Task was stopped a 12h30.  We knew it was going to be a short day.  Thunderstorms predicted and the sky was interesting, but nice in our immediate area and we all really wanted to fly.

So the organisers gave us an interesting task.

Window opened at about 11h00 and the task was to end early at 15h30.  Pilots were given 2 hours flying time once they left the 2km radius of T1, the centre of the airfield ,and then it was up to the pilot to make as much distance as they could in that time.

Dirk was amongst the first to get up and away on his red Apco Lambada.  I followed suit.  Launch was good, but the climb on tow was slow and when my winch driver stopped at the end of the runway instead of swinging onto the next runway to extend my tow, I was a little frustrated.  I could see a thermal developing up ahead and to my right and he could have pulled me into it.  So when he stopped by the hangers, I released and kicked on speedbar to get up to the lightly upwardly floating dust I had spotted.  It was not a dusty.  A vehicle had made the dust earlier and one area was gently floating skywards.  When I looked up I could see a plastic packet very high and decided I was going to join it.  The thermal was developing I just had to hang in there and be patient. 

It took awhile, but I survived the wait and so did Wayne and Urs.  We climbed together, me hogging the core and the other two flying around me. The last few days have taught me that everything is much quieter and calmer in the centre of the thermals and I was not venturing wider until I was nice and high.

High we did get and I widened my turn.  Saw Urs take the start of a frontal collapse which he managed to counter with brake action and keep his glider looking reasonable and I tightened up once again in my turn.  I soon out climbed both the Nova Tattoo and AirCrossTriAlp ( heeyah!!! :-) and found myself nearing the cold and fluffy stuff.  What a great day :-)  Really happy in the air for the first time in this competition.

At cloud base I can see there is a thunderstorm with rain falling in the Richmond area.  Not going there.  To the north the sky is filled with lovely puffy clouds but I only have 22kms forward speed in that direction.  The tarred road to Hanover is looking good.  I can see that over development will eventually infect that area but my idea is to fly for as long as I can then cut left up the N1.  North and East is clear of uglies and flying in that direction is no problem.

Heading down the Hanover Road I am slow, much slower than I should have been but I was just enjoying the air so much.  The violence of the previous days is absent.  The thermals are well formed and not very strong - 5.8ms, the cloud suck at this stage is friendly and there is quiet air in between.  I needed this day.  Some pilots catch up with me as I fumble under a cloud I had expected to deliver cloud suck, but I did not find it.  Hubert on his Swing Stratus 7 with the same colours as mine thermals nearby and I join him then leave him behind as I find the core and head for the clouds.  Many more pilots start filtering in.  Urs and Wayne join me again and this time they find cloud base and it is my turn to climb more slowly as I take a few pictures and find myself all dreamy.  I am definitely not in race mode.  To feel this good again....... I want to prolong the moment as much as possible and I lose focus on racing, lean back and open my arms wide and look up the cloud above me.  It is for feelings on days like this that I fly for.

Level 2 calls are coming in.  I look around.  I am about 18kms out of De Aar. It is raining towards Richmond, but that was obvious from the airfield already and was never a viable option.  In saying that, I notice a pilot thermalling in the distance in front of the rain cloud in that direction. Between Hanover and Richmond a rain cloud is dropping its load.  I reckon it is more than 60kms away so judge it not to be an issue.  Towards Hanover it is still good and the sky is perfect in the Bloemfontein direction.  I plan to dog leg in that direction before Hanover if need be. I don't worry about the calls.  Mistake.  I should have hit speed bar and made as much distance as I could. I did not hear any level 3's but within 10 minutes the task is stopped at 12h30 and we all go on big ears as ordered and some like myself and Nevil spiral for the fun of it to landing.  It takes awhile getting down and I enjoy it.  My first spirals with the Astral 5.  The sky is buoyant to be sure.  A safe call, but what a great flight.  Only 1 hour flight time and 24kms xc optimisation, but sometimes it is the shortest flights that offer the most surprising pleasure.

Back in town the thunderstorm rolls in and it is raining by 17h00.  And over by 18h30pm in time for our braai this evening :-)