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