https://airtribune.com/davisstraub/tracks__122221

The open task today was to the south southeast. An easy task for some, a mere 31
km out and then return. The sky was full of cu's and cloudbase was super high.

I took off at 2:05 PM and waited on the line in sinking air until 2,100' AGL. It
looked to me like there would be lift ahead under a wispy tiny cu. I was also
watching a king posted glider south low over the town of Whitewater turning.

Indeed there was lift and I climbed out to 5,200' at over 300 fpm. This was way
below cloudbase but with plenty of cu's ahead I wasn't concerned about getting
too high. It was already cold.

I headed west southwest to get upwind of the course line which allowed me to
drift with the thermals in the 6 mph west northwest winds. I was soon at 7,600'
under just forming cu's. It was cold up there. The forecast was for 40°.

I was the first pilot to take on the task so I knew that I would be alone, but
given the conditions I was confident that I would have no problem with the task
that now looked very short.

I just ignored lift and glided for 15 km until I got down to my lower limit at
3,000' AGL (3,800' MSL). I took the next thermal at 360 fpm to 8,000' just to
see how high I could get. I still wasn't at cloudbase.

It was a 9 km glide to the turnpoint with lift near it which again I ignored.
Turning back I found two thermals in the blue at 400+ fpm to 7,500'.

Two more thermals, one at 480 fpm average and it was easy to take the last 16 km
glide into goal as fast as possible even with 900 fpm sink before goal.

There were plenty of reflights and pilots who started later came in later.

The flight park is filling up even more. Zac and Majo made it. Glen Volk arrived
as did Nene. Mitch is here which should prove interesting regarding the RRRG.