Brazil pwc Day 6

I took this picture this morning after we arrived on launch.....

The Brazilian weather gods smiled on us today, and despite the forecast and light rain falling earlier, conditions gradually improved throughout the morning. A 56k task was called and we had a fun afternoon of flying. Cloud base was still quite low around launch but it was plenty good enough to have a race day. I was in heaven being able to launch easily with nice cycles coming up the hill and plenty of thermals out front. I flew relaxed and tried to keep up but even though it was good enough to have a race, conditions were still difficult and slow, with plenty of decisions to be made along the way. The lead gaggle and the 2nd gaggle both headed straight on the course line but into shady territory so I headed more into the sunny country where I thought I'd find stronger thermals. Another US pilot had this same plan but was a few hundred feet higher than I was and was able to connect with a great thermal and pass up the lead gaggle completely. He eventually took 3rd for the day which was a great finish for a US pilot. I headed for the same cloud but by the time I got established in the thermal the cloud was beginning to over develop and the thermals feeding it died out. I was forced to go on glide and ended up landing 22.5 k along the course.

It was really fun today after a dismal week of weather to be able to go out and just fly my glider.... I think many pilots were feeling the same as well.

One more day to go and I get to start the long trip home.... Hopefully the Mt Redoubt volcano will quiet down so that I can make it all the way home without being delayed in Seattle.