Headed to the SAC early for a change, getting there at 10:30A. On the horizon were cloud streets galore and blue conditions above and downwind. It was blowing already at 10:30A and ridge soarable. Let Joe and Karen Gorrie know I was up on top and that I was in no hurry for once to take off. Leisurely set up while above the ridge wispies started appearing at an already high cloudbase. Dave Proctor and Larry Bunner show up with their driver Judy. They planned to fly to the Delmarva, either to Ridgely or the beach. The day was sizing up to be one that held that potential, with clouds filling in above and downwind. Rounding out the pilot contingent was Tom Gartlan, Pat Feudo, and, of course, Joe and Karen. Dave launched first in what was lighter conditions on launch by now and turned right to the east. Dave got really high down there, 5500' over at 12:45P, and announced he was going downwind with that altitude. Larry was on launch waiting for an appropriate cycle. He finally got one after a little while, turned to the west, and was seen a few hundred over there, and was never seen again. I finally couldn't stand it anymore even though I was planning to fly later, like after 4PM. Took off around 1:30P in light conditions and worked hard to get above the ridge. Got up to the west like Larry did. The lift at this time was a little ratty and punchy, but I managed to get to 3K' over out in the valley over the Rough and Ready church. I looked downwind and the horizon was filled with clouds. Looked like Dave and Larry had timed it perfectly. By 2:15P a shutdown hit, and I lost everything down to ridge level, and the air turned quite turbulent. Fought for a while with Pat, who had launched at this time and was struggling to get up below me. Pat landed first with me a few minutes behind him. By 3P Tom launched and had a quick sled. By 4:30P Joe launched in stronger conditions. He bobbed up and down in the valley and looked like he was sinking out, but hit a strong thermal and got up. I gave it a go around 5PM, but had an extendo making two passes along the ridge before getting scraped off. Karen took off around 5:30P and had an extendo. By 6P it had gone somewhat magic, and Pat and Tom had soaring flights, getting 800' and 650' over. Joe ended up landing in the east field after getting 3500' over as the magic hit. Karen gave it another go late, around 7P, but it had shut down again, and she landed in the east field. The whole day the sky was filled in with beautiful flat bottomed cloud streets. We watched the sun set with cold beer in the LZ.
Bacil
SAC Saturday 7/21
Moderator: CHGPA BOD