SB Saturday flying

[Tony de Groot]

You didn't miss much, but here's a quick update. Flew out first with no need to turn at launch as cloudbase was below it at the antane farm. Got killed on the glide from more east wind than I expected but snuck between the round house and the antanae farm.
Got nice lift but had to stay out of the clouds. Was with JR and Doug and then the East came in harder and just shredded the thermals. Went to Parma and there was lift but it was drifting too hard east and didn't want to risk getting too far downwind of the LZ so landed. Saw Jim Maddox and he said he had the worst rotor ever going to Saint Marys. It was so bad he didn't want a ride back up! But I think he went up later.

The wind started getting lighter from the East and Skippy was coming down to get me so went back up for another try. Little John, DD, Kip and JR were doing much better now so things were looking up. Richard Saffold launched then Bob Anderson and then Guy and they all started having good flights. Wrapped it up at launch and it was on going to 4100 feet off launch and all the options were open. Saw DD at the Thermal factory and joined up. Clouds were streaming from the NW and it was smooth up high. Got up to 4600 at cloudbase and was enjoying the clouds when I heard that rumble of engine noise. Where is that guy!! Vroom!! Somewhere, I hope, above the top of the clouds. And I went.......nowhere. I usually like to try to do something but looking at the clouds and the tilt I just felt like staying high as the lift was very nice and I heard it was a bit choppier down low. Eventually left at 4750 for a nice glide to the beach where I landed in nil wind. Saw Tom Maher who was jonsing to fly and then Skip pulled up and we got Blenders shakes followed by a Tri-tip bar-b-que. In the end it turned out to be a very nice day. Tony