Florida Ridge - Rob Kells Memorial

[lbunner]

Well, after two days of rain we finally got in a task today. I woke up this morning to overcast skies. The Blip Maps didn't look promising but we (James Stinnett) headed out to the flight park around 1000 to find everyone setting up their gliders. The overcast was breaking up and a few cu's started forming overhead. A 30 mile dog leg task to the southwest and then south was called at the 1100 pilot meeting with three starts at 1:30, 1:45 and 2:00. I like to get in the air early so lined up behind Davis and one other pilot before launching around 12:50. Russell Brown of Quest Air fame towed me up into a thermal slightly downwind of the field and I spent about 30 minutes on the edge of the start circle at or near cloudbase (3400'). I thought the condition would get better as the day progressed so pushed upwind back into the 5km (3.1 miles) start circle intending on taking the 2nd start when Jeff Shapiro (new WW harness designer) and Jonny Durand headed out on course under me. I clipped the edge of the circle and headed with them. We had one nice climb together and then went on a glide to the first turn point with Steve Larsen (Exstaccy). I could see Ollie Gregory (ATOS VR) out ahead and worked my way toward him. Jonny and Jeff were slightly to my right and above. We all merged together before the TP groveling in weak lift before finally catching something good. Ollie ended up leaving us before topping out and got killed on his glide to the TP where he eventually landed. Jonny, Jeff and I tagged the TP and headed south. They were a couple hundred feet above me and I ended up losing them in the next climb as they centered in some good lift that I just couldn't find. At this point I was on my own and just focused on flying my own flight. There were nice looking clouds along the final glide track and I headed south under them looking for one more good climb. I was down to 1200' before I found one and rode it to 2800' then headed crosswind into goal. I was the third glider in and managed to finish 4th for the day behind (Shapiro, Durand, and Martin). I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

[John Simon]

Nice job Bun!
Keep working 'em over. JD and I will be down for the Rally next week so soften them up for us. Meanwhile, Ric and I are taking advantage of your absence and working on the Campbell problem. Missed by a ways on Mon but may try again soon.

Good luck,

John

[lbunner]

Day 2
Conditions are predicted to be better so the task committee calls a dog leg task of 104km (63 miles). James and I get off early and take the first start with Shapiro and Martin and a number of others. A nice line of clouds lines up heading west to the first turnpoint and even though we aren't getting high (< 4000'), the glides are long with little sink. We are too slow however and the group from the second start catches us just before the TP. The next leg is straight north some 30 miles. I can just see the leaders one thermal ahead and we all head for the cloud they are circling under. I grovel too long in weak lift and Obrien and Majors (second start) zoom by. The next climb is good at 600 fpm however the gaggle was tight and I ended up cutting Ricker Goldsborough off in a turn that I was pushed out just a little to far. Just as I got back in line Jim Yocom in his ATOS VR comes screaming just under my left wing. I headed out not wanting to mix it up anymore and went on a long glide down to 1000' before slowly digging out. Unfortunately the group I was with were now long gone. The next cloud was working well and I topped out at 4800' went on glide and hit another good climb at almost 800 fpm which got me back in the game but just a little too late. I went on glide from about 13 miles out stopping briefly to turn in some weak lift even though my 6030 said I had goal on glide. I didn't want to end up short. I passed the goal cylinder with 600' to spare. I finished probably 16th for the day and should be around 6th or 7th overall. The weather looks good the next few days so I have an opportunity to finish strong. I need to fly a bit faster between thermals and concentrate on sticking with the climbs especially in the gaggles. Can't wait for tomorrow.
Are you guys OK with me posting my daily synopsis on this forum?

[John Dullahan]

Larry,
Congratulations on making goal and coming in fourth, among world-class pilots, on the first day, and scoring a low save on the second to make goal. We learn a lot and enjoy reading about you holding your own among the big guns. So please keep your posts coming. Good luck during the rest of the Rob Kells Memorial. John D.

[markc]

Are you guys OK with me posting my daily synopsis on this forum?

Larry, maybe I can't speak for everybody, but.... Most of us *live* for this kind of stuff!

I can't imagine a more appropriate topic for this forum, especially given that many of the readers
here are weekend/recreational XC pilots, not comp pilots.

You post.

We read.

We happy!



MarkC

[hang_pilot]

Are you guys OK with me posting my daily synopsis on this forum?

Emphatically, yes! Really enjoy reading your posts and looking forward to flying with you some this summer so you can teach us all how its done.

Best of luck with the remaining days.

~Daniel

[lbunner]

Day 5: A front was moving through this morning. Grey clouds permeated the sky however Intellicast showed the front moving through at a pretty good clip and Dr. Jack (Bacil's favorite) showed good conditions with only moderate west winds. The task committee (Durand, Majors and Lovelace) chose a short 6 mile glide to the east then 18 miles to the south, back the 18 miles and final glide the 6 miles to Florida Ridge. The sport class was allowed to launch first today to get them in the same air as the open and rigid pilots. There were good clouds all over the sky but they were building rapidly. I towed right after the sport class and rigids and struggled for the first half hour just maintaining 2000'. Eventually I got to cloudbase however there were 9 minutes left before the first start. The sky continued to build and there was quite a bit of overdevelopment to the northwest. Everyone took the first start clock, I was down to 2000' with Jaime Sheldon and we found a good climb that got us started albeit late. She took a northerly track and flew right by the first turnpoint to a gaggle to the east. I did the same only clipped the turnpoint on my way so I wouldn't have to come back to it. The climb took us and a bunch of other pilots to 3500'. I headed on glide to the southwest trying to get back on course line in the now stiff 13 mph west wind. I got low just east of the main highway heading to the south before really digging out from 1000'. Charlie Allen came under me but couldn't quite find the lift and landed below while Chris Zimmerman and I climbed up to 3000' where we flew through some virga. The next thermal I exited at cloudbase (3900') and had an awesome glide upwind trying to get back to the main road again. The conditions got much rowdier and the thermals were tough to stay in. I wasn't persistent enough and eventually landed right next to the highway about 10 miles from the second turnpoint. Zimmerman went on to win the day. I ended up 11th and am now in 7th overall. Tomorrow will be the best day of the comp with sunny skies and raltively high top of the lift (6000'). Can't wait to really test myself against some of the world's best.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I'm pumped to represent Region 9 and Highland Aerosports at these comps.

By the way, my new T2C rocks. Best handling glider I've flown to date and lands well too!

[lbunner]

Day 6: 125km task dogleg out and then retrace our turnpoints back. I gave it my best shot but landed less than 3 miles short. It was a bit of a bummer after spending 4:57 in the air. I made a few mistakes on the return leg that cost me. Leaving the 4th turnpoint high, I fixated on the wrong intersection as the final turnpoint and headed out into the blue instead of following a good cloud line. This put me low at the TP and in need of a good climb. I got the climb but then headed southeast to get on the south side of the river to insure the retrieve would be easier. The clouds weren't working on the south side so I landed in a nice field rather than chance going down in wet terrain. I think I was 20th for the day which plummeted me to 12th overall. James ended up short as well. We put ourselves on suicide watch as we spent the rest of the night lamenting about how bad we suck. Tomorrow is the last day so I have a chance to redeem myself.

[lbunner]

Day 7: A new day and good conditions again. Another 125km task this time downwind as we have 10-15 mph winds out of the ESE and then an 18 mile crosswind leg to goal. My radio PTT failed and I flew without communications. This may have been a benefit as the extra noise tends to be more of a distraction than an aid. I did well up to the 2nd TP and actually caught up with the lead gaggle albeit briefly. One good climb after the TP and I could see a cloud ahead with gliders turning underneath. By the time I got there the cloud was dissipating. Davis Straub, Ricker and I scrambled from down low and eventually connected with a good climb. I was slightly above Davis and Ricker was high above us, Davis headed out with about 3500' and I followed covering him above and to the rear. I matched every move he made as we glided toward goal. At 3km out I made my move to the left of him and raced on in to goal beating him by seconds. Another 4+ hours in the air and possibly a top ten for the day and the meet. Won't know for sure until tomorrow.

[Dan T]

Great posts Larry, I'm sure we all appreciated them.

I'm hopeful that you will provide us sport class pilots some tips on getting to goal during the ECC.

Dan

[mcgowantk]

Great flying Larry. Thanks for the stories. I'm looking forward to flying with you up here.

Tom

[hang_pilot]

possibly a top ten for the day and the meet. Won't know for sure until tomorrow.

http://www.soaringspot.com/2010rk/resul ... y-day.html
Congratulations on finishing 9th!

Larry was the sixth best U.S. pilot meaning he's closing in on possible national team selection (top 5 U.S. pilots). That's pretty damn cool.

Blue skies,
Daniel

[Richard Hays]

How far is Florida Ridge from Ft. Meyers Beach? From what I can tell its only about an hours' drive? Is that about right?

My brother-in-law has a really nice place down in Ft. Meyers Beach that he rents out weekly and monthly so...if anybody is interested, let me know. Within walking distance of the beach; on a canal; swimming pool; two bedroom-two bath. Quiet neighborhood but easy drive to some great bars/restaurants. Has carport to keep gliders nice and dry too...for those Florida OD days. LOL.

Rich "Hays"