Flew LS8 for 1.3 hours at Williams. Released at 4,200 ft, but thermals were very choppy, and the sink was wide and strong. There were clouds, but the strong (20+ kts) wind made it unreliable markers of the thermal source. Some clouds had rain underneath them. The highest I climbed was 6,800 ft at 5 miles north of 3 Sisters. There was a light wave there. Most people did pretty much the same, but those who are in the race series (a couple of ASH26E's (Peter Kelly and Darryl Ramm) and a couple of ASG29's (Pete Alexander and Ray Gimmy) completed a 100km task with the low top. Other people who flew today were Rich Parker(7HV), Ginny Farnsworth(G3), Larry Roberts(YE), Jim Darke(1B), Key Dismukes(PS). Later in day, the wind got even stronger, and the wave brought one of them up to 14,000 ft.

After flight, we had a BBQ and a big birthday party for Key Dismukes.

Flying with Rich Parker(7HV) over the town of Williams

More notably, Eric Rupp flew from Hollister to Mexico border in his DG300 today. This was a phenomenal achievement in the local soaring community, and the news spread out quickly over the net. In the past, many attempts were made by great pilots only to result in an unsuccessful straight-out outlanding followed by a long daunting retrieve drive. This flight may result in a long retrieve drive too, but I'm sure that Eric is smiling all the way back home.

Here is today's NASA's satellite picture. Great cloud streets can be observed.



Here is an article about this flight.

Bay Area Glider Makes Record-Breaking Flight to Mexico