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Aug
11
Written by:
Jeff Shapiro
8/11/2009 7:22 AM
on our way back to HQ, the sky still looking epic
The Task committee called a 86 mile lightning bolt with a long, cross wind component on the second leg. The wind was still a concern in relation to being able to stay within the start circle so it was decided that we would have another open start after 2 pm. With this type of start, there is the opportunity for games to be played with the winner the one who leaves last in the group instead of first, as with an interval start. The advantage to leaving last is that you can still easily catch up to the pilots that left a minute or two ahead but because your time starts as soon as you cross the cylinder, you have gained a minute or two instantly. Yesterday the games at the edge of the cylinder were in full swing.
We suited up in the hanger and walked into the wind and into the launch line. The tows went well and soon we were climbing in 500 fpm to cloud base which was only about 7000-7200'. Jeff, Zippy and I hooked up with Glen, Bill Soderquist, Alex Cuddy and a few others. We heard on the radio that Davis, Zimmerman and Derrik Turner had left and Davis was reporting good lift on course. I pushed our group to the east and we were soon driving around base. It was a bit of a challenge to stay out of the cloud and at one point, I left the edge of the cloud pointed on course with the intention of leaving. Jeff and Zippy, closely watching Bill and Glen, saw that they were hanging back so I turned around and drove back up wind, arriving 1000' under the cloud. My team was wanting to go but waited the 4-5 turns that it took me to get back to base so that we could leave as a team. Glen and Bill waited another minute or so. The lift was good and the going pretty fast to the first turn point, which was close to the edge of the cylinder. On the second leg, Glen and I got a half glide behind, catching up every other thermal to only 500' below the others but stayed just a bit behind. We arrived at a cloud about 20k's from the last turn point and I went to the left having seen the left edge of the cloud bulging and Glen went right because he said that the "others had found the climb on that side". I looked over and he was blasting out in at least 500 fpm. I immediately flew toward him and got the obligatory HUGE sink on my way to him which put further distance between us.
I ended up pushing too hard, getting low and flying stressed in what was obviously not the power band for the day so I decided to settle down and be patient. I took a 5-600 to base which cost a little time at the sake of being faster once up high. After getting the turn point, I heard from Davis after catching and passing him that he was low close to the turn point. Sure enough, I looked back and down and saw him and a couple of other gliders. He had been calling climbs the last two days as he had started earlier both days and I was now happy that it was my turn to help him out. I called climbs all the way in with him doing well on the lasts leg. I raced in 5-10 minutes after the lead group but no one knew finish times because of the erroneous nature of the start. Turns out I was 9th for the day after getting a bit behind. OB is in first overall with the point spread being really close throughout the top 6 or 7. It's only day 2 and today is another day. If the weather continues, we will have 7 days of racing which means anything can happen. It's a war of attrition baby;-) Stay tuned. We are having a blast here in Texas!!!!
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2 comment(s) so far...
Re: day two
Congrats! Fly high and strong, my son. We love you!
By Mom on
8/25/2009 11:29 AM
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Re: day two
i better be getting one of those hats biters! nice flying shapeuro!
By joshy on
8/25/2009 11:33 AM
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