Joe, this is America, so you don't have to stay for the second day unless you're having fun. For a 3-hour one-way trip, and the price of gas these days, this is not exactly a local event for you. When I'm traveling to a meet, I like to arrive Friday afternoon, fly a couple rounds at the new field, then get a good night's sleep before the scoring starts on Saturday.

Saturday is usually more flying than on Sunday (weather permitting), because the traveling contingent like to have an early start for returning home. If you can spare the time for the second day, you'll get an added day of observing some very good pilots, and for you at this early stage, I think that kind of exposure is crucial to setting an image in your mind of what a well-flown schedule should look like. Plus on Sunday you will know everyone at the field, or at least everyone you want to know, so no awkward moments of introducing yourself and telling your story. The other flyers will also be more relaxed on Sunday, easier to talk with, readier to cough up advice, tips, sea-stories, what have ya.

If you have a fresh gallon, or most of one, that will probably suffice. You'll actually be in the air about 60 minutes over the two days. If you run out, I'm sure you'll be able to bum a tankful of fuel from someone.

I was out yesterday practicing in a breezy crosswind with my buddy, and he had trouble with the wind knocking him off his line, so welcome to the club. Wind correction is the major challenge in actual fly-time pattern. When it's blowing, it blows on everybody, so the picture-perfect pattern in your mind's eye is really just an abstract ideal, like peace and justice and the brotherhood of man.

Saturday wind forecast is quite benign, moderate breezes, straight down the runway. Sunday also good forecast.

Speed does matter, but realistically in Sportsman you need to focus on setting up your next maneuver before you complete the maneuver you're just startingsorta like playing pool, every shot should leave you in position for the next shot. For your first competition, I would plan on using as much throttle as you need to feel you have good control.

If you get blown off line, the judges will surely see it, so once you see you're off your line, my advice would be to concentrate on the upcoming turnaround, and try to maneuver through that to come back on a good line for the next center maneuver. You do get three exits/re-entries to re-position yourself in the box, so use them to advantage.

If you think a subtle correction can be made, by all means touch it in.

As to further advice, once you get to the field it will start flowing copiously. The main thing, as Woody Allen said, is to just show up and let it all happen.