https://flytecraceandrally.wordpress.com/2015/05/21/day-4-3/

https://flytecraceandrally.wordpress.com/

The upwind task yesterday tired out the pilots and with a bit stronger winds
today they wanted to go downwind. The task was at first from Moultrie to
Vidalia, 183 km, but the meet director shortened it to Hazelhurst, 141 km.

The forecast was for good lift, with cloud base between 5,000' and 6,000'. No
chance of thunderstorms and a west northwest wind of 11 to 12 mph. The actual
wind was up to 24 mph. Most of the wind was above 13 mph.

The sky was full of cu's and Tiki in the trike was going up at 1,100 fpm over
the FBO when she took we up the second time. The first time we were doing 100
fpm and when I pointed to a direction I wanted to go I accidentally brushed the
release and got off at 900' in sink.

The wind was 11 mph out of the west which formed cloud streets and most of us
beat our way upwind to even outside the start cylinder to wait for about an hour
to get the first start gate. With the good lift it was easy to stay inside the
start cylinder.

After working five thermals to 4,500', cloud base, I worked 125 fpm in the
northeast quadrant and drifted a little outside the cylinder before taking the
first start time a little to the north of the course line.

I headed out quickly with only one pilot ahead of me but we were soon on the
downwind side of the course line. There were at least a dozen pilots nearby
including Oleg. Larry was 6 km to the north of the line. We soon found a number
of thermals and the gaggles were thick.

After a few climbs, we went on a 13 km glide getting ourselves back to the north
side but down to 2,600' in 200 fpm lift. Oleg and Jonny had pressed ahead
higher. As a bunch of us worked our way up I saw someone climbing northeast of
us and headed there. 350 fpm up to 5,300'. As we headed out to the northeast a
number of us flew high over Jonny and Oleg.

As we headed east the wind speed picked up. We would choose to head northeast
when possible to get further upwind of the course line but mostly head for the
best looking clouds. The lift averaged about 250 fpm. I had a bunch of klingon's,
but left most of them behind as I caught up with Larry.

Down to 2,300' I found 300 fpm south east of Fitzgerald, 50 km out from goal,
and that proved attractive as Larry joined me again and Oleg flew back to get in
it. At the next thermal, we hooked up with Jonny and Max finding 380 fpm and 20
mph winds to 5,800'.

We could see a river and forest ahead on the north side of the course line. We,
Larry, Max, Oleg, Jonny and I,  knew about this forest from the pilot
briefing at 30 kilometers out we got under a dark cu on the course line and
climbed to 5,600', all of us at about the same altitude. Leaving the cu Oleg
headed to the north northeast. Jonny got a big bump and got higher. Max was the
highest behind the others.

Larry and I headed more along the course line but trending toward going over the
river with Oleg, Jonny and Max. It was blue all along the river which did not
recommend it.

Down to 3,500' Larry and I headed turned right and headed for a big cu over
cultivated lands. Down to 2,000 I saw James Stinnett high above us. We flew into
380 fpm. This got us to 4,200' thirteen km from goal. Oleg had abandoned the
river and joined us.

I headed out with 12:1 required. Oleg came right behind me and John Simon, who
came from no where, below me. Larry was just behind.

It was a quick glide to goal, where we found that Jonny and Max had found lift
over the river and made goal just behind James.

Results for day 4:http://soaringspot.com/2015frr/results/flex/daily/day4.html

Cumulative after four days:
http://soaringspot.com/2015frr/results/flex/total/day4.html

Live tracking: and replay (at 10 times the speed)
https://airtribune.com/flytec-rally-2015/blog__day_4

http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/flightinfo.html?flightId=1955565718

http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/getScoring.html?scoringId=319

http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/1164403

http://wxc.fai.org/module.php?id=22&date=20150304&gliderclass=hg1

http://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:davisstraub/20.5.2015/16:57

http://www.xcontest.org/world/en/ranking-hg-open/