The flight.



The task was longer than the flight above. Campbell Bowen was the only one to
make the task.



With weather forecasts that were all over the map, we threw our hands up in the
air and just called a task as though we didn't have a forecast. It was a 63 mile
FAI triangle to the south west then to the north, and then with a kink to keep
us closer to the sparse roads back to the Florida Ridge.



The winds were forecasted to be light south southeast by the FSL RUC2, except
above the inversion where they are supposed to be strong southeast. Dr. Jack's
RUC display is calling for 15 knot north winds at 2 PM..



We launched to the northeast and encountered 19 mph winds out of the south
southwest. But the lift is strong and we are able to climb to 5,500'.



Our start circle is 8 km and we head south southwest to get to the edge of it. I
launched early so I'm moving as quickly as I can to the south southwest, but I'm
wondering if I'm going to make the last start clock, the winds are so strong and
the progress slow.



I'm with Bruce Kavanaugh, Paris Williams, and James Stinnet as we work our way
south. The lift (as I said) is strong and there are thin cu's every where but a
thin upper level layer of clouds is shading the ground.



We get two miles outside (south of) the start circle below 3,000' and finally
find something knowing that it is going to drift us back into the start circle




Paris, Bruce and I climb to cloud base and basically are forced to leave at
about six minutes after the 2:30 window (second to last) opens as we are about
to white out.



Paris takes a line off to the right, Bruce in the middle and I am on the left
more on the course line. Paris gets the best lift, Bruce next and me the worst.
Oh, well.



I can keep Bruce close by and we work our way upwind toward the turnpoint,
finding good lift, and working upwind. A number of the folks behind us have
caught us so they are helpful.



I watch Paris, Jim Yocom on the AIR ATOS VR, and Bruce head toward the turnpoint
and I follow. I see Richard Lovelace, who was leading the meet (until today) on
the ground at the turnpoint. Bruce doesn't get any lift after the turnpoint so I
stop after getting a bump or two with a few birds and Paul, James, and I climb
up strong as four or five others ignore us and dive into the gloom to the north
where Bruce is working some weak lift very low.



The sky is dark and full of clouds to the north northwest (where our course will
later take us). No rain and no lightening. We watch it carefully.



We join the guys working the weak lift and then move forward and really don't
find much lift in the gloom. I land about 9 miles later at the La Belle airport.
Paul will land five miles further north after scratching up at the airport.



Some pilots are able to make it to the turnpoint to the north (it is a twenty
mile leg, and back toward Florida Ridge. Only Campbell who started very late was
able to make it around.



You can find the results (in Race output format) here:
http://ozreport.com/2007usnats.php.



Zac Majors, Kevin Carter's first instructor, won the day.