On Feb 24, 12:52*pm, "kirk.stant" wrote:

So - I suggest we change the enforcement of the cloud flying ban from
the prohibition of any device that would allow it, to the use of
"sportmanship", coupled with the ability of PowerFLARM to show what
other gliders around you are doing. *If I'm circling 500' below
cloudbase, and see a PF track 2000' above me and climbing, and I look
up and see nothing but cloud - then I'm going to report that glider,
and it should be pretty easy to find out who it is via the turned in
logger traces.

Then stop worrying about it and race!

Kirk
66
No gyros - yet...

And just as a reminder, there are often days with weak wave around the
clouds. Even at Uvalde. Not much use during the race, as it is often
only a knot or two and the thermals are often much more. But, if the
start gate height is set high and the bases are lower, you can get "on
top" without losing sight of the ground and pick up a few minutes on
those hanging out below cloudbase.

I remember the first day of a regionals at TSA where I found the wave
and got at least 1000 feet up above base. On a day with 2 knot
thermals. Ha! Just got 5 minutes on all you suckers down there
trying to figure out "how the heck did he get up there?" But, I was
back down at cloudbase with the rest of them by the time I got to the
edge of the cylinder. But, seeing the desperation of the gliders
below me searching in the blue and sink was priceless.

So, don't be too quick to accuse someone of "cloud flying" just
because they are above you and you are "right at" cloud base.

Now, if the rain will just stop at Daytona...

Steve Leonard
Flat-land Wave Flyer