forecasts. The stationary front
over us causing uncertainty. Seems like there would be good lift at 2 PM but
after that maybe it would get very light or not. Cu's or not. The winds were
northwest but the sea breeze was predicted to come in later bringing with it a
southeast wind.

The task committee called a task to the south south east right into the teeth of
the sea breeze. Given that we had had a rough time of it last year with the very
turbulent sea breeze I was concerned.

The sky was light blue with scattered high level clouds. It didn't look
promising. Far off on the horizon we could see some cumulus development. The
forecast said that there would be rain late in the evening.

One of the wind dummies was able to stay up so we were seeing that there were
possibilities. It wasn't until almost 2 PM (the first start window) that we
started launching. Jim Prahl pulled me up at 1:55. As we headed west we flew
would some substantial lift. He then pulled me over to a turning Dave Proctor
who was actually turning in sink.

I flew back to where I left the bump on tow and at 1,500' started turning. Bruce
and Greg were pulled up right over me. We would circle around for the next half
hour never gliding and just drifting across the start circle until circling
outside the start cylinder at 2:30 PM at 4,000'. I would head out in front as
everyone else played the wait for someone else to go out in front game.

Although it had been blue over us in the 5 km start cylinder, there were a few
scattered cu's out to the south of the course line. After a few attempts turning
in sink I found 220 fpm at 2,000'. Bruce was low having taken a route to the
right. Greg was hanging back with another pilot in light lift.

This thermal attracted everyone and got about seven of us to 5,000'. There were
a few cu's ahead. The wind was 11 mph out of the northwest as we headed
southeast to the turnpoint on highway 13

We came under the next cloud and climbed to 5,300'. Greg and Bruce continued
playing the wait for you to go first game and of course I am happy to provide as
I get bored twirling around in weakening lift when there are cu's ahead. Now the
center of the peninsula was cu'ing up and the task committee has setup a second
leg for us going straight south cross wind in an area that was felt by the task
committee to have the best prospects for good lift.

Out in front, five kilometers west of the turnpoint, I was not finding the next
lift. The guys behind took a route to the south when they saw me suffering and
found lift. Not doing well, I headed south toward where I saw them high and then
upwind to get under them as best I could. Down to 900' I found a bit of broken
lift with a few circling vultures.

As I watched what seemed to be everyone else head on I held on and drifted east
climbing to 4,500' south of the turnpoint. Bob Filipchuk came in way below me as
I headed north to get the turnpoint before heading south along the course line.

The next cu's were far to the south and I was down to 1,000' after a twelve
kilometer glide on the down wind side of a field that looked like it would be
heating up. There were only trees down wind of me so not too many other places
to look for lift. I could see Greg and Bruce at cloud base high above me.

The field was cooking and going up at 380 fpm I climbed to 5,300'. Greg and
Bruce climbed to 7,000' there. As I got high I saw John Simon, who we had
scraped off in the first thermal, just above me.

There was a nice little cloud cross wind out to the south southwest and I flew
under it until getting to the upwind edge I found 260 fpm. As I headed to the
south southwest I notice for the first time that a large band of north south
clouds were headed my way shading all the ground beneath them, just like
happened the day before. The shade was just to my west. It looked like it would
catch me very soon. I headed out at 5,500'.

The ground was shaded as I headed south to the next turnout to the south
southwest. I had seen two pilots get up in shaded conditions the day before so I
was wondering if this would happen again. Out to the south east I saw little
wispies way under the cu's ahead. This was a clear sign of the sea breeze coming
in to the center of the peninsula. I was concerned about possible turbulence.

Less than kilometer from the turnpoint I stumbled into good lift at 366 fpm over
shaded ground with high overcast overhead drifting me away from the turnpoint to
the east. With my 6030 saying that it was possible to make goal around the
turnpoint I left the lift at 4,600'.

As soon as I got around the turn I was heading down wind with a ten mph tail
wind. Now the concern as I flew through the lower wispies was at what altitude
would I hit the head wind. There was only light turbulence. I kept watching my
wind component on my 6030 and it kept being positive. The head wind was only
down low all the way until I got to the goal.

Circling a friendly looking field for landing (soy beans at two inches high) I
finally found the negative numbers on my 6030 as I headed southeast and the
landing was therefore uneventful.

John, Jim, and JD landed with me a few minutes later. Bob and Greg found the
head wind and didn't quite make the goal. Bruce had arrived earlier.

After I launched there was a bit of consternation back at the airfield as John
Dullahan clipped a light standard and pounded in. He was walking around but felt
pain in his back and was helicoptered out. Sofar we've taken out three
sport class pilots and one open class pilot (who is still here and hoping to fly
in the competition again). A very messy safety record this year.