Techniques in the Blue
When soaring in the blue it’s time to develop your maximum sensitivity to what the glider is experiencing and make subtle changes of direction toward the areas that make a wing lift. While you will generally fly a straight course, the glider will always want to fly away from thermals so if you find one wing lifting slightly make a minor course correction toward the area that made it rise. Resist the temptation to pounce too early on a gust surrounding the thermal - if it's real you can be patient. When you do find a thermal pay close attention to which direction to turn - this is not a time when you can afford a mistake in turn direction and if, after 45 degrees of the turn you haven’t felt the surge of a real thermal under your wings it might be best to abandon the circle and press on in your original direction without a complete circle. When you center a thermal, use it to its maximum height (at least until you figure out how the thermals are working in the blue) and expect the lift to end earlier than you have been seeing - there is a reason why it’s blue there! When cruising in the blue watch for fast cycling clouds and haze domes (these are short-lived cloud wisps that are shaped somewhat like eyebrows) in the distance and when you see one note the ground reference area where it was (it’s going to disappear before you get there) and head toward that. A good pair of non-polarized sunglasses can help with this. Dust devils, birds, farm or factory smoke, and other gliders are all helpful in figuring out where the lift is. Frequently refocus your vision by looking at a ground reference point before looking out at the horizon. In blue conditions, our eyes normally relax and focus to a point about 6 feet away until you “reset” them to infinity by looking at a specific ground point. As you get lower try to visualize areas where the ground features (hillsides, open mines and quarries, etc.) are perpendicular to the sunlight. These are likely to heat up first and strongest. Urban areas and infrastructure are also helpful.
It can be difficult to estimate the distance to a cloud field or to distinguish between a large cloud far away and a small cloud that is closer to you. I have found it helpful to look at the shadows the far clouds are forming on the ground to estimate their distance from me or to figure out which cloud is actually closer. And, as you complete your crossing of the blue area expect the conditions to get a little better as you approach the good clouded area. Frequently you will find a good climb just before you reach the clouds. Energy lines (which in moist areas form cloud streets), honeycomb thermal connections, and similar lift phenomena all exist with dry thermals but without the ability to see them it’s hard to recognize or work them. There is one exception to this: When heading upwind or downwind in the blue you may observe patterns of lift areas followed by areas of no lift (or some sink). This may be a crosswind wave or a street pattern that you can predict and use with some confidence...
Health in the blue
A few words about the physiology of blue flying seem appropriate. It is more demanding in terms of both hydration and skin protection needs. If you are expecting a completely blue day start hydrating an hour or so before your flight. Sports drinks that replace sodium and electrolytes are better than drinking just plain water. Frequent drinking should lead to frequent urination so be prepared for that. Wear long-sleeve light-colored shirts, a light-colored hat that protects the ears and neck, sunscreen on your nose, and avoid shorts that expose your upper legs to UV sunlight. I wear fingerless gloves that protect the back of my hands.
Fun in the blue
Lastly - when flying in the blue stay optimistic. I have enjoyed many very long XC flights in blue or mostly blue conditions. It’s very satisfying - especially if the other pilots decided to stay home because it’s “too blue” or the good clouds are “too far away.” You will get a lot of, “How the heck did you do that?” from your buddies. But it’s not magic - there is a huge amount of the sun’s energy heating that blue area. Unless you are trying to cross a swamp in the early morning there will be lift in the blue areas - although different from the lift under the clouds. Blue flying has the advantage that 100% of the sun’s energy is flowing into an area without being disturbed by cloud shadows so it’s very likely that you will find a climb - especially if you stay high and fly conservatively. Blue flying is a great part of our sport - learn to enjoy it. Stay safe. Have fun. Get better.
Banner photo by Wings & Wheels
Roy Bourgeois is a well-known US and South African glider pilot who serves as the Chief Pilot for the Greater Boston Soaring Club. He has held several US national records, competed in many US and Canadian Nationals, and has flown over a quarter million XC kilometers in his 4200 hours of gliding. He can be reached at royb@bw.legal