http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/2212602

https://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:davisstraub/8.3.2019/16:02

234 kilometers to the north

I launched first at 11:02 AM (soon to be 12:02 PM). I was pulled up to 2,600' to
the nearest cu', about 4 km south southwest of Wilotree. I climbed at an average
rate of 150 fpm to 4,200' which was the predicted 11 AM cloudbase. I was
drifting down wind at 7 mph, 1 mph less than the predicted value.

Cory Barnwell and Larry Bunner launched a bit later after me and found good lift
right over Wilotree. I dribbled along finding less than 100 fpm under cu's to
the north northwest, downwind at 11-12 mph. Cory and Larry joined up with me.

It wasn't until we were west of Grass Roots that we got good lift over 250 fpm
to 4,000'. Things were improving at noon.

Larry and I left Cory on his U2-145 behind as we headed north northwest to get
set up on the west side of the Village up highway 301 over Wildwood. We found
400 - 500 in a couple of thermals and got to almost 5,000' as we crossed the
Turnpike.

We wasted time in 66 fpm at 2,800' before Larry went a couple of kilometers
forward and found 200+ fpm to take us back to 4,300'. We were about 11 km south
of Belleview. I got the jump on Larry in a better thermal and got 1,000' over
him and headed out.

300+ fpm thermals got me up to 5,100' and easily though the scarce landing
fields in east Ocala. There were plenty of cu's ahead but at first they seemed
to be predominantly off to the north northwest, which would put them a it too
near Orange Lake. Then a street formed to their east. I dove over to the eastern
street and down to 2,600' over a mostly forested area found almost 400 fpm to
5,500'. Larry came in low under me as I worked the last 1000'.

There was now a cloud street right along the course line for the next 50 km.
This was sort of reminiscent of the better formed cloud street than John Simon
was under going to Keystone at the end of February. It wasn't nearly as filled
in, but there was the lift there. With a 9 mph tail wind I was able to quickly
pass Hwathorne and then find 300 fpm to 6,000'.

It took us to the west of Keystone airfield, which kept me out of restricted
airspace. I knew that there was also airspace ahead east of highway 301, which
we were essentially following. We used the Prison turnpoint to keep up out of
the restricted areas north of Keystone.

The cu's were thinning out but always working. We were still able to climb to
over 5,000'. Larry got over 6,000' behind me.

Twenty two km north of Stark the open pastures give way to forests and clear
cuts. Fortunately some of what looked like clear cuts were graded mine areas,
that would be okay for landing barefoot. Down to 2,200' over this less than
inviting area I found 200 fpm and hung on to 5,300'.

Larry was off to my right to the east at about my altitude so I went and joined
him. His thermal was actually worse than mine. We left together at 5,700'.

He took a line a little to the east of where I decided to go. I had been
experiencing better conditions to the west of where he was going so I just kept
heading a bit further west than he did. I wanted to stay well clear of highway
301 which runs into airspace further north.

Still lots of forested areas and few landing areas. West of the Jacksonville
White Executive Airfield airspace I found 240 fpm and climbed from 3,500' to
5,100'. I got to get a close up view of a multi passenger jet just below my
altitude making an approach into the airport. I was just off the approach line.

After that climb I headed north northwest a bit cross of the 13 mph south
southwest wind. I was heading for the turnpoint at Saint George in Georgia which
was just across the Saint Mary river to my west. We had already gone north of
the southern part of Georgia and were just flying north through Florida next to
it.

Larry got low on his bad line and had to land. I looked over at Saint George and
didn't see any landing areas so I stayed to the east over the now pleasant farms
lands. The sink was light and I found bit of lift to play with to let me choose
where to land. There were plenty of fields to choose from.

Finally picked out a farm with multiple fields and decided to go there. There
were cows in a couple of the fields so I landed a bit further away from them.
Turns out that the gate was locked but it had an intercom which allow Don
Spratt, who was chasing me, to get in and get to me with the rancher's help. We
got out of there just before sundown.

We picked up Larry in the dark not too far away and then Cory 19 miles north of
Starke. We got back at midnight. Rob Clarkson, Jereomie Hill, Patrick Halfhil
and others flew also getting good flights of 50 miles or more.