Rat Race Sprint Day 3 - JK

Tuesday's task from WR launch was an "exit in" start with a 2km cylinder over Burnt, west across the valley to Rabies, return to Woodrat Peak, back to Rabies, further west to Well's Ridge and then back east with a tailwind to Longsword winery.

Since Woodrat launch is 2.5 km away from Burnt, the pre-start gaggle tanked over launch. Gaggles were really ratty, especially after watching the organized Race gaggles from the ground prior. Alex called them "ghetto gaggles". I favored the WR Peak trigger to get away from the horde and reduce the mayhem.

I got high and managed to stay high and left after the first push. I got to Burnt with no problems. Other pilots marked the house thermal there and another along the way. I set off for Rabies with good altitude, but the sink in the valley was 400-500 fpm.

I got to Rabies ridge with pilots below me, but no one was getting up. I arrived during a lull. The pilot that passed me from below from left to right ended up landing above near the TP. It may have been the pilot that got hurt (broken clavicle & punctured lung). In addition to that one, there were multiple landings up there. Not good.

Instead of going right up the ridge toward the TP, I went left down Rabies Ridge where it descended toward a knoll that looked like a good trigger. I found lift there, but my meandering put me low there and the thermals were punchy and small. I worked it for ten minutes, and for a while, I thought I'd be able to climb out. I took a 25% collapse on the right while trying. Then I had a frontal, took one more turn, and thought, "What am I doing here?" I left the knoll, flew down what ridge remained, and landed at goal (Longsword Winery) for min points on the day.

Big lesson learned: go direct to the trigger, and get there as high as possible. Thermals too low are small, punchy, ratty and no fun. They need a few hundred feet to organize.

Flight Info - Task 3