BB
August 6th 08, 06:28 PM
Uvalde US 15 meter / Open nationals day 1
We had a great first day at the 15 meter and open nationals.
Weatherman Tom Kelley told us there would be good thermals with cu out
west and south, but rain from Edouard would creep in later. With a
wink, he added "I'd aim to be home at 5." The gate opened at 1:54 on a
3 hour TAT and everyone left quickly, with Tom's advice in mind. Open
got the same course with 3.5 hours, since they launch first.
We had good clouds with frequent 5-6 knot lift and occasional 7-8 knot
lift. The winners used more of the latter, the rest (like me) looked
too hard for it and wound up having to take more of the former so as
not to get too low. With no wind, the clouds didn't really line up
into streets, but formed large clumps, with equally large patches of
sinky blue between them. As usual at Uvalde, the layer about 2,500
feet below to cloudbase worked best, and the key was to stay in that
layer -- but not by taking weak lift or too-large course deviations to
do so. As the day progressed we could see showers working in from the
East, but no lightning or anything scary. Exactly as Tom promised, at
5:00 sharp Charlie Minner announced "light rain at the airport." By
then everyone was on high and fast final glides, so a little water
just helped to wash the wings. Gliders were put away quickly. Winning
speeds just above 90 mph.
Today is called off, as overcast from Edouard would make soaring a
low, late, and dicey proposition. Thank you thank you thank you for
not making us grid, wait, wait, sniff, wait, launch, wait, put them
away, and be exhausted for the next day! The forecast for the rest of
the contest looks like more classic Uvalde.
John Cochrane BB
We had a great first day at the 15 meter and open nationals.
Weatherman Tom Kelley told us there would be good thermals with cu out
west and south, but rain from Edouard would creep in later. With a
wink, he added "I'd aim to be home at 5." The gate opened at 1:54 on a
3 hour TAT and everyone left quickly, with Tom's advice in mind. Open
got the same course with 3.5 hours, since they launch first.
We had good clouds with frequent 5-6 knot lift and occasional 7-8 knot
lift. The winners used more of the latter, the rest (like me) looked
too hard for it and wound up having to take more of the former so as
not to get too low. With no wind, the clouds didn't really line up
into streets, but formed large clumps, with equally large patches of
sinky blue between them. As usual at Uvalde, the layer about 2,500
feet below to cloudbase worked best, and the key was to stay in that
layer -- but not by taking weak lift or too-large course deviations to
do so. As the day progressed we could see showers working in from the
East, but no lightning or anything scary. Exactly as Tom promised, at
5:00 sharp Charlie Minner announced "light rain at the airport." By
then everyone was on high and fast final glides, so a little water
just helped to wash the wings. Gliders were put away quickly. Winning
speeds just above 90 mph.
Today is called off, as overcast from Edouard would make soaring a
low, late, and dicey proposition. Thank you thank you thank you for
not making us grid, wait, wait, sniff, wait, launch, wait, put them
away, and be exhausted for the next day! The forecast for the rest of
the contest looks like more classic Uvalde.
John Cochrane BB