https://airtribune.com/2017-quest-air-cross-country/blog__day_33

On Wednesday I'm off first which is a lot easier now that Larry Bunner isn't
here. I pin off early which makes for a few moments of struggle, but then I
slowly climb to 5,300'.

I've got my Flytec 6030 back in place of the Flytec Connect 1. I notice right
away that the Connect 1 is not loud enough (even at the 100% setting). The 6030
is much easier to hear. With the Connect 1, it is much easier to see the wind
direction.

I've adjusted the pod that holds my old Samsung S4,
http://ozreport.com/21.58#1, so that I have a better chance to see the
screen. Still can't make it out. I can barely hear my XCtracer,
https://www.xctracer.com/en/the-xc-tracer/?oid=1854&lang=en, which is
Velcroed to the pod next to the phone and Bluetoothed to it. I've got the Flytec
630 in my left ear and the XCtracer in my right.

The XCTracer reacts a bit quicker than the Flytec 6030 or the Flytec Connect 1.
It's a bit reassuring to hear beeps from both ears and then let my brain figure
it out. I just wish that the XCTracer was a bit louder.

Niki is stuck on the ground trying to get the GPS in her Flytec 6030 to connect
to the satellites. It doesn't. Three others launch before she does. I get a bit
tired of waiting and go out west of Groveland and back and come in at her
altitude at 3,000'. We climb out together and take off getting to 5,200' at the
3 km start cylinder radius.

There is a strong inversion and the air is full of smoke from the nearby fires,
but the visibility is better than the day before. There are no cu's nearby.

The lift is quite uncomfortable, broken up and not coherent enough to keep a
steady circle. I'm not happy but willing to give it a try. Niki is no happier.

Southeast of Center Hill we exit another broken thermal averaging over 400 fpm
and then quickly find a much better thermal that gets us to over 7,000' at 460
fpm.

Niki's Airtribune App isn't displaying  (she has an iPhone) so you won't
see her on the blog linked to above.

Niki and I continue to work together, but her radio (the crap Bluetooth
connection) is also crap so I don't always get the message. But we are in visual
contact so we share thermal finding responsibilities.

We stay reasonably high only getting below 3,000' once at 2,900' on the way
toward the turnpoint at Lake Panosoftkee. Niki can't find the turnpoint but my
6030 GPS is still working and I take it.

With little to no wind coming back is no more difficult than going out to the
northwest. You'd think that the thermals would be a lot gentler with the light
wind, but it is not the case.

South of Center Hill we find another broken and moving thermal that has no real
core. 17 km from goal at 5,800' with a 9.3 glide ratio required to make goal I
leave Niki behind as she wants to make sure that she will make it in. I get in
with 1,400'. She comes in with 2,500'.

I let Niki know that she has to get her Flytec 6030 fixed ASAP and contacted
Steve Kroop about it.