Chelan XC - Day 1 - Task 1

Forecast
SSW 10kmh, top of lift 2000m
Been using XCSkies http://www.xcskies.com/ - this is a must see resource, so much information gathered together under a single interface, don't forget to right click on any location on the map area for an excellent 3 day point forecast and the virtual lapse rate / sounding.
Actual
SSW 10-15kmh varying more W with height, Top of lift 2200m

Chelan XC Classic - Task 1
Butte, Sims, Leah - 62.2km
A race start from a 3km circle over the Chelan launch. A scramble to launch as some high cirrus threatened to move over. Good climbs from launch to 2000m.
Most of the climbs were over launch rather than out towards the edge of the start circle so the race started with a glide to the the start circle then on to the rim.
The rim was marked up by 2 gliders climbing deep into Farnhams, we climbed and consolidated on the rim before moving into the flats towards Mansfield. A worn Ozone glider was higher above our climb and marking lift very well, the pilot knew what he/she was doing.
The southerly demanded we sawtoothed the course line towards Sims. Regular dusties but not working as consistently as the lift in between, perhaps the associated lift was upwind of the dustie core. Long glides upwind to keep south of the course line, taking climbs of 3-4 m/s which were topping out around 2,200m. This was the base we had expected.
The main gaggle broke apart at near Mansfield when 10 gliders split for a long glide towards a shady area, 3/4 of the way up a climb . I stayed behind not having confidence with the next climb from the height we had. They connected from low and moved on as the lead gaggle.
I pushed more strongly upwind but could not connect with the strong lift expected from the dusties.
Jack Brown marked a good climb slightly west and downwind of Sims which Matt Dadam and I joined, took 300m from it before I lost the strength of the climb, Jack stayed with it longer. Matt and I glided cross head wind for Sims finding some useful lift lines then turned for the downwind 11km to goal.
Glide to goal was sinky, Matt was slightly ahead. 4kms out it did not look good although the course line would took us over some gently rising ground before dropping off to the TP/Goal.
Matt turned off to reclimb over some ploughed paddocks, I carried on looking for some lift from the rising ground. The rising ground zeroed which gave just enough to get over the 400m but not enough to safely turn into wind for a landing. Ended up with a bottom down, legs up slide through some forgiving bull rushes next to a stream.

Flight -
Results - http://chelanxcopen.com/results.htm

Lessons
Launch early and use the time to get into the rhythm of the conditions
10 gliders from the front gaggle halfway into the task represents good odds for finding a climb
Move the goal 50m closer to the last TP