The
results.




http://www.westcoastbrit.blogspot.com/



http://www.jonnydurand.blogspot.com/







Again the NSW RASP was calling for overdevelopment, but I looked at the
projected temperature traces for Lake Keepit (also on the NSW RASP page) and it
sure looked like the air mass above 8,000' was projected to be too dry for
cu-nimb development. It looked to me like we would have lots of cu's about 1000'
to 2000' thick (the wet bulb temperature and the temperature profile met at
7,000').



Still Conrad Loten on the task committee was concerned and wanted a short task
(90 km) to Bingara. I thought that it was a good idea so we could get some of
the intermediate gliders to goal.



The winds were supposed to be about 8 to 10 knots out of the south east after
noon. Cloud base at 7000' to 8000'. There were plenty of cu's in the sky at 10
AM, with some vertical development.



There was a light wind coming in on the east launch when we got to the hill at
11 AM. Otherwise very little air movement. I set up down next to the launch.
Others spread themselves out on the carpet up by the southeast launch.



We called an early day again with the first start window at 1:15 and the launch
open right after the pilot briefing. But, of course, even the light wind on the
east launch had stopped and it was intermittently blowing down.



We had to wait for a puff to come in, and in the first one three pilots got off
at our launch and three or four from the southeast launch including Jonny and
Blay. The pilots climbed up very slowly out in front not encouraging the rest of
us.



I was next and when it finally came in again I was off quickly with three or
more pilots behind me before it stopped again. The lift for us was much better
and I got on top of the gaggle and climbed at 700 fpm to cloud base. The earlier
pilots came back in low to our thermal and climbed up to cloud base also.



It was hard to keep out of the clouds and we climbed up the sides of them and up
under ledges of higher bases getting to almost 8,000'. The second start time was
approaching and I headed out first with Blay and Jonny just behind me



Blay sped along and was soon out in front with Jonny just behind him. I can't
seem to fly quite as fast. Perhaps I just need to pull in more. One would
presume so.



Three of us just behind Blay and Jonny stopped for some light lift then I headed
down the course line hoping for better. I saw a paraglider ahead and went for
him hitting 500 fpm. Here I made a mistake and didn't stop long enough thinking
that the paraglider was in better lift. I would later not find any lift where he
had been. 



I pushed ahead not worrying about lift as I was remembering the 700 fpm that I
got off launch and looking for that. I headed north northeast to the right side
of the highway southeast o Barraba where I saw Jonny and Blay circling. I came
in under them but didn't find anything. I was low and in survival mode.



I stayed up for a while in a little less than zero sink but, couldn't find a
solid core to get me back up and landed at Barraba.



It was such a good looking day that I took too many risks thinking that lift
would be easy to find and speed was what was required. It was not to be. Plenty
of folks who chose more wisely made goal quickly.




There may have been a little OD on the course very late. There were cu-nimbs far
to our east over the Great Dividing Range at 7 PM. For the most part it was a
perfect flying day.

http://OzReport.com/1233745212