Day 2 scores
Overall scores
Day 2 we settle into some normalcy with chores to do from the day before (setup gliders, prepare your harness, breakfast, and pilots meeting). Most can be accomplished before 9 with ease. Yesterday I even took a 30 minute dip in the pool before the pilots meeting (one of the luxuries of being here at the “top of the mountain�). We’re all basically set be 9:30 and now wait for the pilots meeting. Even have time to “clean� the AZ desert off of the harnesses. The soil around here is like moondust so if you land in a field you’re likely to take a lot of that with you in your harness boot.
Pilots assemble at 10:30 near the golf starter area and the meeting is held with David Glover taking care of some gift giving for the winners of the first day. There is the obligatory “How did you do it?� question, as always. Not that many into goal and the day is somewhat devalued, but not too bad for a first day. At the pilots meeting we get to learn what to expect for weather, any news about the comp and any conp activities, and of course today’s task. Today we expect lift much like the day before, mainly climbs to 8k or so, lift rates approaching 700 fpm, and light winds. Most of that ends up being true except the lift rates.
Our task for today, another triangle this time a bit shorter 98k with an 11k cylinder around TP2 and back to the hotel. We’re headed East again. But this time right down the 10. Good because we know where the lift is (basically) and it should be easy retrieves if you land out.
The day actually progresses slow, with much of the early starters just to the SW of the hotel not making the weather prediction look all that correct. Most of the gaggle looks to be only about 1500’ over and a lot of them together. Two of the earliest starters land back at the tow line, bad in the sense that they go to the back of the line. Because I end up in 19th yesterday, I get to stage in front of more than half of the field. However, one knows that in reality that isn’t all that much of an advantage. Even though the staging is in my favor, plenty of early starters get in line, I can slide over into the line, but so can 18 others in front of me, so the line is an optical illusion unless you get into the line super early but you risk landing and being in the same spot you might have been if you try and time the launch just right. I think I timed it just a tad late, but in time to be with many of the top pilots.
After a bit of searching, I’m climbing with a good group of pilots and take the 3rd start (13:45) with James Stinnet. Along the way we spot twin dust devils and tank up to 8300 and progress right down the course line. I’m flying slightly faster than McReady and staying close enough to Stinnet. We are pressing passed Casa Grande mountain and hit another boomer, solid 600 – 800 up and tank up again to around 8800. Stinnet leaves first and I will lose sight of him until about 4k from the first TP. On the way I grab another lighter thermal but this one will see me into the 1st TP and possibly the 2nd. Kraig Coomber joins for a little while but sees glider up ahead and leave on a long glide for them. I follow with about 1500 over Kraig. We arrive at the gaggle 4k short of the TP and tank up again, but the conditions have weakened considerably. Still we climb to 6.5k and go on glide to the 1st TP and press towards the mountains that define the boundary of the 2nd TP. The glide is going OK, but there are pilots low and struggling. I join Davis and another pilot but miss their climb and now I’m on my own. Slowly I watch a parade of gliders land below me. I’m doing my best to stay with the light lift and eventually make my way up into the mountains where I think I’m home. But sadly it was not to be. I dive into the 11k radius TP and tag it. However, I’m in a lot of sink and end up back down to where I was before.
I’ll do this several times and try to get into the mountains and up on a NW facing ridge to get the best opportunity at a real thermal. The road is a ways away and I’m over some territory that isn’t all that landable. I set a altitude that I think is a minimum escape altitude to get back to the road. Giving it all I can, but the glide and thermal searching is slowing eating away at my safety margin and I leave the mountain hoping that I can get something off of the flats. It wasn’t to be and I end up re-visiting a landing area I landed in last year. At least this time I stick the landing on the road, no moondust to contend with and shade within walking distance. Ricker Goldsburough joins me a few minutes later. I'll end up 24 on the day. A lot better than I thought I was in for. I was hoping to making it into the top 30 but thought I might be far worse.
Jay and Greg will come over the mountain about 10 minutes later and go up over 8k tag the 11k cylinder and move on. Greg gets to within 20k of goal and Jay is about 19 miles from goal (Jay’s using miles).
). The first day was a little confusing because of some parking complexities, but I think most of the issues will be sorted out today.