As has been the case over the last two weeks the winds were strong out of the south southwest. The low clouds were whipping by and there was lots of vertical development all around with very dark bottomed clouds nearby.

When the clouds would come over the winds would drop down so it looked like there might be times where it was safe and easy to launch. But a front was approaching from the northwest and there was lots of rain associated with it. The radar showed the rain to the north.

I setup a series of tasks, as the Brits wanted to fly if they could. The final one was to the north northwest 87 km to John Travolta's place at the Greystone airfield. The start time was set late at 3:30 as things clamed down a bit.

Jeff was involved in teaching and Dustin in making pods, so only Derrick Turner was available to hold up our end of the task. I wasn't that excited about the possibilities and the safety so didn't launch.

With large black bottom clouds over the field, the pilots took off and Carl was smart enough to hold on to 3,500' as Rhett took him southwest to under the darkest part of the cloud. Gary got off at 2,000' so he had to repeatedly go back upwind to find lift and then drift quickly northeast.

Things began to improve and finally five pilots got up and slowly headed north. The winds died way down at Quest, but the pilots had to keep gliding into the wind to stay near the course line and not be blown into the Ocala National Forest.

The flying was slow and it took 3.5 hours to get 70 km. But according to Gary it was great fun.

Near the goal they came over an area where a cu-nimb had dumped a bunch of rain and was now shaded out. They weren't quite able to make it in landing about 20 km short.

http://ozreport.com/data/2009flyercup/93R_flyercup.htm

http://ozreport.com/data/2009flyercup/93R_flyercup_tsk.htm

http://ozreport.com/data/2009flyercup/93R_flyercup_tot.htm

GBR 6724
USA 6238