Too long a task and against the wind. I knew right away that we
would not make it back unless the lift was really much better than usual and we
started getting to 11,000' as forecast right away. That didn't happen.

The task was a triangle to the east then south then back to the Francisco Grande
Hotel, 130 km. Quite a task for days that end around 5 PM and the tasks start at
2 PM.

We started launching a little after 12:45 PM and there was plenty of lift.
Launching eleventh I was able to climb right up to 7,500'. The wind was west
northwest at about 8 mph so a bunch of us were soon on the south eastern edge of
the start cylinder.

We pushed back up wind getting down to 6,000'; but were able to get back up to
7.400' in time for the first start time. Zac went out in front by far. Larry
Bunner next, then me and I was followed by the rest of the pilots. Pilots
bunched up and we found 200 to 300 fpm over Casa Grande, getting back over
6,500' and continued east. I chased a dust devil that gave out before I got to
it and ended up 500' to 1,000' below my gaggle.

There was a reasonable amount of lift out on the flats and I went chasing the
gaggle to see if I could find some. A couple of hundred foot per minute got me
close and the lift was spread out and there were not consistent cores. Even
closer by the time I got to the first turnpoint out over no man's land 7 km from
the Cactus airport.

We headed south for the hills which were small bumps as we approached them from
the north. But the bumps were hot and at almost 400 fpm and back to 7,300' it
was time to race down the ridge line. Another 380 fpm north of Newman Peak and
back to 7,300' before heading across the gap to Picacho Peak and what looked
like it might be the last good lift of the day as we would soon be on the return
leg into the wind over the flats and irrigated areas,.

Took the 400 fpm to 8,800' which was the highest so far. Jonny left early below
a few of us. Later Larry with Kevin Carter below him would get to 10,500'
staying at Picacho until he couldn't get any higher. Smart move. He had
forecasted the 11,000' so he needed to get high to show that he was correct.

We thought we were pretty smart to let Jonny go out in front low and stay in the
lift that much longer, but Larry was smarter.

Catching the edge of the 15 km cylinder around the next turnpoint John Simon and
I headed northwest over a small range. It didn't work. About half way through it
I saw a pilot turning to the south over more no man's land. I headed right for
him. Jonny was working up slowly low on the small range.

The lift averaged less than 150 fpm and we were drifting back in the 5 mph head
wind. But it was easy flying and the lift  had been very comfortable all
day. John Simon headed out without climbing much with us and we saw him later on
the ground not too far down the course line.

There was a cu to the west and I dearly wanted to go to it but no one else
seemed to be inclined to do so. It was over the no mans land but we were high
enough to make it as it died out. It was off the course line a bit but the only
nearby cu we had seen all day.

Jonny headed out and we all followed along the course line all spread out. I was
way to the west hoping the there would be lift toward where that cu had been.
Jonny out in front finally found some light lift and I came in under him (I had
been over him since the first turnpoint although he took a later clock) at 900'
AGL to find 80 fpm and a head wind. I climbed 900' back to 3,500' and as I
watched the four or five guys over head head north west I headed also in that
direction.

Again back down to 900' AGL I found 175 fpm to 3,900' but that was it. I went on
glide to land about 33 km short. Jonny geot to within 15 km. Larry within 17 km.
No one made goal.

https://airtribune.com/santacruzflatsrace2016/results

Task 1:

Task 1 sport: