Stefan wrote:
wrote:

have already enjoyed some wonderful thermals in the southwest (USA).
But I think I've had only a few that averaged 10+ knots for more than a
few thousand feet. (I've had a couple that averaged ~8 knots from 1500'


Are you aware that here where I fly the average thermal is between 1 and
4 knots and the average working altitude something like 1500 feet? (If I
get a 30 knotter for a couple of thousand feet, then it's usually within
a cloud.) But nevertheless, we routinely fly 300 km and more.

We feel for you 8^)

Best one I've hooked was 17.5 knots (measured from the IGC file) from
9000 feet (2500 AGL) to 18000 feet, east of Mono Lake on the
California/Nevada border. I've done a few turns here and there at 20+
knots, but the stronger days average 10 to 12 knots, decent days 7 to
10, and weaker days 5 to 7 knots. If it is weaker than that, you
usually can't get high enough to clear the ridges, and there are lots of
places where you don't want to risk being low. We tend to stay close to
home if we can't climb to 12000 feet.

Marc