I called an FAI triangle around the Green Swamp, first heading
southwest (intersection of highways 98 and 471) then north northwest (seven
kilometer circle around the intersection of highway 98 and Interstate 75), and
finally back to Quest. Five pilots were ready for the challenge, Larry Bunner,
Greg Dinauer, Rob Clarkson, Ken Kenzie, and me.

The forecast was for light winds which is why I chose the Green Swamp task. The
RAP 13 forecast for lift showed little to none, so I just went with the NAM 3
forecast which showed good lift. It seemed like it would be a good day at 10 AM
when I made the call on the task, so why not choose the strongest forecast. The
cu's started forming around noon starting from the south.

Greg was off first and I was right behind him at 1:05 PM. I hung in light lift
under a dark flat cu as Greg climbed to the east of me. He headed southwest as I
climbed to 3,300'. Cloud base was a bit low for a romp around the swamp.

As I headed southwest Greg was coming back having fallen down to less than
2,000' AGL. There were plenty of cu's ahead so it was a game of connecting the
dots. It looked like Larry launched last after Rob and Ken, but we had two tugs
running so everything was happening quickly.

I headed south along highway 33 not heading along the course line, staying over
open territory until it looked like we could get a bit higher to make the big
jumps. I came upon a number of sailplanes marking the lift near the Seminole
Sailplane port as the cloud base rose.

I could see and hear Larry to my west a couple of kilometers closer to the
course line and higher. Eleven kilometers from the first turnpoint Larry in
front headed more south in the direction of the turnpoint as I decided to head
further west under the cu's. I found 600 fpm and quickly got to over 4,100'.
Since there were just trees below it was great to be that high.

I headed for the turnpoint and Larry came in under me  and 4 km from the
turnpoint we climbed up. I left at 4,200' and Larry continued to climb.

There were small cu's  west of the turnpoint away from the course line. The
cu's over the course line looked a bit too far away and over treed territory. I
found 300 fpm to 4,300' and then headed north northwest toward the purple pond
that stores the effluent from the chicken houses. You can smell the thermal
there at over 300 fpm to 4,100'.

I was staying over the Green Swamp away from the landing areas. I saw a dark
cloud further into the Swamp and decided to head in with a good chance to find
good lift. Larry came in 200' over me and found the lift also.

The cu's were lined up heading right for the turnpoint and Larry was out in
front leading the way. Seven kilometers before the optimized point on the 7 km
radius we climbed to 4,600' 255 fpm. The cu's were dark, but very flat.

We quickly got to the turnpoint and headed northwest to get under a row of cu's
going to the east. Larry was calling out the lift and I climbed to 5,000' right
after he did. Larry headed to a good looking cu over the trees south of the
lumber mill at 50 and 471. As I approached him I spotted a bird and stopped to
climb. Larry saw this and came back quickly to get under me.

Larry headed out below me as I climbed to over 4,900'. I followed him east as we
flew over the Green Swamp and headed for the edge and landable areas. Larry
found 200 fpm over the Van Fleet trail and I came in over him. The lift was
smooth and light and it looked like we had no problem making it back to Quest
Air.

I let Larry go first far below me and just hung around to make sure that I would
make it. We had no problem getting in. Just the two of us made it in.

https://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:davisstraub/15.2.2018/18:05#fd=route

Belinda, Davis, Larry, and Rob at goal. Photo by Evgeniya Laritskaya.