Mystic - Free flying

Forecast from http://www.xcskies.com/ , click to enlarge

Actual

Wind WSW, 15kmh Base 1500m rising to 1800m, climbs 2-3m/s, no cloud other than cumulus on the high peaks and flatlands.

Comments

XCSkies predicted a day with enough base to transistion so we dug out the winter woollies. Thermals were mostly small and wobbly, the ball in the bottom of the glider was trying to get out.

Barb, Bob, Bill and I enjoyed a sunny winter day flight down to Smoko.

http://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:brianmwebb/17.8.2008/02:32

Picture courtesy of Bob Saville

Bright - An Australian site in winter

Snow on Mystic. does not happen often
http://picasaweb.google.com/brianmwebb/SnowOnMystic02

Chelan XC - Day 6 - Task 3

Forecast
WSW, 6 kmh, Top of Lift 2800m, Cu
Actual
WSW, 12 kmh, Top of lift 3200m, Cu

Task
Butte, Soccer field, Entry gate 1.5km, Farmer, Leah, Soccer field 122km triangle

Comments
A good forecast so we looked for a task to use the weather, 117km F?I Triangle
A Cu built over launch before the window opened so there was no problem getting off the hill. The Start was an entry cylinder 1.5km around the Soccer LZ which was also the goal to ensure a completed FAI triangle.
Base around the start was 2,600m. Not a good start for me being 300m below the base when the race began, other pilots managed to keep to base so there was a definite opportunity for improvement
Lots of gliders on the rim to help with the first climb which went straight to base of 2,800m. Regular Cu marked the course and the race was on.
4 gliders immediately pushed strongly ahead and set the pace to Farmer. The run from Farmer to Leah was good until just past Mansfield where the cloud thinned out. We slowed to get good height into Leah which was in a blue hole.
The lead gaggle took Leah then set up for the headwind leg back to goal. They did not find a climb immediately and were delayed long enough for us to catch them east of Mansfield. 6 of us then pushed on into a 15kmh headwind towards the edge of the rim and the soccer field goal. A convergence street set up to the north of the course line and cu also marked the direct line to goal. Five of us took the direct line and one glider, Dean Stratton moved to the convergence line for the 40km drive to goal.
Josh Cohn and Matt Dadam moved ahead whilst I found their glide difficult to match. 15km before the rim the cu dissolved leaving a blue hole to the rim and then to goal. The lead gliders found sink and got low towards the edge of the rim, Matt and Josh just made it to the edge of the rim at McNeill canyon and began to look for a climb in the leeside before goal. Jack Brown had the height to glide onto the Farnhams/McNeill spur.
I found myself a little lower and without a sure glide to the edge of the rim so turned back 2km from the rim and sought a climb back on the flats. Did not find a climb and landed short of goal.
All the other gliders in the leading gaggle made goal.
Dean Stratton who followed the convergence line got into goal first and high, clearly a good decision for the last leg of the triangle.

A great day of flying in conditions which are not unusual at Chelan, 40 gliders successfully completing 117km triangle clearly indicate the quality of the site.

Flight http://www.paraglidingforum.com/modules.php?name=leonardo&op=show_flight&flightID=118154

Results http://www.chelanxcopen.com/results.htm

Lessons
Focus on the start, improve observation to be aware of all gliders and their height and climbs to maximise height and position for the at the start time.
Value a clear sign of convergence lift when pushing headwind.
Value climb opportunities when low close to goal, I ignored a climb to push towards a glider beginning to turn 100m upwind, that glider quickly left their climb as it was not solid.
Consider more clearly the value of using good pilots scratching low and their joint ability to find lift
Ensure sufficient height when falling back to search down wind for lift

Chelan XC - Day 5 - Blown out

Sebastian is shorn

Chelan XC - Day 4 - Task 2

Forecast
SSW, 10kmh increasing to 25kmh, top of lift 2,600m
Actual
SSW, 10kmh increased to 20kmh, top of lift 2,800m

Task
Chelan Butte to Okanagan 68.8km - Race to goal

Comments
Winds increasing caused the task committee to limit to the task length to 70kms, Canada was very possible today.
The task was designed to make the pilots choose which route to fly. The task could be tackled from the west over the hills or the east across the flats. As the race started the field immediately split with the majority going west to the hills and 20 gliders chose the flats.
My start was not good, being 100m lower than the highest gaggle. I chose the west side more because I was lower and it was an easier initial transition rather than a clear tactical decision.
The peaks over Chelan Airport were working leeside with interesting air. Stayed there until a climb consolidated well enough to allow a glide to the flats south of Brewster, river crossing 1, reclimbed on the flats then a glide on the course line across the river again and over some green river flats.
This was the second decision point as east and west routes converged south of Brewster. The faster but longer route proved to be to keep east and fly over the higher ground of the Colville Indian reservation.
A green Boomerang marked a scrappy climb 20km short of goal. This broke up and caused a dive to the ridges in from of goal, the increasing southerly flushed us of that ridge and left us in some demanding leeside before a climb that gave enough to get to goal.

Cherie Silvera won the day, I think she flew the west route, Mike Steed actually got in first but dropped some leading out points, Mike flew the East route across the flats. The pilots that flew the east high ground leg made much better speed than my route direct to goal.

Results: http://www.chelanxcopen.com/results.htm

Lessons
Formulate your start strategy before the start gate opens - I left myself in the middle start rather than positioned on one side or other of the gate for the best start.
Be patient and make sure you have good height before major transitions. Was good to hold at the airport and climb out, also good to climb on the flats south of Brewster before crossing

Chelan XC - Day 3 - Blown out

Not as clear cut as yesterday so we all went up the hill to confirm, day cancelled at 11:00.

Ben Kovko looking pensive