Changes

The task fitted the weather nicely, though the day was so good that probably many others would also have had been suitable. The first turnpoint has kept me on the edge of my seat with little thermal activity due to the gentle sea breeze that managed to move upwind. However, thanks to a very high cloud base of about 6000ft, I had plenty of height to trade for distance to turn FRW and return to the good weather on my way to TUJ.

I had found a gliding paradise between FRW and TUJ, with very strong thermals that were exactly where I was expecting them. Things got more challenging past TUJ, as it blued out completely. I was looking longingly at the cumulus clouds far in the southeast. Unfortunately, flying to them had meant taking a big detour, which, analysing in hindsight, would probably had wasted too much time. I am glad, that I took my chances flying through the blue, successfully finding and recognising hot spots on the ground – a source of decent, unmarked thermals.