http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/flightinfo.html?dsId=4841821

https://www.facebook.com/cory.barnwell/posts/10100652912375688

https://airtribune.com/3733/tracks__25042

https://airtribune.com/davisstraub/tracks__25043/live

With a couple of days notice using NAM on XCSkies we planned a task to the south
west to Venice Beach (178 km) with a turnpoint near Fantasy of flight 33 miles
south of Quest Air to keep us on a route between the Lakeland and Barstow
airspaces.  Early indication from a few days before said we had a chance
for cu's. That disappeared when we saw the morning forecast on Thursday.

None the less we had built up a reserve on enthusiasm, which is pretty much the
case when we broadcast a task a few days in advance. Whether that be a triangle
or out and return on light wind days. Or a down wind scoot on windy days.

With the wind forecasted to be 14 mph out of the northwest we felt that an
attempt at the beach on the Gulf side of Florida was in order even if it was
early in the year.

We waited as long as we could and took off with Rhett Radford and Timothy
Ettridge towing us. Rob Bunner, Larry Bunner, Patrick Halfhill, Ken Kinzie, John
Simon, Corry Barnwell and I were lined up on the southwest end of the field and
I got off early.

There was lift despite the lack of cu's and I pinned off at 1,900' in almost 200
fpm. The air was smooth and easy like it often is in Florida but the drift was
strong and making it actually to Fantasy of Flight would really not be possible.
But that was okay because all we really had to do was intersect the second leg
before we hit the Lakeland airspace.

I found some nice lift and Cory and Larry joined up with me. John Simon missed
it a little bit and was below us. We didn't see Patrick and we would soon see
Ken landing west, downwind of the Seminole airfield. John, we hear, landed
nearby.

At 3,900' we headed to the south east spreading out wide and helping each other.
The ticket seemed to be to go over pasture lands and not the wooded swamp areas
to find the lift. Cory was often willing to go upwind to find the lift to the
northeast if we were over a field that was putting off something, but could have
been doing better perhaps with a more coherent thermal upwind.

The three of us worked together for the next ten thermals. None of them averaged
over 200 fpm. We were getting almost no help from the strong winds as we had to
go cross wind to get near Fantasy of Flight. Just northwest of it we climbed out
to 4,500' and I headed out in front to find the next lift. I found some broken
stuff at 4,000' but it looked better ahead so I continued on. Cory and Larry
stopped to work what I had run into and got to 4,800'.

There were plenty of open areas ahead just north and south of I4, but unlike our
previous situation the fields weren't working. I pushed over some groves but the
lift was too weak and I was getting too low. I headed for a nice big open area
with a few cattle as my last chance but nothing there.

Cory and Larry came along a bit later and continued working 50 fpm, but weren't
getting high . They could see me in the field. Downwind of it was a large swamp
area and unable to get high enough to feel comfortable they headed back toward
me. Patrick Halfhill showed up, and knowing that I would get a ride back, landed
with me. Then Larry and Cory came in right after him, so we made it easy on
Belinda to take four pilots back to Quest Air.

The property caretaker showed up so Belinda got to drive right in to where we
were breaking down. We were not the first hang glider pilots to land in this
area. It is a reclaimed phosphate mine so it looks quite weird from the air.

Back at Quest Air Kate Griffin had her first thermal/soaring flight and Rob
Bunner thermaled and was able to stay close despite the wind.

We didn't get the chance to see what it would be like to actually go downwind on
this strong wind day. That would have been nice.

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.halfhill.3/posts/10206803074248018