Contest Day 1

“Well, I got around”
“Lying clouds”
“I would have paid good money for a round thermal”
“It was a good day to have a 29” (there’s no substitute for span!)

We started Friday, Contest Day 1, with much optimism…gridding at 1130, promptly sending up sniffer Boris Kubrak [XA], then beginning the launch at 1215. The FAI task opened at 1250 and Sports at 1315. It was a beautiful day on the ground, but not quite as fantastic in the air as originally forecast.

Pilots had to work hard for their points. A few had strong starts out of the top of the cylinder only to drop from 6000’ to 3000’ in no time. If you didn’t stay above 4000’ you were in the groveling zone and pretty much everyone got stuck low at least one time during their flight. Thermals averaged 3-4kts but were not well formed and hard to connect with.

In the FAI Class, John Seymour wins the day for Team SM by staying above 4500’ all day, zig-zagging through the initial legs, and then running cloud streets to the final turn, Skytop, and back. 56.98mph/171.22 actual, 48.15mph/144.68mi handicapped.

Dave Michaud, aka UMomma, was flying front seat in K21 with Hank Nixon. They won the Sports Class with 41.62mph/108.99mi actual, 46.42mph/121.56mi handicapped. Dave credits their win on “doing whatever Hank told me to do”, but he wasn’t shy about taking PIC back: “Now that you saved our cookies from the fire, can I fly again?”

All were back in time for a Welcome Dinner of hamburgers and hot dogs and enjoy a pleasant evening by the fire.

Janine