http://ozreport.com/2007santacruzflats.php

What a great place. We are all having a great time here at the Francisco Grande resort (http://www.franciscogrande.com/). You'd think that this was just a fancy flight park, with all the help from Russell Brown and Jim Rooney and the Quest Air tugs (which got here in 24 hours of full time driving from Groveland, Florida).

Monday was day one and the forecast was for light winds and 700+ fpm lift to 15,000' where it was supposed to be 14 degrees. No way, said the local Dustin Martin, we only get to around 10,000' here. Way, said the imported gun slinging weatherman, yours truly.

The takeoff area was just past the driving range (behind the tall building in the picture). It was a little too hot for golf anyway. We delayed the launch so that a couple of straggling Canadian pilots that got in around 11:30 AM.

We set the task at a 130 km FAI triangle. Given that we could get 13,500' over the deck and have good lift to get there, what does it matter if there is any wind at all.

Jonny was off first followed by Chris Smith and then I went. The Canadians seemed like that they would never launch. Jim took me over to Jonny and Chris and we just climbed out further and further to over 10,000' in a big smooth fat thermal.

Looking around and it is open flat lands with a few little sharp ranges poking out of the ancient sea. Precious and controversial water from the Colorado River turning parts of this brown flat lands into alfalfa, a golf resort, etc.

Jonny, Chris, Jeff O'Brien and I headed to the edge of the start circle to see if we could get the first start time. There was plenty of sink and no nearby cu's (although plenty of cu's east of the turnpoint at Picacho). I found some lift over a big building south of Casa Grande at the edge of the eight kilometer and we all hung out there until 1:45 PM the last start time.

I started off first from 7,300' as the other including Dustin waited in the light lift. The sink was drastic as I head for a little range. I came in over the range at 1000' over the flat ground around it to find broken lift with a hawk. Jeff O'Brien came over next to me and then we got slammed a few times.

I decided to get out of there at 4,000' and see if it was possible to find something less exciting. Jeff saw Jonny nearby in some broken lift, but I missed him, Jonny had seen us getting slapped around and had avoided the hills sides that I aimed for trying to stay up.

Not finding any other lift I landed safely as Jeff and Jonny worked their way back up. The sink can be pretty strong around here.

The task turned out to be a bit more difficult than we originally thought. Five pilots made it to goal (see the results above). Pilots who flew further than I mentioned that it was pretty rough out there.

A number of pilots mentioned getting quite high, 14,000'+. One got to 15,000'. They all said that it was very cold up there. I guess we can chalk that up to a gold start for Dr. Jack and the weather guys with their RUC model.

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/2007/05/at-goal-on-day-one.html

http://jonnydurand.blogspot.com/2007/05/santa-cruz-flats-day-1.html

http://hang6.blogspot.com/2007/05/competition-nirvana-after-i-finish.html

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