Vulcan Report #5

Taken from Muller Windsport's Endless Summer

Let's Fly!! After being the first off yesterday and getting the longest flight I was keen to get going early today. Every one else seems to be catching on that in an open distance comp you want to go early. I got ready quick but I still wasn't first off. I was second to tow up at 12:30pm and I saw two others towing right behind me. I got a nice slow climb at about 100' per min up to 8000'. I drifted over the other tow road 2 miles away and one pilot was already in the air from there too. Some of the pilots over there saw me high and every one was keen to get going. I was being cautious to make sure I didn't sink out.

After I got my first stong climb to 12000' I started to push harder. I skipped a couple climbs looking for some thing good and found my self at 500' I hung on watching a couple hawks hoping they could help me center some thing good. I worked my way back up to a thousand feet before I started
to get a decent climb back up to 8000'. I hit nothing but bullets for the next few miles and never got back to cloud base. After being in the air for 2 hours my concentration drops as I get very uncomfortable in my harness. It was slow going and I was getting frustrated at my poor progress.

After three hours in the air the harness becomes painful and I fight with my self not to give up.
The day is not is easy and without the concentration I need to get up I soon land. I'm out 80km in 3hrs 20min. This is at least two hours before the end of the day. I think I could have made a hundred miles if I had my head in it.

Doug Keller has the longest flight at 140km. Most pilots are about 90 - 100 km. I was very happy to get away early. Pilots here tend to wait until the better part of the day to launch. It's good to show people a different approach.

Friday is over cast we head to Leathbridge to see a movie.