Rat Race Sprint Day 2 - JK

The weather on Monday was nearly a carbon copy of Day 1. By the second day, the comp routine was beginning to feel like a routine; pilot meeting at HQ, reclaim GPS, ride to launch, preflight glider, organize gear in pile, pilot meeting at launch, program GPS w/ task, strategize while waiting for launch window, and fly... You get the idea. For me, the regimented routine works best.

The task on Day 2 was to go west to Rabies, back across the same valley to Burnt (just NW of launch), back to Rabies and then on a long glide down the south valley to Harts LZ (same as Day 1).

The start time was initially set at 1445. Then, after most of the Race pilots were launched, the task committee moved our Sprint time up to 1400. We had just over an hour to launch and tank up over Woodrat Peak. I blew my 1st launch by turning the wrong way, reversing on the run and getting my lines caught in my GoPro. Try #2 without the helmet ornament went without incident.

The loiter time over launch was about an hour. The thermal gaggle was intense and at times ratty & disorganized. At times I was near the top, and then not. At start time, I felt I needed another 500 feet, got it, and then set off for Rabies behind the pack. Along the way, I had some reservations about going straight over, turned a little left to where other pilots weren't sinking as much, found more sink, went right back to the turn point, and then went right to get to Burnt. It was supposed to be a sure thermal there and was closer to Rabies. Along the way I continued to get big sink and ended up low below Burnt ridge. I scratched for 15 minutes on the WSW finger. As I S-turned the finger the lift got more organized and bigger and stronger as I scratched up. It turned into a good strong thermal and It got me back in the task. Five or six other pilots flocked to my position below. It was a very low save.

I crossed west to Lower Rabies, found a thermal on the ridge there right on the cylinder. Again, there was no house thermal at Burnt. I scratched in the same place where I had my low save, but there was no save this time. I sunk out and landed out in a rancher's clearing at the foot of the finger ridge. The land owner was a good guy (Chris) and gave me a ride back to HQ which was just 1/2 a mile away. I got 222 points for that.

Big lessons: stick to pre-launch discipline (turn direction) even though there is pressure to get off the hill. Do not meander! Be more patient when tanking up for a valley crossing. Lift is plentiful and strong, but sink is found in large areas (valleys) and is stronger. Tank up and spend it as miserly as possible.

Flight Info - Task 2