On Day Four the weather deteriorated somewhat, with moderate northerly wind, more stable air, and no cumulus clouds. The Task Committee decided on an entry start cylinder of 20-mile radius, centered at a new point 3 miles south of Bok Tower. This put the start arc six miles south of launch. An entry start has big advantages on a day when conditions make for crowding and confined gaggles. It only works properly if the first waypoint is the center of the start cylinder, and the established turnpoint along the best route to the south, BOK, has given us persistent radio interference that has caused about 2/3 of the pilots to lose GPS coverage in an area from the tower out to the northwest for one to four miles.
The new waypoint was meant to keep competitors away from controlled airspace, and away from a skydiving contest that has been running for several days just to the west of the main route. Below is an example flight (Richard Walbec of France) in Task Four, from CompeGPS:
The main benefit of an entry start cylinder is that it provides a long "line" (126 miles long, in this case) that is the same distance from the first turnpoint at every part of it. This is supposed to prevent the kind of gaggling that occurs when there is one optimal part of the arc (when the start is an exit cylinder) that is closest to the first turnpoint.
However, this benefit occurs only when 1) the wind is light enough that there is no clear advantage to waiting exactly upwind of the turnpoint just before starting; and 2) when thermals are plentiful enough that it isn't necessary to stay with a group of other pilots simply to be able to stay in the air. Today, the first condition was reasonably well satisfied, especially with such a large start circle, and with wind direction that wasn't entirely predictable throughout the day or at all altitudes. The second condition was not satisfied, though, and the biggest drawback to the task (or, probably, any task in these conditions) was that there were no clouds, mostly weak lift that topped out low, and thus big, dense gaggles, not only before the start, but all along the course. There was one mid-air collision (with no injury and minor damage to one glider), and numerous close calls. Despite a large selection of start times (six of them from 1:30 to 2:45), most pilots took the last start, and all who made goal used the last or second-to-last start.
The task was not particularly short or easy under these conditions, but 50 pilots made goal out of about 85 who flew.
| TP | Distance | Name | Speed Section |
|---|---|---|---|
| TO |
0.0 miles |
RANCH__ |
|
| 1 |
26.0 miles |
TASK FOUR ENTRY START AND TURNPOINT_ |
SS |
| 2 |
26.0 miles |
TASK FOUR ENTRY START AND TURNPOINT_ |
|
| 3 |
40.7 miles |
LARRY-S_ |
|
| GOAL |
59.6 miles |
NWACLU |
ES |
| Place | Name | Sponsor | Glider | Nation | Start | Finish | Time | mph | miles | P miles | P Dep. | P mph | P Arr. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | COOMBER Kraig | Moyes | Moyes Litespeed 4 | AUS |
14:45:00 |
16:47:02 |
02:02:02 |
16.50 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
55.4 |
387.6 |
69.2 |
938 |
| 2 | HAZLETT Brett | Moyes, D.A.D. | Moyes Litespeed 4 | CAN |
14:45:00 |
16:47:16 |
02:02:16 |
16.47 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
54.3 |
380.1 |
64.7 |
925 |
| 3 | BOISSELIER Antoine | R-Team | Moyes Litespeed 4 | FRA |
14:30:00 |
16:47:18 |
02:17:18 |
14.67 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
66.2 |
264.8 |
60.5 |
817 |
| 4 | BONDARCHUK Oleg | Aeros | Aeros Combat 2 | UKR |
14:30:00 |
16:47:26 |
02:17:26 |
14.65 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
66.0 |
264.1 |
56.5 |
812 |
| 5 | WALBEC Richard | Moyes Litespeed 4 | FRA |
14:45:00 |
16:57:24 |
02:12:24 |
15.21 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
41.9 |
292.7 |
46.0 |
806 | |
| 5 | WARREN Curt | Moyes, Quest | Moyes Litespeed 4 | USA |
14:30:00 |
16:47:46 |
02:17:46 |
14.62 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
65.6 |
262.3 |
52.8 |
806 |
| 7 | ROTOR Nene | Wills Wing Talon | BRA |
14:45:00 |
16:57:35 |
02:12:35 |
15.19 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
41.7 |
291.6 |
40.0 |
799 | |
| 8 | SCHMIDT Betinho | Red Bull, Mitsubishi Motors | Moyes Litespeed 4 | BRA |
14:45:00 |
16:58:03 |
02:13:03 |
15.14 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
41.3 |
288.8 |
37.3 |
793 |
| 9 | LEE Jim | Wills Wing | Wills Wing Talon 150 | USA |
14:45:00 |
17:01:41 |
02:16:41 |
14.73 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
38.3 |
268.1 |
28.5 |
761 |
| 10 | AGENES Fabien | SCR | La Mouette Topless 4 | FRA |
14:30:00 |
16:54:42 |
02:24:42 |
13.92 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
56.9 |
227.7 |
49.3 |
760 |
| 11 | BALEMBOIS Jean-Charles | Moyes Litespeed 5 | FRA |
14:45:00 |
17:02:50 |
02:17:50 |
14.61 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
37.5 |
261.9 |
26.7 |
752 | |
| 12 | MULLER Chris | Redbull | Wills Wing Talon 150 | CAN |
14:45:00 |
17:03:39 |
02:18:39 |
14.53 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
36.8 |
257.6 |
25.0 |
745 |
| 13 | RICHARDSON Ron | Davron | Avian Cheetah | GBR |
14:45:00 |
17:03:52 |
02:18:52 |
14.50 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
36.7 |
256.5 |
23.5 |
742 |
| 14 | DURAND Jon Jr. | Moyes | Moyes Litespeed 4 | AUS |
14:30:00 |
16:57:30 |
02:27:30 |
13.65 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
53.7 |
214.8 |
42.9 |
737 |
| 15 | OHLSSON Andreas | Moyes Litespeed 5 | SWE |
14:30:00 |
16:58:07 |
02:28:07 |
13.59 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
53.0 |
212.1 |
34.8 |
726 | |
| 16 | NICHELLE Roberto | Nirosoft | Wills Wing Talon 140 | CHE |
14:30:00 |
16:59:45 |
02:29:45 |
13.45 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
51.2 |
204.8 |
32.5 |
714 |
| 17 | SAUER Rich | AV-8 | Icaro Laminar MR700 | USA |
14:30:00 |
17:00:49 |
02:30:49 |
13.35 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
50.0 |
200.1 |
30.4 |
706 |
| 18 | GUILLEN Bruno | Moyes Litespeed 4 | FRA |
14:45:00 |
17:12:47 |
02:27:47 |
13.63 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
30.5 |
213.6 |
18.9 |
689 | |
| 19 | CAUX Raymond | Moyes Litespeed 4 | FRA |
14:45:00 |
17:16:38 |
02:31:38 |
13.28 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
28.1 |
196.6 |
18.1 |
669 | |
| 20 | ZIMMERMAN Chris | Wills Wing Talon 150 | USA |
14:30:00 |
17:08:09 |
02:38:09 |
12.73 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
42.4 |
169.5 |
22.2 |
660 | |
| 21 | BESSA Carlos | Wills Wing, Wallaby, Rotor | Wills Wing Talon | USA |
14:30:00 |
17:08:35 |
02:38:35 |
12.70 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
41.9 |
167.8 |
21.0 |
656 |
| 22 | GERARD Jean-Francois | Moyes Litespeed 4 | FRA |
14:45:00 |
17:19:31 |
02:34:31 |
13.03 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
26.4 |
184.4 |
16.7 |
653 | |
| 22 | GOODMAN Bubba | Wills Wing Talon | USA |
14:30:00 |
17:09:01 |
02:39:01 |
12.66 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
41.5 |
166.0 |
19.9 |
653 | |
| 24 | ZANETTI Marcelo | Moyes Litespeed 5 | BRA |
14:45:00 |
17:19:49 |
02:34:49 |
13.01 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
26.2 |
183.2 |
15.6 |
651 | |
| 25 | BUNNER Larry | Wills Wing Talon 140 | USA |
14:30:00 |
17:17:09 |
02:47:09 |
12.05 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
33.7 |
134.6 |
17.3 |
611 | |
| 26 | GRZYB Krzysztof | Icaro Laminar MR700 | POL |
14:30:00 |
17:19:44 |
02:49:44 |
11.86 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
31.3 |
125.1 |
16.1 |
598 | |
| 27 | ALONZI Mario | Aeros Combat 2 | FRA |
14:45:00 |
17:32:27 |
02:47:27 |
12.03 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
19.1 |
133.5 |
15.2 |
594 | |
| 28 | DE LA HORIE Geoffory | Reunion Island | Aeros Combat 2 | FRA |
14:45:00 |
17:42:13 |
02:57:13 |
11.36 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
14.1 |
98.3 |
14.9 |
553 |
| 29 | MATHURIN Didier | Moyes Litespeed 4 | FRA |
14:45:00 |
17:43:33 |
02:58:33 |
11.28 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
13.4 |
93.6 |
14.6 |
547 | |
| 30 | PAGEN Dennis | Moyes Litespeed | USA |
14:45:00 |
17:44:32 |
02:59:32 |
11.22 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
12.9 |
90.2 |
14.4 |
543 | |
| 30 | CASTLE Kari | Redbull | Icaro Laminar MR700 | USA |
14:45:00 |
17:44:37 |
02:59:37 |
11.21 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
12.9 |
90.0 |
14.2 |
543 |
| 32 | PRESLEY Terry | Wills Wing Talon 140 | USA |
14:45:00 |
17:47:08 |
03:02:08 |
11.06 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
11.6 |
81.3 |
14.0 |
533 | |
| 33 | SLOCUM Jack | Icaro Laminar ST14 | USA |
14:30:00 |
18:07:27 |
03:37:27 |
9.26 |
59.6 |
425.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
13.9 |
440 | |
| 34 | RUHMER Manfred | Icaro Laminar MR | AUT |
58.9 |
423.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
423 | |||||
| 35 | GLENNON Mike | Airborne Climax 2 14 | COL |
56.6 |
412.2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
412 | |||||
| 36 | CARR Johnny | Airborne Climax | GBR |
54.4 |
399.4 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
399 | |||||
| 37 | ANGEL Scott | Wills Wing Talon 140 | USA |
53.9 |
395.8 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
396 | |||||
| 38 | WOODRUFF Jon | Airborne Climax 2 13 | USA |
53.5 |
392.6 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
393 | |||||
| 39 | HEILLMAN Conrad | Moyes Litespeed | BRA |
49.7 |
362.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
363 | |||||
| 40 | ROSSIGNOL Jerz | Icaro | Icaro Laminar | USA |
49.1 |
358.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
358 | ||||
| 41 | REVOLINSKI Steve | Flytec | Icaro Laminar MR700 | USA |
47.9 |
350.2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
350 | ||||
| 42 | DIEUZEIDE Francoise | Moyes Litespeed 3 | FRA |
44.6 |
326.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
326 | |||||
| 43 | RIZO Carlos | Teleatlantic | Wills Wing Talon 150 | COL |
42.3 |
312.4 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
312 | ||||
| 44 | VASSORT Claire | Moyes | Moyes Litespeed 3 | USA |
38.9 |
293.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
293 | ||||
| 45 | ARRAS Bill | Moyes Litespeed 4 | USA |
37.9 |
287.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
287 | |||||
| 46 | WOLF Andre | Moyes | Moyes Litespeed 4 | BRA |
37.4 |
283.8 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
284 | ||||
| 47 | COLLELA Jim | Moyes Litespeed 4 | USA |
37.4 |
283.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
283 | |||||
| 47 | ARCOS Fausto | Wills Wing Talon 150 | ECU |
37.3 |
282.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
283 | |||||
| 49 | NIEMEYER Dave | BF Goodrich, Green Motor, Brazil | Moyes Litespeed | USA |
37.3 |
282.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
282 | ||||
| 50 | LINDBURG Jon | Moyes Litespeed 4 | USA |
31.9 |
229.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
230 | |||||
| 51 | PALMARINI Jean-Francois | Aeros Combat 2 | FRA |
31.8 |
229.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
229 | |||||
| 52 | MALLETTE Mark | Wills Wing Fusion | USA |
25.6 |
195.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
195 | |||||
| 53 | SIMMONS Jack | Wills Wing Talon 150 | USA |
24.4 |
189.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
189 | |||||
| 54 | GUERRA Raul | Airborne Climax 2 | ECU |
23.9 |
186.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
186 | |||||
| 55 | NEUBAUER Luiz | Friends | Moyes Litespeed 4 | BRA |
23.6 |
183.6 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
184 | ||||
| 56 | FUNK Dean | Icaro Laminar MR700 | USA |
23.3 |
181.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
181 | |||||
| 57 | SAYER Wayne | Moyes Litespeed | USA |
23.1 |
179.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
180 | |||||
| 58 | AGULHON Dorival | Moyes Litespeed 5 | BRA |
22.1 |
168.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
168 | |||||
| 59 | BOLT Mark | Aeros Combat 2 | USA |
21.4 |
160.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
161 | |||||
| 60 | LANNING Tom | Moyes Litespeed 4 | USA |
20.1 |
142.9 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
143 | |||||
| 61 | NAGAMITSU Hideaki | Moyes Litespeed 4 | JPN |
18.4 |
123.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
123 | |||||
| 62 | DABBUR Leonardo | Rotor | Wills Wing Talon 150 | BRA |
18.3 |
121.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
121 | ||||
| 63 | BORRADAILE Tyler | U.S. Aeros | Aeros Combat 2 | CAN |
17.8 |
116.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
116 | ||||
| 64 | PERMENTER Raean | Moyes Litespeed 3 | USA |
17.5 |
113.6 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
114 | |||||
| 65 | O-DONOVAN Kiernan | Wills Wing Fusion 141 | IRL |
16.3 |
99.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
100 | |||||
| 66 | HAGEWOOD Bo | Aeros, Flytec | Aeros Combat 2 | USA |
6.4 |
41.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
41 | ||||
| 67 | CUTTER David | Aeros Combat 2 | USA | Minimum distance set to 5.0 miles |
4.4 |
34.4 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
34 | ||||
| 67 | HILDEBRAND Judy | La Mouette Topless 13 | USA | Minimum distance set to 5.0 miles |
4.1 |
34.4 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
34 | ||||
| 69 | MOCELLIN Francoise | Airborne C2 | FRA | Variable not found: Result.CommentComputeString |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 | ||||
| 69 | BARBER Mike | Moyes/Wallaby/Flytec U.S. | Moyes Litespeed 4 | USA | Variable not found: Result.CommentComputeString |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 | |||
| 69 | BAJEWSKI Jorg | Warsteiner | Aeros Combat 2 | DEU | Variable not found: Result.CommentComputeString |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 | |||
| 69 | STEBBINS George | Aeros Combat 1 151 | USA | Variable not found: Result.CommentComputeString |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 | ||||
| 69 | WEINMANN Fred | Wills Wing Talon 150 | USA | Variable not found: Result.CommentComputeString |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 | ||||
| 69 | WILLIAMS Paris | Aeros, Flytec | Aeros Combat 2 | USA | Variable not found: Result.CommentComputeString |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0 | |||
| TP | Distance | Name | Speed Section |
|---|---|---|---|
| TO |
0.0 miles |
RANCH_ |
|
| 1 |
26.0 miles |
TASK FOUR ENTRY START AND TURNPOINT_ |
SS |
| 2 |
26.0 miles |
TASK FOUR ENTRY START AND TURNPOINT_ |
|
| 3 |
40.8 miles |
LARRY-S_ |
|
| GOAL |
59.6 miles |
NWACLU_ |
ES |
| Place | Name | Sponsor | Glider | Nation | Start | Finish | Time | mph | miles | P miles | P Dep. | P mph | P Arr. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PORTER Brian | Bright Star Swift | USA |
14:45:00 |
16:38:12 |
01:53:12 |
17.83 |
59.6 |
351.8 |
60.7 |
424.5 |
75.8 |
913 | |
| 2 | MULHOLLAND Mark | Bright Star Swift | USA |
14:30:00 |
16:46:49 |
02:16:49 |
14.74 |
59.6 |
351.8 |
60.0 |
240.0 |
35.6 |
687 | |
| 3 | NAKAMURA Junko | Arianne Swift'Light | JPN |
14:45:00 |
16:56:02 |
02:11:02 |
15.39 |
59.6 |
351.8 |
38.8 |
271.5 |
19.0 |
681 | |
| 4 | TOUTENHOOFD Vim | Arianne Swift'Light | NLD |
40.8 |
296.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
296 | |||||
| TP | Distance | Name | Speed Section |
|---|---|---|---|
| TO |
0.0 miles |
RANCH__ |
|
| 1 |
26.0 miles |
TASK FOUR ENTRY START AND TURNPOINT_ |
SS |
| 2 |
26.0 miles |
TASK FOUR ENTRY START AND TURNPOINT_ |
|
| 3 |
40.7 miles |
LARRY-S |
|
| GOAL |
59.6 miles |
NWACLU |
ES |
| Place | Name | Sponsor | Glider | Nation | Start | Finish | Time | mph | miles | P miles | P Dep. | P mph | P Arr. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PLONER Alex | AIR | AIR ATOS C | ITA |
14:45:00 |
16:42:19 |
01:57:19 |
17.16 |
59.6 |
355.8 |
61.4 |
429.3 |
76.7 |
923 |
| 2 | CHAUMET David | Citroen | La Mouette Tsunami | FRA |
14:45:00 |
16:42:35 |
01:57:35 |
17.13 |
59.6 |
355.8 |
60.1 |
420.0 |
63.7 |
900 |
| 3 | CIECH Christian | Lizard | Icaro Stratos | ITA |
14:45:00 |
16:42:38 |
01:57:38 |
17.12 |
59.6 |
355.8 |
59.9 |
418.9 |
52.7 |
887 |
| 4 | BARMAKIAN Bruce | AIR ATOS | USA |
14:45:00 |
16:43:45 |
01:58:45 |
16.96 |
59.6 |
355.8 |
57.3 |
400.8 |
43.5 |
857 | |
| 5 | STRAUB Davis | AIR ATOS C | USA |
14:45:00 |
16:55:05 |
02:10:05 |
15.48 |
59.6 |
355.8 |
43.9 |
306.9 |
30.0 |
737 | |
| 6 | ENDTER Vince | Icaro Stratos | USA |
14:30:00 |
16:48:26 |
02:18:26 |
14.54 |
59.6 |
355.8 |
64.5 |
258.2 |
36.0 |
715 | |
| 7 | YOCOM Jim | AIR ATOS C | USA |
14:45:00 |
17:10:05 |
02:25:05 |
13.88 |
59.6 |
355.8 |
32.0 |
223.9 |
25.3 |
637 | |
| 8 | POSCH Johann | AIR ATOS C | AUT |
14:45:00 |
17:11:29 |
02:26:29 |
13.75 |
59.6 |
355.8 |
31.0 |
217.0 |
21.8 |
626 | |
| 9 | BOWEN Campbell | Quest | Flight Design Axxes | USA |
14:45:00 |
17:11:57 |
02:26:57 |
13.71 |
59.6 |
355.8 |
30.7 |
214.8 |
19.2 |
621 |
| 10 | GLEASON Ron | Flytec/Questair | AIR ATOS | USA |
14:45:00 |
17:19:02 |