http://ozreport.com/2015QuestAirOpen.php

http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/flightinfo.html?flightId=916434284

I put up the task of going around the Green Swamp as the sky was full of cu's
and the wind didn't seem that strong, but it was. I was off early and while the
lift was weak right after I pinned off I soon found a strong smooth thermal and
was blessed to be in 400 to 700 fpm to cloud base at 5,500' drifting quickly to
the southeast at 10 mph.

I headed straight upwind not wanting to dawdle up high in the cold air, but
Larry and Patrick Kruze had to wait to launch so I was way out in front of
everyone else. Despite the strong headwind I got a good glide to the first bit
of lift at 12.8 going under some nice looking cu's with spots of lift.

Down to 2,500' at the eastern edge of the Green Swamp, ten kilometers from the
launch point at Quest Air, I worked 300 fpm to over 4,000' before again heading
into the stiff headwind to get under the next best looking cloud, but could only
manage a 7.2 glide. The lift was weak at 3,000' as I drifted back toward Quest
and looked around for better cu's and better lift.

Searching under cu's and over sunlit areas I was soon down to less than 2,000'
and quickly drifting back toward Quest Air. I worked broken lift finding very
small amounts, not enough to get up, but enough to stay up and keep moving. I
was wondering if I would land out or make it back.

At 1,900' at six kilometers out I decided that I could just make it in. I was
getting 10.5 to one heading straight back and the required L/D was 9.2. There
are fewer open fields as you get closer to Quest so it was dicey. I enjoyed that
aspect of it.

Down to 900' a few kilometers out I hit good lift and that made it too easy
getting back and landing later.

Larry and Patrick finally got up east of me as I came back and heading up wind
to make an attempt at the task. They made it as far as the western more
turnpoint on the north side (intersection of highway 98 and interstate 75), but
then headed back toward Quest under dark skies that had filled in with clouds.
They didn't get back.

Quest Air is full up with pilots happy to be here and ready for the competition
to start on Saturday.