March 12 at Seminole – A Nugget’s View of the Seniors

Day 1 was better and Frank Paynter described the task and the day for you.  I was impressed with the way the grid gathered.  I saw lots of cooperation among the participants in maneuvering the gliders into launch spots.  It is impressive to see 55 gliders lined up for a launch.

As I climbed in BZ, I had a feeling in my stomach that reminded me of getting ready for a cat shot off a carrier.  I reviewed my checklist and was hooked up and launch very quickly.  It takes a bit of getting use to but there are NO signals involved.  We were briefed that the pilot is assumed ready unless he releases the towrope.  I was ready and the launch went without a hitch.

The tow pilots did a good job of spreading out the gliders over the 5 mile start gate and I was pleased to find just a few gliders in my thermal.  Since I was in the middle of the grid, I had some time to sample the lift before the gate opened. I was more timid on the first leg and most of the pack left me behind.

I managed a little distance into the circle at Frostproof and was looking for a street to run going to the second leg to midway lake.  I found one but it also lined up two class D airports that went up to 2600 ft.  I climbed to 4500 and started out.  The street worked for me in places but I also found some sink and had to divert to the north a bit to make sure I did not go into the class D.  That diversion was a good decision because I got down to 2700 before I found lift.

Birds pointed me to lift as many times as other gliders and I worked at staying high on the third leg across the green swamp.  By now I am running well behind the pack and the next turn point is downwind of some rather large lakes where I found the most extensive sink.  Remembering my earlier experience with being downwind of them, I climbed high before and cruised in and just nicked the turn area and proceeded to the next turn point.  I found some good lift after getting out of the shadow of the lake and got back to near cloud base.

The rest of the flight was without difficulty.  I arrived a bit early because I found a good street coming home and it was my fastest leg.  I followed several other gliders into the pattern and was number 4 for landing.  Since the field was spread out at the start, it followed that it was somewhat spread out at the end.

As Frank said, “Day one is in the bag”.

BZ