Today's task and flight:

https://airtribune.com/2019-big-spring-nationals/results

Task 4:

Cumulative:

Sport Class:

Jose Sandoval Sandoval was the only one to make goal at 48T. He continues to
lead the sport class.

Swift Class:

Didn't fly.

The forecast was for an east northeast wind, lighter than the previous day. With
a huge downpour and flash flooding around Big Spring on Tuesday night we figured
the lift around the airport to be very poor. That proved to be the case.

The wind was sixteen mph northeast just south west of the airport so that made
things even worse. Our task was to the west northwest given the forecast for
lighter and east northeast winds.

I was circling with Bruce and Kevin as we climbed at 170 fpm. That thermal got
us to the edge of the start cylinder just in time for the first clock at 3 PM.
We joined up with Roger Irby and Rudy Gotes and climbed to 6,800' just outside
the start cylinder.

After a short weak climb we headed north northwest to try to get on the upwind
side of some shallow lakes. Roger Irby landed and Bruce and Kevin thermaled
downwind of the lakes. I pushed further up wind and found better lift at 345 fpm
and after a while they came and joined me. We lost track of Rudy.

We climbed back to 6,800' and headed again to the north northwest
cross wind in order to go toward the turnpoint at 48T. We stayed above 5,600'
climbing to almost 6,000' and hooked up with Rudy. I was able to find lift by
pushing up wind to the northeast when after I felt any lift.

The lift gave out for a while and down to 800' I found lift near a very strong
gas flare. Rudy came back to join me and Kevin landed. Bruce was behind us and
climbing. We were only able to get to 5,600'.

There were now little cu's popping along our cross wind course line so we could
fly to them. I found the next thermal and Rudy joined me but it was only 100
fpm. We had lost Bruce who was high and behind us. We only climbed to 5,700'.

Rudy stayed back as I raced to get under the next thin cu, but got low and had
to work it back up to 5,300'. The lift was broken up near the top so I went for
a cu just forming up wind of us. It didn't work and I soon landed.

Rudy and Bruce were able to make it around to goal with Erick coming later.

I should have been more conservative and not tried to chase cu's. The lift down
low was broken and ratty.