I still remember my first flight from Laguna 3 years ago, when I made mistake not to follow convergence, so I had obligation to come back and flew entire route. 1 week before the league forecast was great, but we was unable to get a team since it was Mother's day holiday. Surprisingly second weekend in a row we had another window to fly Laguna. You need light east wind, which is very rare event.
Palm Springs is a good goal for such flight, since it's shaded from Banning Pass wind, which normally picking up later in the day to dreadful 30+ mph. But to save 1:30 hours on retrieve time Aaron set goal just north east from Anza, so we don't need to drive down to Palm Springs and back. We also was thinking to tag Mt. San Jacinto outside of official task. Elapsed time, meaning you can start flying task as soon as you want was helpful too.
Mt. Laguna PG launch
I launched first at 11:16 followed by Len and Mark. We flew to start way-point at SPINES, but then Len took more straight line to Granite, while me and Mark spend more time trying to get higher before long transition.
Laguna launch from air
Flying with Len and Mark
I got pretty nasty 75% asymmetric collapse just near the spines, it came out ok with quite a surge.
We topped out at 7500 ft over Granite Mt. and went left toward VOLCAN to join convergence, which was already marked by nice fluffy clouds.
Getting into convergence near Volcan
I can see Len in front and Mark with Peter to my right with Aaron, Jason and Jerome following in a short distance behind. Ridge was working great and we all flew fast here, but split in the end of valley. Peter, Jerome and Aaron took left (west) route along San Felipe Rd., Mark right (east) toward Ranchita, Len and me center. Greg and Jason followed Mark shortly after.
Looking toward Ranchita from Volcan ridge
Crossing S22 highway, Ranchita on my right
Mark got low and landed, Jason and Greg turn left and was following me. I hoped to follow Len, but lost sight of him. Turned out he chose the best line in the middle of mountains. Warner Springs flats was not working, strong west wind was pushing through, Jerome and Peter landed way out in flats. Aaron was able to adjust his line toward the mountains quick enough and then 4 of us (me, Aaron, Jason and Greg) all meet in the same thermal.
Aaron on his blue Delta 2
Jason on orange Niviuk Artik
Greg left first taking a deep line even more east then Len. Jason apparently did not like strong wind and significant drift toward the mountains, he tried to push forward and eventually landed. I end up flying with Aaron, taking small climbs and fighting with west wind. Altitude was only 7500 ft, ridiculously low for crossing Hot Springs Mountains.
Aaron
Flying near Warner Springs
Slowly we was making our progress to the north. Russ had a slow start, he had a cravat, spent a lot of time fighting it, end up low and behind everyone, but keep flying and eventually catch up with us. Aaron missed one of the best thermals, which allow me and Russ to fly over the back to Chilhuahua valley, but recovered and was following us, however never catch up again.
Gliding to Chilhuahua valley
Flying with Russ
After we crossed Chilhuahua valley and climbed on the other side we had enough altitude to transition to Anza valley, which was completely shaded, regardless we can glide for 10 miles without a single turn maintaining our altitude.
Flying above Anza
We crossed Thomas Mountain range already in 4 km goal cylinder, but still need to tag last way point 5 miles north of us. Wind was strong from the west. Russ opted for lee side of Thomas Mt. and I crossed valley first to be on windward side. While climbing I spotted Len who tag the last waypoint and was heading for goal. Huge cloud was growing over San Jacinto and even on full speed bar, hurrying to waypoint I was going up quite fast. Just 1 km before waypoint's radius I decided to bail, cloud was below me and small exit to my left toward the sun start closing as well, I have to spiral down few times to lose altitude slowly pushing out from the monster cloud.
After flying from Marshall to Soboba and back last year I want to confirm that route works even without clouds and with moderate SW wind. Crossing I-10 between Redlands and Calimesa is far enough from Banning pass (with strong Venturi effect). Even if wind does pick up there is a plenty of space to land before the pass. After Redlands terrain is raising and line along this little ridge provides buoyant air, which is pushed from valley below by west wind.
Aaron was kind enough and agreed with the task, cloud base was good, but not epic, the best altitude I get was only 7K. It was great to see Len Szafaryn old time comp pilot decided to join us. We need PWC level pilots to learn from and I'm certainly missing flying with Eric, Josh, Dean and other top pilots. Flying his M6 Len was leading with Aaron and Peter close behind, then Mark, Me and Russ in the second gaggle. Our gaggle stop by at McKinley while lead gaggle skip it going directly to Harrison. While we was climbing Dmitry and Ziggy joined us as well and then both gaggles merged at Harrison.
Aaron decided to leave first, but flying more toward the Dam, not the route I want. Everyone else went directly toward Redlands airport and Brewery, climbing here and there, Aaron turn around and flew back to re-join the gaggle, but arrived much lower then everyone else. Lesson: don't get too far from the gaggle, especially when flying flats and route is not obvious. Len also could leave Harrison just by himself, with probably 10 minutes lead, but he choose to wait for a gaggle.
Our new lead gaggle was Len, Dmitry, Peter, me, Russ and Ziggy, but we split just before crossing I-10. I took more south line pushing upwind and Russ joined me, while everyone else opted for more direct line going south-east. Len and Dmitry did not get anything and pushed all the way to the ground landing near last way point (Fisherman's Retreat). Ziggy and Peter took a climb with strong drift toward the pass and become new lead gaggle of 2. We got separated with Russ and I took another climb, while he missed my thermal, pushed forward and landed too. Jeff, Tom and Paul took completely different line flying over Yucaipa.
There was interesting battle happening in front. Ziggy was now leading with Peter not far behind him, however Peter's line was better and Ziggy eventually stuck in the ugly looking canyon with power lines he could not cross and have to land. Peter made it first to Soboba with 2:42 time.
Crossing bad lands. Soboba visible ahead.
I spend too much time tanking up with altitude before crossing bad lands, so Peter was unreachable for me, I only hear him on radio reporting been on final glide to Soboba. I successfully crossed lad lands, but should probably take more direct line (faster and more buoyant based on Peter's track).
Banning pass, San Gorgonio (left), San Jacinto (right)
I had low save right over Gilman Springs Rd, climbing from 2500 ft to 5800 ft and then finishing second with 2:57 time. And two more pilots made goal. Jeff 3:06 and Tom 3:12, Ziggy was only 5 miles short and could easily win the day with one more thermal.
Peter, me, Jeff and Tom
Soboba Fly-in was in full action when we arrived. Cold beer was well deserved refreshment (Thanks Steve).
I think this year SoCal XC League made a big step forward with longer, more interesting tasks and as a result I see pilot's skills really grows fast with a lot of pilots not only try to make goal, but also try to fly fast. This weekend was not an exception with task to Yucaipa. Aaron want to push it even to Little San Gorgonio, but wind was strong, gusting to 25 mph at Crestline when we was leaving LZ around noon, so we keep San G. for another time.
Task: MARSH->BADGER->DEVORE->STATLZ
Another new element was 2 km start around BADGER and then 400 m radius around same point, which is considerably into the flats. Most of the pilots was so used to starts on the ridge that they did not pay attention and pay the price. Hurrying and tagging it without topping out before cost some 20-30 minutes low saves and one pilot even landed.
DEVORE waypoint had a 2.5 km radius, so you can tag it back in the mountains or out front. That's where Jeff lost his pursuers by flying in front. One of the factors was strong wind, so it was easy to fly back toward Pine and climb there, but getting back upwind was hard and slow with a lot of altitude wasted. On another hand front points had less wind, but lighter thermals as well.
I was in the second gaggle at this point, but at Marshall ridge was able to pass few gliders. Marshall to Dam was uneventful as usual. Drmitry and Aaron was behind me, but they was reducing gap after each climb, because I have to spend extra time to find thermals for them. Eventually we all meet together at Harrison and then split again. Dmitry took direct line to Dam, me and Aaron took line slightly toward the valley and also took a climb in the middle. That cost us few minutes, but also peace of mind that we will not bomb out hear the Dam.
Jeff was first in the goal 14 minutes ahead of Robb who was second. I was pretty sure that Dmitry would make it third, but he did not follow Robb low and decide to tank up at mountains, which did not work out and he landed short. I was third and Aaron got to goal 20 seconds later, however he got more leading points, so in the score he is third. Russ and Greg also made goal. Joe, Tavis, Mark and Ziggy was just 1-2 miles short. They all try to leave Dam without enough altitude (except Tavis, he had enough).
Overall great race! And here is few pictures including new LZ.
Saturday's task was Laguna to Anza, 64 km, elapsed time. This was my first flight from Laguna. Normal route after you get high over launch, which is quite small by the way:
to go to Granit mountain and then to vulcano, but east/west convergency was right in the middle of the valley after Granit, I was flying for 5 km or even more without losing any altitude. There was few pilots climing quite well over San Felipe Hills, so I decide to join them, but lost a lot of altitude on the way there and second gaggle pass me at this point. Most of them headed toward Warner Springs and eventually landed short of it. I took my time to get high and headed toward Ranchita and then continue over high ground (green track). That's where convergency was at this point.
The only problem with this route was mostly unlandable terrain, forest and no roads. Only Aaron had balls to keep following convergence and made goal (red track). Eric and Steve (blue track) landed at camp. I was following unpaved road to this camp for some time, but then decide to bail out toward valley and landed 5 miles past Warner Springs. Just for reference there is no road between Borrego Springs and Anza, hike out from that canyon would be epic.
Task 3 results: http://socalxcleague.pgcomps.net/comps/?op=list_flights&taskID=1786
Forecast for Sunday was better, but we end up with strong east wind and have to move to Horse canyon (my first flight there as well). Conditions at Horse was strong and launches intimidating:
Jimmy and Enzo:
Some pilots, me included decided that its not worth it and watch the race from the ground:
