Sunday, July 05, 2009

RAT RACE FINAL DAY

Day 7 had a great forecast, possibly getting way high. Once on launch, the wind techs weren't getting as high as we hoped, it looked like another slow starting day.

The task committee discussed our objectives for the last task of the comp: keep retrieve simple, keep difficult sections away from the beginning of the task, and try to get a good number of pilots in goal, typical stuff.

Then Nicole, one of the wind techs, found a climb and just specked out, stratosphere baby... We also noticed some of the other wind techs were experiencing huge sink. The task committee met to set start times, but some of the locals weren't happy with conditions towards Rabies Peak, I think the large areas of sink made them think about safety. A vote was put out to the committee, it was "Who wants to keep the task the same". It was voted to keep it the same. About 5 minutes later, another vote was put out, it was "Who wants to change the task" and it passed... So the task was shortened.

I just wanted to get off launch, out of the heat and get boosted to 10 grand, so I launched first and started going up right away. The vario just kept getting stronger and I kept flying straight. When it was about 800 ft/min I started turning and the ground dropped away. I saw 1200 ft/min up for sustained periods, and topped out over Burnt at about 10k. I flew towards Rabies peak and found convergence. Then I found sink, like 2:1 for minutes, all the way back to a couple thousand over launch, found another core and rode it to 10k.

Others were heading towards Rabies Peak, but I noticed the rest of the field heading towards Longswords winery, yup, task cancelled. Conditions on launch got funky.

Landing at Longswords was not easy, very hard to get down, very thermic everywhere. This comp was the best comp I have been to in a long time, really consistent conditions, good organization, 5 out of 6 good task calls, and the mentoring was a smash hit, I heard lots of pilots say things were clicking into place like never before. This event is fertilizing the next batch of comp pilots. But not just comp pilots - XC pilots are learning serious skills at this meet too.

Huge thanks to organizers Mike and Gail Haley, all the volunteers, Bill Hughes for scoring, and the rest of you for making this event so much fun and good times.

cheers

Brett Hardin

Final Results are Here

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