No task on Thursday due to unstable conditions after the storm and
rain in the morning.

Things are been a little busy here for me as a meet organizer so I haven't had a
moment to write up how things are going for the flying here.

We didn't fly last Sunday as it was a bit too gusty.

Monday was a a 250 km task to the north with a forecast of still strong south
southeast winds. The original task would have sent us to the north northwest to
Muleshoe, a favorite destination of mine, but the Swift pilots wanted to land on
a north south runway and for some reason the task committee wanted us all to
land in the same spot. So they moved the goal to the east to the airport at
Hale. This meant that pilots would be facing a strong cross wind on the last
leg. After this the task committee completely separated the Swift task from the
open task.

I was fortunate with a 20 mph and 170 degree wind and good lift that allowed me
to find the sixth thermal in the 11 kilometer start cylinder that took me right
to the edge of the cylinder just as the first window opened. The wind direction
also allowed me to start 9 kilometers east of the optimized task line, upwind of
it.

With little cu's along the course I was quickly able to fly fast and get ahead
of everyone else.

With lift averaging between 300 to 700 fpm and staying along the course line I
was quickly able to make it 160 kilometers to the 8 km radius turnpoint at the
Leveland airfield. Now I was required to turn to the northeast to fly to the
Hale airfield.

The wind was 23 mph at 156 degrees as I came into the turnpoint at Leveland. I
turned east to attempt to stay just south of the course line to Hale, but with
the wind strong out of the south southeast, even pointing east meant that I was
heading northeast. To try to stay south of the south line meant heading east
southeast.

Unfortunately I was getting low, 1,100' AGL, 12 km past the turnpoint and had to
go downwind to search for lift. I was able to climb to 8,400', but by the time I
got there I was 8 km downwind of the course line with a 21 mph 175 degree wind.
I was still way out in front of anyone and had to rely on my own wits.

I repeatedly hit lift and was able to climb to 9,200' at about half way up the
86 kilometer leg.  Every time I headed east I actually headed northeast.
After that I didn't get much lift over the crop circles and landed 12 kilometers
west of the goal. If I had been able to get up late I would have flown right
past it.

Still I was able to score closest to those who made goal. But the leading points
weren't enough. It was great to be out in front alone the whole time and just a
little tweak in the direction after the turnpoint would have been enough to make
things right. I don't recall flying in such a strong cross wind.