Contest Director Paul Cordell asked me to give a daily RAS report on
here for all you glider addicts.

In case you have never been to New Castle, Virginia before, let me
describe it. The town population is 350 people, with panoramic view
of mountains 4,000 feet tall surrounding the valley. Look up the word
Tranquility in the websters dictionary and there will be a picture New
Castle, Virginia. Amidst the piece and quiet.....like rolex clock
work, soaring hall of famer Lanier Frantz started off todays pilot
meeting with a BOOM! Using his civil war era canon, the blast echoed
through the valley marking the start of this years Region 4 South
race.

Today is a no fly day due to low ceilings. There is still lots of fun
to be had with a plethora of activities at the Blue Ridge Soaring
Societys private airfield. Honestly, even to the glider addicts, the
non-soaring days at New Castle can be almost just as fun. Today's
activities will be reuniting of old friends and families, mountain
bike riding, eating, camp fire marshmellow roasting, live string
music, fishing, wine drinking, beer drinking, all within walking
distance on the 1,100 acres private owned by the Frantz family. Other
options as usual are the dirt-cheap delicious breakfast at the
midfield restaurant named Pat's Towplane Tavern. A wild game chili
soup for lunch, or whatever else is on the menu. And a schmorgesboard
of food underneath the pavilion for dinner. RC planes are flying and
lots of pilots working on their ships to gear up for what looks to be
a solid 4 days of flying later in the week.

The forecast for tomorrow shows heavy rain that will end late tomorrow
night. Wed-Sat forecast is a mixture of blue skies and partly cloudy
skies. I will keep you all posted each day.

Wish you were here!
Scott Alexander "SA"