No results from Parowan in 2 ½ days.

On Sunday, 24 June 2012 13:52:03 UTC-6, Juliet11 wrote:
> No results from Parowan in 2 ½ days.

no flying Friday and Saturday. Task called for today but not seeing any action on the SPOT tracking page.

SSA requires a daily report on the website whether they grid or not.

I know, apologize for the lack of information. Friday and Saturday were blown out, saturday had winds in the upper 30's. We went out today with a great forecast with 7 kt lift to 19000. We called a task down to Jacob's Lake near the Grand Canyon and then North west to Colorado City, then North to Richfield area. As the day developed we had high wave like cirrus that caused a delay in the launch. We sent Karl Striedieck one of the advisors up to take a look and we then tasked to Bryce Canyon with about a 25 mile circle and then to Whiskey Knolls, Pole mt. and return with a max distance of about 270 miles. The cirrus kept moving over the area which caused us to reduce from 3 hours to 2.5 hours, still as you launched you were out of luck if the high cirrus thickened. We had several relights including the eventual winner, Karl Striedieck. Some pilots hit it right and just climbed out and others struggled mightily. Karl was reported to only have used 2 thermals to the second turn area. I heard some went to Escalante in the first area and others went over Wayne wonderland in the second. The difficult area coming home seemed to be from North of Beaver and we had 2 landouts in our valley, two near Junction and one near Beaver. Although the winning raw speeds were in the low 90's for 230 + miles others were much slower. We look for a better day tomorrow.

CD

On 6/24/2012 8:01 PM, gkemp wrote:
> I know, apologize for the lack of information. Friday and Saturday were blown out, saturday had winds in the upper 30's. We went out today with a great forecast with 7 kt lift to 19000. We called a task down to Jacob's Lake near the Grand Canyon and then North west to Colorado City, then North to Richfield area. As the day developed we had high wave like cirrus that caused a delay in the launch. We sent Karl Striedieck one of the advisors up to take a look and we then tasked to Bryce Canyon with about a 25 mile circle and then to Whiskey Knolls, Pole mt. and return with a max distance of about 270 miles. The cirrus kept moving over the area which caused us to reduce from 3 hours to 2.5 hours, still as you launched you were out of luck if the high cirrus thickened. We had several relights including the eventual winner, Karl Striedieck. Some pilots hit it right and just climbed out and others struggled mightily. Karl was reported to only have used 2 thermals to the second tu
rn area. I heard some went to Escalante in the first area and others went over Wayne wonderland in the second. The difficult area coming home seemed to be from North of Beaver and we had 2 landouts in our valley, two near Junction and one near Beaver. Although the winning raw speeds were in the low 90's for 230 + miles others were much slower. We look for a better day tomorrow.
>
> CD
>
Nice report Gary

MG

--
Mike I Green

Gary, are you guys using the NAM blipmap to do do the forecast? The 'total cloud cover' was showing the high clouds. This parameter works extremely reliable to predict high clouds. If there is large white area, there will be at least some high clouds.

Ramy

Radius Distance
03 Start C 5.0 0.0 Min: 140.85
69 BryceCan 25.0 28.86 Nom: 285.77
23 Salina 30.0 121.76 Max: 443.55
77 Exit 42 30.0 252.46
09 Finish 1.0 285.77

4 hour minimum

Well, the forecast looks good and this is our first shot at a task this morning, we will see.

gary kemp CD

On Monday, June 25, 2012 8:30:57 AM UTC-7, gkemp wrote:
> Radius Distance
> 03 Start C 5.0 0.0 Min: 140.85
> 69 BryceCan 25.0 28.86 Nom: 285.77
> 23 Salina 30.0 121.76 Max: 443.55
> 77 Exit 42 30.0 252.46
> 09 Finish 1.0 285.77
>
> 4 hour minimum
>
> Well, the forecast looks good and this is our first shot at a task this morning, we will see.

Looks good, task was approved by advisors and they are off and running for the first turn at Bryce Canyon. 4 hours.
>
> gary kemp CD

On Monday, June 25, 2012 1:05:38 PM UTC-7, gkemp wrote:
> On Monday, June 25, 2012 8:30:57 AM UTC-7, gkemp wrote:
> > Radius Distance
> > 03 Start C 5.0 0.0 Min: 140.85
> > 69 BryceCan 25.0 28.86 Nom: 285.77
> > 23 Salina 30.0 121.76 Max: 443.55
> > 77 Exit 42 30.0 252.46
> > 09 Finish 1.0 285.77
> >
> > 4 hour minimum
> >
> > Well, the forecast looks good and this is our first shot at a task this morning, we will see.
>
> Looks good, task was approved by advisors and they are off and running for the first turn at Bryce Canyon. 4 hours.
> >
> > gary kemp CD

The task area, particularly south, dried out more than we expected but pilots were able to go deep into the first two turns and about half way into the last. The Southwest winds were a bit of a problem after turning North of Salina, but the area clear back to Parowan was marked by clouds. We had six landouts. Most pilots reported lift averaging 6-7 kts and occasional stronger. Cloud base was near 16K. I would expect winning speeds to be in the high 80's for the winners. (Raw). Check the scores when they are posted to the SSA website.

Well, when the wind blows me (265 lbs) off me feet it is time to scratch the day!!

On Tuesday, June 26, 2012 3:11:01 PM UTC-7, gkemp wrote:
> Well, when the wind blows me (265 lbs) off me feet it is time to scratch the day!!

Well, today looks much better, winds about half the speed of yesterday. Altitudes and thermals higher and moisture has backed into the area so we should have cu. If everything works out, this will be the task:


TASK: TAT 4.0 HRS.
Radius Distance
Start 03 Start C 5.0 0.0 Min: 162.11
81 CarmelMtn 20.0 32.47 Nom: 284.65
51 WayneWondr 15.0 129.24 Max: 417.90
34 WhitePnMt 30.0 178.21
59 Bald Hills 16.0 264.83
09 Finish 1.0 284.65

The task worked out well although ground winds were 25 kn probably gusts were higher and some pilots had to place rocks in back of their wheels to keep the gliders from rolling down the runway. Once we got up off the ground conditions were excellent some pilots climbing rapidly to 15,000 feet or more, streets were used frequently and piloted made good headway against Southwest winds of 25 kts towards Kanab. Pilots headed North across Bryce and Zion Canyons to the entrance to Canyonlands, Wayne Wonderland. Speeds along this leg averaged over 100 mph. Turning Northwest they were soon in the Wite Pine Mt. turn area, Northeast of Richfield. Heading south again to Bald hills turn area brought them near to Cedar City and a fire burning just to the South, flooding the area itch smoke, then a quick run home. Top speeds were in the upper 80's for around 350 miles. See score sheet on SSA.org

By the way, these high speeds are without water!

TASK: TAT 4.0 HRS.
Radius Distance
Start 03 Start C 5.0 0.0 Min: 156.59
96 JacobLk 30.0 76.16 Nom: 292.63
80 Zion Park 20.0 130.29 Max: 437.11
36 Monroe 30.0 231.68
09 Finish 1.0 292.63

Pretty much the same conditions as yesterday, thermals 5-7 kts to 17,000. Yesterday's winner, Sean Franke, reported one thermal at 14.2 kts and several in the 10 kt. range. Once the pilots could get launched thermals were good. Sean thermalled out the top to 15,000 feet after being released in a 7 kt. thermal.

Sitting on the top of Brian's Head peak with my shortly after the start we could clearly see many gliders on route to turn area 1 to the SSE. Looks like another bombastic Parowan soaring day although a bit windy on the ground yet again (SW gusts 25). With more widespread cloud than yesterday, slightly less wind and no sign of over-development, speeds might be in the 90's....!
Sean

Every one made it back, some shifts in top positions, but top 4 still very close. Reports were that it looked better than it was. Lower altitude down south rising to the north. One pilot reported 17K north others 14K South. Good thermals were widely spaced. Top speeds in low 80's for around 320 miles.

Friday, June 29, 2012 Day 7 and last.

TASK: TAT 3.5 HRS.
Radius Distance
Start 03 Start C 5.0 0.0 Min: 145.67
23 Salina 30.0 92.82 Nom: 267.23
51 WayneWonder 15.0 140.70 Max: 413.80
69 BryceCnyn 25.0 195.0
45 BeaverMun 19.0 241.32
09 Finish 1.0 267.23

Weather very similar to yesterday with fewer clouds.

Top 4 places are separated by only 85 points.....stay tuned.

Looks like they are doing well, only about an hour to the 3.5 hr point and they are approaching the third turn.

On Friday, June 29, 2012 3:37:25 PM UTC-7, gkemp wrote:
> Looks like they are doing well, only about an hour to the 3.5 hr point and they are approaching the third turn.

From what I can gather it was a very good task, there were spots where you could get low, ask Garret Willat, down to 1500 feet near Wayne's Wonderland and then got a thermal averaging 14 kts to 17,200. The task area was laid out well to take advantage of the streets to the North, into Salina and to the back of the circle near one of Utah's 6 fires. Back down to Bryce Canyon and to Beaver where it got soft and then home. Doug Jacobs said he did 88 mph.

Take a look at the scores when they come out. All seem to have returned including a 1-35 and a PW5, so a great day over all.

Things went well, Doug Jacobs was the champ, Sean Franke, 2nd and highest Club finisher and Karl Striedieck was third. Karl and Tim Taylor were great advisors and set up almost perfect tasks. There were no accidents and no incidents, no official protests, nothing ever in the safety box, 6 off airport landings, a good contest. Thanks to all pilots for their professionalism.

On 6/30/2012 5:21 AM, gkemp wrote:
> Things went well, Doug Jacobs was the champ, Sean Franke, 2nd and highest Club finisher and Karl Striedieck was third. Karl and Tim Taylor were great advisors and set up almost perfect tasks. There were no accidents and no incidents, no official protests, nothing ever in the safety box, 6 off airport landings, a good contest. Thanks to all pilots for their professionalism.
>
And thank you Gary, for your informative reports. Sorry I couldn't make it.

MG

--
Mike I Green

On 6/30/2012 5:21 AM, gkemp wrote:
Things went well, Doug Jacobs was the champ, Sean Franke, 2nd and highest Club finisher and Karl Striedieck was third. Karl and Tim Taylor were great advisors and set up almost perfect tasks. There were no accidents and no incidents, no official protests, nothing ever in the safety box, 6 off airport landings, a good contest. Thanks to all pilots for their professionalism.

And thank you Gary, for your informative reports. Sorry I couldn't make it.

MG

--
Mike I Green

Just adding my thanks as well Gary. Great commentary to following the spots as they worked around the courses. Having Mike's WX online was good to have as well. Happy to hear all went well...congrats!