https://airtribune.com/2019-green-swamp-sport-klassic/results

Thank goodness we are being towed to 4,000'. I hadn't taken advantage of this,
but today I did because I needed the altitude to get me and Jon Irlbeck, my
mentee, out and away from Wilotree Park. In a hurry.

At the Green Swamp we launch as teams. Our team, Ken Millard, Mark Dowsett,
mentor, Jon Irlbeck, and me, additional floating mentor, were second to last to
launch an hour after the launch window opened. For the first time in the first
hours three pilots suddenly landed back at Wilotree Park just as we were getting
up to the launch box. Jim Kolynich on an ATOS got really low but recovered.

There were plenty of cu's before, but now it was blue to the east. I said to
those around me, "Lake Effect." This means that the big lakes to the east are
cutting off the lift. The wind was out of the east at about 9 mph.

Ken and Mark were launched then after a little wait, Jon and I. April Mackin
towed me up brilliantly right behind Jon and when we got near 4,000' she put me
next to Jon. I pinned of at 3,900' just below Jon and upwind a bit, but before I
did I told him on the radio to turn and go west, immediately, as fast as he
could.

As we were towing up we passed through Mark and Ken over Wilotree Park at
2,000'. They would soon land.

Unlike most mentees, Jon immediately followed my admonition and we were soon
rewarded with light lift. It wasn't great but at least we were going up and not
landing back at Wilotree Park. This was the key that set the day up for Jon.

I found -15 fpm, then 65 fpm, and finally 150 fpm on my way to the first
turnpoint at the intersection of highway 50 and 469, 12 km from the start point.
I circled into the turnpoint at 3,800'.

Heading downwind down the course line I could see that the lumber yard, the
second turnpoint, was in the middle of a large area of shade. There was a huge
dark cloud centered right over it. To the north there were other cu's and lots
of sunlight on the ground. I could see a very small fire with much more smoke
than fire and near by a nice looking, very dark, but smallish cu. I don't have a
lot of luck finding lift over fires, especially very small one, but as it was
closer than the cu, I headed for it first.

Down to 2,600' I found 300 fpm over it and drifted downwind with the thermal.
Drifting a little further downwind I ran into 800 fpm on my 20 second averager
under the dark cu. It looked like Jim Kolynich saw that I was climbing and came in way
low below me. It looked like I was getting to help two mentors. Jon could hear
me on the radio calling out lift and position.

I was going to blow off the second turnpoint at the lumber yard as I had already
drifted downwind and being a mentor I was not being scored, but with this big
climb I saw no reason not to go back upwind and from 3 km passed the turnpoint
cylinder tag it before heading for the next one. Besides, I might run into Jon
or another menteee that I could help.

It cost me only 1,400'.  I came back downwind to get under Jim who had
climbed up in the meantime. Kolynich flew off, but I was soon back to 5,500'.

Heading toward the third turnpoint at the Gross airfield I could see that there
was a lot of blue on the way. There were cu's to the south of the course line,
but with the 13 mph wind they were moving away from me quickly. I had to turn a
bit to the north to be sure to tag the turnpoint before I blew past it (like the
last one), but that sent me into the blue. I was looking to the west at the
river surrounded by trees up ahead.

There was a nice looking black cu downwind of the turnpoint and a few fields
that I go use for landing just before the river. Down to 1,800' I came in under
the upwind side of the good looking cu and bam there was 600 fpm. The rough
thermal averaged 500 fpm and I took it to 4,500', which was more than enough to
get over all the trees to the west and into goal.

Oded was there when I got there, but I wasn't pleased with the field that he
landed in so landed further west in a field with some random small trees that
didn't provide too many obstacles. It was great to see that Jon Irlbeck made it
later, for his first goal finish. Looks like a number of Mentees made it in.

Task 4:

Cumulative: