2011 Seniors TA Day 2 Report

Day 2 of the 2011 Seniors is in the bag, and we all had a pretty good
time of it. Weather seemed to be better to the south, so the CD
called a 3-turn TAT; south to Myakka Head with a 15 mile radius, then
ENE to Frostproof with a 20 mile radius, then NW to Blackwater Creek
with a 20 mile radius, with a minimum time of 2:45. Conditions
started out weak and blue, but most pilots were getting just to the
max altitude of 4000’ as the gate opened. There was an initial
trickle of starters, and then the flood gates opened as pilots started
to worry about getting back home before the day died. As we headed
south we started to see little wisps of clouds, and by the time we got
well into the first turn, the entire area had cu’s. Ken Sorenson won
the day with as very respectable 64.9mph raw / 57.52mph handicapped,
Dick Butler was close behind in second place with 66.32mph raw /
56.86mph handicapped, and Karl Striedieck was third with 63.78mph
raw / 56.45mph handicapped.

Ken Sorenson commented that he started much later than he wanted as he
couldn’t seem to find a good climb in the start cylinder. By the time
he did start, he found cu’s popping up in front of him on the entire
first leg, allowing him to catch up to earlier starters. Talk about
being in the right place at the right time!

At the end of the day, our hosts held an impromptu dinner for pilots,
using the leftovers from the previous day’s feast. The beer and wine
flowed freely, and so did the hand-waving and pilot talk.

Counting the practice day, we have now had three good days of soaring,
with hopefully more to come. Tomorrow we hope to see more of those
puffy white things, and then we will have the mandatory rest day on
Wednesday.

TA

It seems that winning in Clermont is trivial. On both the first and
second day, the last person to start won the day. What could be
simpler than that? Just hang out and start last.

Thanks for the report TA.

On Mar 15, 11:34*am, Steve Koerner wrote:
It seems that winning in Clermont is trivial. *On both the first and
second day, the last person to start won the day. *What could be
simpler than that? *Just hang out and start last.

Thanks for the report TA.

It is remarkable, but it's not as easy as that. Most of the time when
I start 10 minutes after everyone else, especially on a blue day, it
leads to a long lonely afternoon as I pursue a gaggle that is just
beyond reach, come in a few thousand feet below them in utter junk air
after the thermal has left, and so on. To "leave late and catch the
gaggle" takes a lot of "catch the gaggle" skills, which both Tom and
Ken have in abundance.

Once more, Kudos to Guy Byars for adding start info so we get this
added part of the story

John Cochrane

On Mar 15, 11:40*am, John Cochrane
wrote:
On Mar 15, 11:34*am, Steve Koerner wrote:

It seems that winning in Clermont is trivial. *On both the first and
second day, the last person to start won the day. *What could be
simpler than that? *Just hang out and start last.

Thanks for the report TA.

It is remarkable, but it's not as easy as that. Most of the time when
I start 10 minutes after everyone else, especially on a blue day, it
leads to a long lonely afternoon as I pursue a gaggle that is just
beyond reach, come in a few thousand feet below them in utter junk air
after the thermal has left, and so on. To "leave late and catch the
gaggle" takes a lot of "catch the gaggle" skills, which both Tom and
Ken have in abundance.

Once more, Kudos to Guy Byars for adding start info so we get this
added part of the story

John Cochrane

Agree with John that it's not easy to do, but once at a contest at
Hobbs I hit the magic late start spot just because I was struggling to
get up to start. Jumped gaggles down 2 legs and caught the leaders at
the last turn point. Decided to stay with them rest of the day.

It may not happen often but it's magic when it does!


Andy

On Mar 15, 12:34*pm, Steve Koerner wrote:
It seems that winning in Clermont is trivial. *On both the first and
second day, the last person to start won the day. *What could be
simpler than that? *Just hang out and start last.

Thanks for the report TA.

Everything is trivial until you have to do it - then it gets
harder ;-).

TA