Days 4 and 5 Rat Race

So, we had a rain day on Wednesday. It had been over a month since the last rainfall, so the area needed it. A good soaking rain.

On Thursday it turn out to be cloudy in the morning and most of the day. Pilots went up to launch at the usual time and a task was set. However, rain to the south and mostly cloudy skies left the lift sporadic to nonexistent. Many pilots were flying, but most were sinking out.
The launch window opened, but all of the competitors just sat on launch watching the pilots boat

around at or below launch. After the task start opened about 35 minutes had elapsed, the task committee decided to meet, but kept the original task. At this time the comp pilots decided to launch with cloud base at 1,000 feet above launch and rain about 3 miles to the south. Not the conditions I usually fly in.

After launching light thermals brought us up to cloud base and we were able to go right toward the first turn point. There was a pretty good headwind over Rabies and a few comp pilots were able to climb up to cloud base and stay on course. I was working the lift which was turbulent and wasn't making much head way toward the first turn point. I saw a pilot shoot a gap between two mountains, and being at the same elevation a little above ridge height I thought about following him, but then decided with the strong wind and not making headway, and with turbulent conditions. decided to head out into the valley and land.

It turned out no one made goal and it was a low valid day. Here are some pics from launch.