A tough day with many down early. Mike Bilyk wins the day:

His glider at goal at Trang. 153 kilometers north of Forbes.

My forecast was for poor lift (450 fpm minus 200 fpm for your sink rate) and low
top of lift (6,000' later in the day, 4,000' when we were launching at 1 PM)
with 15 knot winds out of the south and no cu's, a strong inversion. It turned
out to be even worse.

I was off fifth in my line in ordered launch. The inversion was visible and
about 3,600'. Pilots had to repeatedly go upwind to find weak broken lift and
then get blown downwind as they slowly climbed. This went on for an hour and a
half.

The turn direction was dictated to be right but pilot continually turned left
and this made for dangerous conditions in the start cylinder. I repeatedly left
gaggles because they were unsafe and you couldn't climb in them.

Finally around the first start time a bunch of us including Christian, Filippo,
Jonny, Attila, Mike Bilyk, Steve Blenkisop and I and a good number of others
headed north down wind to get to the edge of the start cylinder for the second
start time. The lift continued to be weak and broken and the gaggles slightly
less dangerous.

We were able to stay just inside the 15 kilometer start cylinder to get the
second start time, but we were not high and the lift was crap. We headed off
without getting up and went searching for something better than zero sink.

We caught bits and pieces but nothing solid and helpful. Thirty kilometers out I
was low with Christian and Filippo when Jonny came in even lower and landed
right below us. The wind was blowing hard and we kept getting pieces of good
lift so we continued to work it until it went away. We all landed together a few
kilometers past Attila and Jonny. Many had already landed. A good number at the
launch paddock.

Steve, Paris and Mike were still up but going slow as they stayed in whatever
lift there was.

I was picked up early by Brett the driver and he left me off in Parkes as he
headed north and I tried to hitch hike south to Forbes. Got a ride with Filippo
and Christian.

Hopefully a fuller report soon.

Jamie gets to within 29 kilometers: