Task 2, Meredyth's day.

Task 3 was a race to goal 68km from launch with 3 turnpoints. The wind battered everyone from the start. I launched nicely with a couple of pressure knots. I discovered this and then proceeded to top land in very thermic air. Successful, I hiked back up to launch in 90F heat with many layers on. Launched off a second time and discovered the pressure knot had not been fixed. Top landed again poorly and hiked back up to launch. At this time the start of the race was on when I was standing on launch sorting my wing for the second time and the wind was blasting the launch. Finally, about ten minutes after the race started I got away from the hill successfully. The wind at this time was blowing near 18-20mph down low. I climbed out to 8000ft until it broke away from the hill and couldnt find anything but headwind and a drift back behind launch. A second time I climbed back up to 8k and the lift stopped because the wind was just blasting. Finally I climbed again and let myself get blown to the North, (the turnpoint was to the SE and thats where the wind was coming from). Not very high I tried to get out of the 4km start cylinder pushing into wind in lee down low. Not pretty. Drifting back toward the mountains I just went on a glide to a nice sunny hill that produced no lift. I landed sidehill above the canyon to my frustration. Today was not my day.
Meredyth on the other hand was in nice position at the start and got away over the hills to the first turnpoint. Successful she pushed on and got battered by the winds. Taking climbs low in bad areas she eventually got up to 15000ft, yes, above sea level. (i'll let her tell the story). She came gliding into goal with thousands of feet left and very happy. Around 20 pilots in goal and she was the second female behind Kari. This was her day and her best flight to date in distance and altitude gain. She'll get some good points for this task. A lot of good pilots dirted early on the course too. She is incredible in the air!
Looking windy tommorrow but, its all about wind around here.
SM