Alphen aan den Rijn Sunday January 1 2012
ritzdeluy@hotmail.com www.glidinginternational.com www.soaringcafe.com
A new year, new hopes and expectations! Go for it!
Thanks for all your good wishes;
if they ALL come true I will be the happiest, healthiest and most content person in the upcoming year!
“Yesterday I had fun with clouds, flying 350km with 127.5km/h speed and circling less than 10%. Inclding the start thermal I just had two more circles on the way – amazing.The last time I could do this in the alps but not in the flat.”
picture and text courtesy Chris Hostettler/ Swiss Chris.
After starting with a toast on my far-away friends in NZ and another one a bit later on my Aussie friends, it was time to toast at 12 midnight here in Alphen, on a good new year on my Dutch , European and African friends and one hour later on the UK friends and……. the USA friends are last but certainly not least.
So the head is not too fresh this morning, but never mind!
What a MAGIC start of the year 2012!!!! It already really made me feel very HAPPY , to see so many friends flying so well on the last days of 2011 at their over-seas destinations.
In Gariep Dam Hans Wiesenthal added a 1000 km. to his list of long distances. Even if you have a few already it remains that feeling of “having another one ” which does feel SOOO good!!! Not only for the pilot but also for the family and friends.
Also in Gariep the very FIRST 1000 km. for Benno Beesten, straight away a declared FAI 1006 km.in the JS 1 Revelation. Congratulations!
In Pokweni Michael Sommer combined a LONG distance with a SUPER speed in the EB; 1.251km[1.204 triangle] with 144 km./h.
From Kiripotib, my Belgium friends Bert sr. and Hilde flew in the ASH 25 ; 801 km. And on the last day of the year he flew another FAI 1000km triangle with good speed; 145km/h.
From Sportaviation-Tocumwal my Danish friends Ib and Ole flew 2 new National Danish records in the 2-seater Janus CT. One with Ole and one with Ib as pilot in command. Good on you boys!
Also in Tocumwal , Ingo flew in his Discus 668 km. between being CFI for the Southern Riverina Gliding Club. And…great to see Gerrit [ Nimbus 4T-606 km. and today 845 km] and Pam [ ASH 31/21 m. 552 km. and today 712 km] back in Tocumwal for some nice soaring.
Harry, Max and Pepe , Reinhard, Rudi, Peter and many more I do not know so well or not, are having “long-distance-fun” in Corowa and the German “young ones” at Stonefield.Fabian flew yesterday in the Discus 2 a distance of 716 km.
AND….just when I wanted to publish this blog a 1000 km pops up and Benjamin has flown HIS 1000 km as well. More about this next Wednesday. Well done Benjamin congratulations! He has fallen in love with the Southern part of Australia.
—-Südaustralien ist der Wahnsinn!!!
PS: Träume müssen fliegen, weil sie zum Schweben zu viel wiegen.—
Which means so much as; Dreams have to fly as they are too heavy to float.
AND…Corowa has a 1000 as well for their season , I was waiting for it; Hans -Jürgen just flew 1001 km so did Harry, 1005 km. [ 905 FAI triangle!!!] just both , due to a late start , but…1000 kilometers!!!
When I woke up this morning another Danish record for Ib and Ole!!!5 in ONE go!!! Here you are… A brilliant start for the year 2012.
5 New DANISH RECORDS
Free distance FAI Triangle
Goal distance FAI triangle
Goal distance on 3 turnpoints
Speed 750 Km FAI Triangle
Speed 500 FAI Triangle
Eddie will be very busy with all the paperwork!!! But I know how happy Ib and Ole are flying new records, so I am happy for them. What would have happened when they would have flown p.e an ARCUS ?????? Instead of the very nice but a bit older model of a Janus CT. But as you can see the “old lady” is still going strong. Speed 114km./h. Just good and maybe it is even more fun like this!
Last preparations in Benalla for the Club class Nationals and a lot of pilots are practising with this good weather in the area.
At Gonzalez Chavez they prepare for the pre-worlds between January 8 and 20 combined with the 3d FAI South American Gliding Championships. I am looking forward to see how the young Argentinian pilots as the Goldenzweig brothers Damian and Lucas and Horacio Piombo are going to perform, as well as the more well known ones as Joao Widmer and Javier Gaude .
The French team is sending 20 pilots , the entire French squad, young and older to compete and share gliders in the standard class. Great idea!!! What about preparations for the 32d WGC at Chavez !!!??? The French surely are going for it!
About 108 pilots in 3 classes, under them one Dutch pilot as well. Will keep you updated!!!!
Yesterday at 14.00, our time, my friends in Australia celebrated their new year. Sydney with the Harbour Bridge is of course one of the most famous spots in the world to look at fire-works. Luckily they had good weather and 20 dgr. About one and a half million people from all over the world visited to be AT the place close to the Opera House, to see this 12 minute spectacle.
Picture courtesy Reuters [from my digital paper.]
In New Zealand the weather was different with rain and tough wind. Wellington and other places cancelled the festivities. A pity.
Short news today, busy, busy….!!!!
The picture below is from Daniel and Christine also from Australia, what a view is n’t it?
Wishing you A Happy, Healthy and safe New year…..Een Gelukkig,veilig en gezond 2012…..Felice E Prospero 2012…..Buon anno 2012…..une bonne annee…and last but not least “gelukkige nuwe jaar ” for the South African and Namibia mates and thanks for your ongoing support in reading with so many,I feel blessed to be able to share more then 40 years experience in this soaring world with you. Ritz
” The farm is looking nice and we have planted many trees and with good rains they have all grown well, at least the ones that have not been knocked over by wild deer! The photo is one of our views.
It seems by all reports that Europe is having a difficult time. Who would have thought 1€ = A$ .80…..as they reported last night on TV that we soon can buy a Mercedes for a Toyota price! I guess it would be a good time to buy a nice glider!”
Maybe I should go back to Australia !!?? Just kidding! But….it looks I will be in Tocumwal next year around this time.
Might be back later as I expect a 1000 from Corowa as well today.Hope so! I still miss a few names of kilometer -eaters as Harry Hans- Jürgen and Pepe!
YES Hans Jürgen has one and….Harry and……no Pepe flew 958, not bad either.
Missed my new years concert ,but with news you have to be topical, when possible is n’t it? !!!!
AND……they expect 40 dgr. on Monday!!!!!! Would that be THE day!!!???