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

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/2007/05/finishes-for-day-3.html and http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/2007/05/day-3.html

http://jonnydurand.blogspot.com/

http://hang6.blogspot.com/

Two third\'s of the task and the flight.

Quite a day. The forecast was for 11 knot winds out of the northwest later in the afternoon. Still we called a task that would return us to Francisco Grande. It was a 107 km box task, that sent us first southeast, then northeast, then north, then back home over irrigated fields. It really makes a difference around here what kind of fields you are flying over.

All the pilots got up and at about 8,000' before the start window opened and were ready to go at 1:30 near the southeast edge of the start cylinder. I took off first, and most pilots go with me, but Jonny, Dustin and Jeff O'Brien snuck back and stayed for the second start time.

The lift was moderate and we were going downwind so we went reasonably quickly to the first turnpoint at Sunland where we got to almost 9,000' in 600 fpm lift. Chris Smith zoomed out in front and low as we headed toward the second turnpoint at Houser across I 10 and up against a hill side.

A few of us found some good lift along the way but Chris was down low and Scott Gravelle got a bit lower also as he chased Chris. I kept going toward the turnpoint with three pilots in tow and found weak lift just before it down to 2000' AGL. This allowed the pilots behind us as well as the late starters to catch up as we worked our way up drifting toward the turnpoint.

I joined Dustin and we climbed out strong to almost 8,000' before heading north. Dustin and I got another good climb almost back to 8,000' again and headed north. I could see all sorts of pilots out in front low and struggling. Scott, Jeff and Mark Dowsett were scrapping it off the deck a few kilometers ahead and to my right. I was in contact with Scott and Jeff so I went over to them about 3,000' over their heads but didn't find anything.

When I turned to go for those guys Dustin must have seen Jonny about 1,000' below us to our left and he headed in that direction. I didn't find another thermal, but Dustin got good lift as did Jonny and soon came over where I landed just short of the third turnpoint.

Dustin made it around the turnpoint and after a long glide ran smack dab into good lift that he worked to almost 11,000' getting him home first. He is now in second place after winning two days.

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