http://ozreport.com/2014BigSpringNationals.php

http://soaringspot.com/2014bsn/

http://airtribune.com/bigspring2014/blog#!day_4

Replay: http://airtribune.com/play/276/2d

The clouds came but back at their regular time around 1 PM as the inversion
broke. The tasks for both the sport and open class were long with the same goal
at Brownfield with the open class having to go northeast of Brownfield to Town
and then back into the 10 - 15 mph wind 40 kilometers.

The wispies were just starting as we launched at 12:45. In spite of the blue
pilots for the most part got up right away even with the strong south winds
gusting to 19 knots at the airport. I found the best thermal and almost everyone
joined me as we climbed to over 9,500' then went searching for more as the cu's
started developing.

Conditions continued to improve but not enough to entice more than a couple of
pilots to go with the first clock or earlier. Most of us waited until the last
clock at 2:50 as there were now more cumulus clouds on the course line.

As we raced from the start cylinder close to cloud base I saw Zac and his
followers higher and heading more cross to the northeast to get under some
wispies. I saw a better looking cu ahead and knowing that I could not catch
these guys by going under them went for the cu ahead more along the course line. 
When I got to it I found 1000 fpm and screamed up. Zac and his friends joined me
as it slowed down and the thermal moved to the north.

There were now plenty of cu's ahead and it was a race of connect the dots. I was
with Barmakian, Hamilton, Zac and Barker. Bilyk and another pilot were out in
front ahead of us.

We raced under the cu's as they lined up in a cloud street going right to the
turnpoint at Town. Mitch, Barker, Bunner and I were somewhat together as we got
lined up. I had lost track of Zac who had gone further east. We moved left of
the course line to get under the street. We were climbing to over 11,500' in
strong lift and I was shivering in the cold despite five layers.

Larry found a strong one on the west side of Tahoka which got us to 11,700'.

We found more good lift to 11,000' just before the 8 km turnpoint and apparently
we had caught all the leading gaggle which were now a couple of thousand feet
below us. I didn't see them.

Turning to go to the south west 40 km to Brownfield, the situation away from the
street was much bluer and the cu's where now very thin. I had been leading out
for most of the flight as I was always a bit higher so I headed west to get
under some smaller cu's. Matt and Larry (I was in radio contact with them)
didn't quite go as far to the west.

Down to 6,500' and working 200 - 300 fpm I inched my way toward the closest cu's
in the 13 mph south wind. I saw a thicker cu ahead and was just taking enough
lift to make sure I got to it. Finally I was there and climbing.

Matt came in just under me but Larry was further east with Zac, Robin, Mike,
Olav Opsanger, Bruce, and a few others way below us. Matt and I climbed to over
10,800, twenty nine kilometers from goal and went on glide as the others worked
their way up behind us.

We knew we had to find lift to make it in but there were still a few cu's ahead.
We worked 200 - 300 fpm to get back to 8,000' (goal was 3,300') to try to keep
the projected height above goal positive. At about 15 kilometers Matt got a
little bit higher and went on glide as I continued alternating circling in much
weaker lift and gliding into the wind.

Matt said his 6030 kept showing positive numbers while mine alternated between
negative and positive. I was being as careful as possible trying to make goal
after barely missing it yesterday.

As  Matt got closer to goal he spotted Bilyk ahead of him. He sped up to
catch him. Then they both raced toward goal. Matt wanted to win the day, not
aware that Robin had found good lift 24 km from goal very near our route in and
climbed to 11,200' and was on glide above them.

Matt and Mike raced each other into the ground just before goal. Matt had a
perfect landing and Mike crashed taking out at least his front wires.

Robin had plenty of extra altitude and burned it into goal. I made goal with
200' to spare and was second for the day. Zac came in next and ten pilots made
goal.

Tugs in the hangar waiting to tow us up:

Photo by Gregg Ludwig.