http://flytecraceandrally.wordpress.com

http://skyout.blogspot.com

http://flyingjochen.blogspot.com

http://kathrynoriordan.com

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com

http://www.youtube.com/user/jonnydurand

http://www.jonnydurand.blogspot.com

http://westcoastbrit.blogspot.com

Despite the fact that the forecast was for a northwest wind we
headed north northwest to a turnpoint east of Ocala at the Greystone airfield
and then north northeast to the airfield at Keystone, a task of 150 kilometers.
We also didn't expect to see any clouds during the task, and the weather didn't
disabuse us of that prediction.

Given the wind we took off from the south end of Quest Air. It was a bit iffy at
first with a few pilots dropping out. We then caught a thermal on the west side
of Quest and regained our composure.

The pilots bunched up and moved north, with four of us spread out and searching.
Tulio found it first at 2,000' west of Groveland on highway 50 and attracted a
crowd. More pilots were coming and we huddled together with a few pilots taking
the first start time including Joe Bostik, Tulio, Greg Dinauer and Jochen. The
rest of us milled about waiting for the second clock. The inversion was clearly
visible.

Most of the field took the second clock and headed north northwest with the west
cross wind. With so many pilots we found lots of thermals and it took eight
thermals just to get to the Villages north of the turnpike. Five of us headed
out after getting to 4,200' over the forest north of the turnpike widely spread
out. I found it on the west side at 1,800' and that pulled everyone over.

We took five thermals just to get up to Belleview and then those of us in the
lead were down to 1,700' before we climbed back to 4,500'. The sky was blue so
we were counting on everyone to help everyone else find the lift.

We were slogging along as we worked our way toward Greystone airfield. The last
few thermals didn't get us back to 4,500' so we went in low to the three
kilometer radius turnpoint down to 2,600'. It took almost half an hour to climb
out of the turnpoint with a number of pilots going down nearby. I found lift low
at 1,900' and Larry Bunner joined me. He was able to find the better core and
jumped back to the lead gaggle, which I was dropping out of.

After climbing to 4,800' I went chasing the lead gaggle and came in under them
south of Hawthorne. Dustin was soaring the trees way down below and Dinauer was
soaring with me as we climbed up very slowly.

We got up and moved north after drifting in the thermal to the east, away from
the 301 highway and over the forest. Shapiro came in low under us. Joe joined
Dustin when he was half way up to us but we left him behind.

We joined some bald eagles a little further north but still south of Hawthorne
for 180 fpm thermal to 4,500'. It was almost six o'clock and the lift was
getting weak. The lead gaggle was a few kilometers in front of us.

Dustin went back to join a couple of bald eagles just as the lift got better, so
when he glided back after climbing he was at about the same altitude as Greg and
I. I went with Dustin to the next probable thermal.

I came in under Dustin over a small lake just southeast of Hawthorne but got
nothing but sink. I was quite low and headed for an open field to the north.
Dustin and Greg went there also but were able to climb in fifty fpm while I went
down.

After a slow climb Dustin jumped north and found the good lift. Still it wasn't
enough to make goal at the airport. Dustin landed just behind Jonny nine
kilometers out.