https://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:davisstraub/20.2.2018/18:18

It seemed like there was a lot of wind at Quest which made for some nervousness,
but in actuality it wasn't an issue. We got off cleaning with Larry first, then,
me, Rob, and John Simon a little after 1 PM.

I had to work 167 fpm from 1,800' to get up to 4,100' under a sky full of cu's
streeting to the west northwest. Larry found better lift and was heading north
jumping cloud streets which were coming from the east southeast. The wind was 15
to 16 mph east southeast.

Larry, then John and Rob worked the Grass Roots airfield while I climbed a few
kilometers to their west climbing to 4,400'. They were way upwind of the course
line while I was right on it. This gave me the chance to jump out ahead of John
and Rob and I headed north to get under the next cloud street.

The lift was improving for me averaging 340 fpm to 4,300'. I could see John
gliding just to my north but not coming over to me and getting lower as I
climbed to cloudbase. Larry was about 7 kilometers ahead.

John and I were over the prisons and John called out 500 fpm. I couldn't find
him 1,000' below me but it turned out he was a bit further west. We climbed fast
to cloud base at 4,400'. John and I headed northwest toward the rest of the
cloud street.

The cloud street quit working as we headed over a large treed area east of Lake
Panasofkee. It was darker further west and I headed further over the swamp to
try to find the lift but there was nothing there. John headed north toward a
more open sky.

I followed hoping to make it over the trees to the small fields further north.
As I came over the intersection of the Florida Turnpike and I75 I found 40 fpm
at 1,500'. My choice of landing areas would improve if I was able to stay up so
I hung on. After a few turns John reported that he was landing. Rob would soon
land just north of him.

The wind took me west over the large swamp on the east side of the lake. I have
always found lift over this swamp. The lift was averaging 70 fpm. As I climbed
up slowly many fields to the north opened up. There were nice dark clouds ahead
and I had numerous options. I wanted to stay further north and not get pressed
up against wilderness areas further to the northwest.

I lost the lift at 3,000' and headed out over open fields right along the course
line. None of the cu's seemed to work as I approached an area with poor
retrieval conditions so finally I had to turn back for 2 kilometers and land in
a huge field.

The sky clouded up and over developed. Larry kept getting low by Marion Oaks
just north of us. As he got up on the northwest corner of Marion Oaks that
turned out to be almost his last lift as it over developed and he landed 10 km
short of Williston.

https://airtribune.com/2018-quest-air-cross-country/blog__day_10

Airtribune is back working again. All pilots were up on it today.