Crestline Soaring Society

Not much marine layer in the AM, due to overnight North winds. Looked like a good day.
Met at LZ at 13:00 and went to Crestline. Breezy there, with some gusts over 18, but cool and at least ridge soarable. Launched a U2 160 at 14:27.

Not especially strong thermals, mostly 500 FPM max, but occasional strong ones. Lots of 200-300 FPM with sink around them. Got 6200 North of Pine. Flew a bit West of Pine, then back to the Marshall complex. After a while, I got to 5000 MSL above Marshall from below Cloud, hopped to the E-W spine just behind Marshall, hoping to get a boost and go to Crestline.
I stumbled into this rocket from hell that spit me out after half a circle. Fought back in and shoved the bar out to turn tight enough in it, and my vario was pegged and screaming, the basetube was jumping all over the place, and I was mostly weightless. I fought to stay in it on principle, though it was kind of scary. Very shortly I was at 5900, so I exited and dove for Crestline.

Bumpy on approach to the LZ, landing into standard SW 12 at 16:08.

Pilots who flew Saturday said Sunday was a lot better.

GPS track images and flight gory details on my website.

Good Flying,
Ken Howells