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in and we waited - and waited - while the sniffer scratched away trying to stay up over the west edge of the airport. Finally, the CD decided that one of two possible tasks would be called in the air.
As the fleet was launched, two huge gaggles formed in the available thermals. The lift at this point went to all of 2,300 feet. DJ immediately left the gaggle, heading in the direction to which he believed the task would be called. We covered nearly as much ground before the start as we did after. All the while we could see the bulk of the fleet dodging each other in those two very crowded thermals. We crossed paths before the start with Karl Striedeck (KS) and Tom Knauff who had also left the big gaggles - hmmm. All this at 2,300 feet and twelve miles out.
As DJ predicted, Charlie Spratt, the contest director, called a turn area task to the north. This consisted of a five mile radius start circle, a twenty-five mile radius "turn area" with Dunnellon at the center and a remote finish near Seminole. The minimum distance that could be covered was 60 miles and the maximum possible distance was 159.98 miles.
When the "gate opened" starting the race, we headed off in the general direction of the area where we had to make our first (and only) turn. If we'd been driving, we would have been stopped on suspicion of being drunk. Our meandering course increased the distance to the turn, but DJ explained that we actually gained time, even with large deviations from the course-line, as long as the deviation resulted in better climbs.
At times we were as low as 1,600 feet and seventy miles out. At one point we reached 4,600 feet, the high point of the day and seven hundred feet higher than the weather briefing had predicted . We made the turn at 3,000 feet. Certainly, a different experience from flying in the southwestern US.
On the way back, the last 40 miles were totally overcast. Finally, we were just too low, with nothing promising in sight. Since he was flying someone else's big, heavy two-place glider, DJ decided that we should land at an airport. We touched down at a paved private strip just as a tow-plane entered the pattern to retrieve someone else. The tow-pilot said he'd be back in ten minutes and he was. A fantasy land-out! It turns out that only two pilots made it back that day.
Some observations:
1. Seminole Lake Gliderport is one of the best run and most customer-friendly commercial operations in the country, right up there with Estrella, Williams and Minden. Their gift of the use of the DG 505 for the race, the tows and DJ's expenses represent a substantial donation to the US Team. We owe them our sincere thanks.
2. Without the distraction of 90 kilos of curious, full-of questions passenger, DJ would probably have won the contest. As it was, he placed fourth.
3. One of the reasons he wins often is that he flies about perfectly, never uncoordinated, speeds just right.
4. He never seems to fly through sink - even at 1,600 feet, it seemed we had plenty of time to try things and make decisions. Total calm!
5. This is an intellectual activity.
6. There is simply no better possible way to watch a sailplane race than looking over DJ's shoulder.
7. Love that contest finish! From above pattern altitude to ground level at warp speed, back to pattern height and, just when you think tail-slide, DJ drops it onto the downwind leg, with the wheel out, perfectly set up for the landing (don't try this at home, kiddies).
8. Renting back seats for racing is a great idea. I can't imagine a better way to learn than to sit behind a top racing pilot who is willing to think out-loud. I envy the lucky dog who won the US Team Sweepstakes and got to do this with Karl Striedieck (KS) for the WHOLE CONTEST.
Speaking of that lucky dog who got to fly with KS for the entire contest -- I spoke to him at the post-race banquet and he expressed considerable ambivalence about the experience. He allows that racing "isn't my thing." Pity! I would have accepted that prize in a minute.
Relatively few people entered the Sweepstakes this year, despite that grand prize with KS. Since backseat racing is not for everybody, perhaps the Team should have just auctioned off the opportunity to fly with KS. In fact, Karl has done very well at team fund-raising by selling the back seat in his personal Duo Discus. He's sold out for this year.
Do you have any interest in being a racer, or do you just want to know what sailplane racing is all about? If so, when an opportunity like this comes along, jump at it! You'll learn more in a day, than in a year of blundering about by yourself. But if an opportunity like this is ever offered again, be quick. Otherwise, I'm likely to get there ahead of you!
Ray Warshaw flies a LAK-17.
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