Rat Race Sprint Day 5 (Task 4) - JK

The day began overcast and cool with a forecast of good conditions by late morning. The task was a circuit around the valley. Race was outer loop/4 circuits, Sprint inner loop/3 circuits. The Racers were lapping Sprinters. Really unusual task. Many were in the air for 5+ hours.

I didn't do so well, bombing out to Hunter LZ from Rabies Ridge on my first flight. On my 2nd flight, I tried again but decided to turn back if I hit sink in the valley without a strong thermal indication on the other side. I hit 350 fpm in the middle and turned back to Woodrat. I got back just above low launch and settled in for about an hour of scratching.

I finally had a good thermal hit the ridge, and I was able to core it above upper launch. From there, I couldn't really get high enough to attempt Rabies again or even Burnt. I got what I could and pointed upwind to try for Longsword and a glass of wine. The air was boaty with a few weak, small pockets of lift. Headwind was around 12 mph. 600-800 feet AGL on glide, the wind picked up and I was "elevator down" to the ground at Fiasco Winery, about 1 km short. I got a bottle of water there (my choice). Not much to write home about. Minimum points for the day.

I remember seeing gliders specked out above Burnt Ridge near the start time. I elected not to go there because it wasn't on course. But they were able to get high and stay high (7000+ ft) in an upper-layer airmass. I was in valley winds during my flights (4600 ft max).

Lesson learned for this day: get high, stay high over Burnt. On this day, stay away from Woodrat. The house thermal there wasn't working this day.

I have not been doing so well here, but learning a bunch. I need to readjust my minimum altitudes required to cross valleys. I think that the higher you are over them, the less sink you'll encounter. I am going for it too low and getting to the other side at ridge height with few options.

Flight Info - Day 5 - Task 4 - Flight 1
Flight Info - Day 5 - Task 4 - Flight 2