What is with all the start penalties? In the first 2 days 10 folks got
docked a total of 891 points!
John Godfrey (QT)
SSA State Governor for PA Region 3

"TomnKeyLargo" wrote in message
...
Well, what the blipmaps have been saying and what has been happening are
too
different things. The last several days it hasn't been anything like the
forcasts the blipmaps have been giving. We started launch at a little
after 1
pm. Our tasks were for good soaring conditions. Well, the tasks were
changed in
the air as we had relight, and we could only get to 8 thou MSL. Lift was
broken
and choppie, winds were to be light and they were out of the south at 15
to 20
kts. When the task were changed they became a MAT of 2.5 hrs with Plains
as the
first turn. When the start openned it was dead silent as no one headed out
on
course. When the lift would cycle you would sink down back into 100 degree
cockpit temps and start another slow climb. Well, around 2:20 people
started
out on course. Climbs were slow, and yep, you guessed it. A very large
overhang
starts drifting in from the West, very fast. Soon the contest area is
without
sunlight, some land outs start and some just come home early. Like over a
hour
early, with final glides and rolling finishes. Some of us make it to a
edge of
sunlight and just hang on till things bake off again. This shakes up the
standings, so tonight this is what we have after 4 contest days. In
Sports
class, VA is 1st, LY is 2ond, BAD is 3rd, Z is 4th. Standard Class, 927
is
first, 9L is 2ond, 1X is 3rd, V2 is 4th and 9U is 5th. 15 Meter, # 711 is
1st,
ZL is 2ond, 7F is 3rd., MD is 4th, BV is 5th. The top point spread is
close, so
we 2 days to go. Tonight we had a cookout and it was very good. The SSA
office
staff came over and put it on for us. The weather has not been what has
made
Hobbs famous as a race site, but the racing we are having is a real test
of
soaring skills, rule knowledge and when to start along with where to go.
We
have had all MAT's so far with only one TAT. I guess the old P.O.S.T. is
still
alive when the CD and advisers cann't think of a area to race in. They
have
been trying hard, very hard to come up with tasks, but it seems within a
few
hrs the weather changes and all the plans just splash. Thermal tight, Soar
high, Fly safe. # 711 reporting.