10 AM:
DAY CANCELLED!!!!
Bit late yes I know.
Early this morning I woke up after a knock on my door. It was Chris. “would you like to come for a cooked breakfast” I did.
So off we went, but we were not the only ones to have a great breakfast . Team USA, UK, Luxembourg and Australia were there. A bit crowdy so Lindy helped out with the eggs and a USA crew member knew how to make posh coffee ,so he did that.

There I heard the day was cancelled.
” believe the weather window is too small for a fair task, even for one class.CU at briefing tomorrow.“

Frouwke and I did a little story and pictures on this WWGC for a Dutch Gliding Paper .They wanted more “young” girls at a picture , so here you are;

THE INTERNATIONAL NIGHT.
Wet and wild,….rock and roll/ country, …awesome food and too many really nice but “killing” drinks.
A picture report with text.

Everybody eat , drunk and talked in great spirit in the old new briefing room.
Then it was nearly 8 and some of the young ones , started to ” grap ” people to throw them in the pool. First as announced task setter Bruce and meteo Dave, who cried out loud he was drowning so I throw a “spaghetti”- help to him.

Then it totally got “wild” CD Mandy was thrown in, as was deputy CD Anita. Lot’s of TC’s were fighting against it but failed and were wet. Pilots got in one with her tracker in the pocket and another saved her glass of beer above her head but her camera was in the water.
In between Brad and Bill were singing their heart out again and more and more people went on the dance floor, which was wet ,….but no worries.
The French girls danced, the Czech TC did [ never saw him so VERY relaxed!! good to see]
What a great event it was.
All the little drinks , beer and wine made everybody “loose” but in a great friendly way. As it should be!
I loved looking at it!! And luckily Gisela and I looked like “eminences grises” So we escaped!!!

The “small”. drinks;

What a SUPER RELAXED evening. A few will have a headache I think,…no no not the pilots!!!!
You might have missed the Polish team, they were late ,AND,..they are excused….they only arrived here at 7 PM from their retrieve yesterday!

Back later 12.30 NOW.
as said ,…day cancelled.

2 PM;
Met several interesting people here.
Living in their van and spending a lot of time here in the club house are Daniel Dubreuil and Lise from Quebec in Canada, speaking of course French and English, easy here with all different Nationalities.
I was wondering how they ended up here.
Nice story;
They lived in California and they flew around to write and make video’s from their adventurous trips.
They were known as ” Captain D and the lovely crew” at that time the name of their youtube channel as well.
After 15 years they moved back to Quebec for family reasons.

How did they end up in Lake Keepit?
They wanted to avoid the cold winters and looked at the internet where to go. Lake Keepit came up because of the kangaroos.
That’s where they went. Bought a van and planned a week here.
That turned out to be 1.5 month and Daniel started gliding. He is a member now and his van lives here at the place, where we had breakfast this morning .
At that time the tuggie here was a violist, there was also somebody who played the guitar and song.
That created a new lifestyle for them, making video’s with music and writing their own lyrics.
So an Australian Canadian production business was born.
This morning I got the link to the you tube video ” Down under the Keepit Chapter”.
Here is the link; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJVKLIxoKVU

Great music and ….Lake Keepit ….WITH a lake and green grass and blue skies with cu’s. Thanks Daniel for sharing.

CU tomorrow with more latest news and most probably another flying day.

10.30 AM;
It was for some a hectic evening.
If you have no trailers for 2 of your JS 3 gliders [they arrived in a container from France …no space for trailers!] ,I can imagine the panic on the face of one of the crews yesterday evening.
“We need help” ,was what he said. I knew Diana had flown back on her jet engine, so she was home and she had a trailer. So, as I remembered as well ,that George said earlier, that if the French need a trailer they would help , I send the crew to them.
I heard they drove up and down twice to get their pilots and gliders.

I heard still voices at 3.30 AM, so the very early morning. The tuggies had done 4 retrieves and then had to refuse one, cause of deteriorating visibility.
Everybody was accounted for so that was good!!! Heard of no damage yet, even better.
Not the first time ALL gliders out-landed on a big FAI event , for sure not the last time either. Part of the game.
The young ones called it “an adventure” and ” time to visit Mac Donald’s”. Others , as TC’s from countries with 6 pilots, had to get their highest logistic skills above, to deal with it all.
Looking forward to some stories. I read already that some arrived back home at 5 AM and a few gliders were retrieved this morning.
” Some pilots got in at 5am this morning other teams have been setting out on retrieve this morning! ” British Gliding Team.

Claire Scutter’s Gliding;
Claire flies CC in this comps and does a great job. Is at spot 9 overall in standard class.
Here is her story:
“What a day! 😩
450 km task set for standard class. At 2:30 pm we started. Conditions were not as good as predicted and by 5pm we still had 300km to go! With the day set to finish by 6:30pm there was no chance we would make it around the task and it became a distance day with a mass land out.
Lisa 🇭🇲 Aude 🇫🇷 and I all landed in the same field at 7pm. It was nice to have some friends today .
The dream team crew were already on their way and had the glider de-rigged and the trailer closed in record time – 7 minutes! 
I think the task setter and weather man will be tossed in the pool at international night this evening .”

Here is team UK:
“ Yesterday we 18m were launched into a rather unsoarable sky with 538km to go. We had got about halfway when the day died at around 7pm. With 170km to get home, the full tank of fuel JUST got me onto glide back to Lake Keepit where I arrived slightly before last landing. Ayala and Claudia in common with all their classes landed out and were back around midnight.”
By Liz.

There were winners as well!!!! Not for many points but every point counts!!!
18 m; Ailsa who flew 387 km. from the set 538 k. “got” 482 points. Katrin was runner up with 348 km. and 434 points.
standard; Aude [Grangeray] who flew 300 km from the set 435 k. for 600 points. Then Anna, Ayala and Cornelia each good for 287 km.
club; Barbora flew in her ASW 19 290 km of the set 417 km for 600 points. They all flew together , 11 landed not too far from each other and their points are between 500 and 574 for runner up Jo.

More later about the retrieves. Off to Manilla soon for lunch.
Tonight INTERNATIONAL NIGHT. … at 6.30 for 7.
“Ritual sacrificing of the weather forecaster and task setter scheduled for 8PM.”
All food is kept in fridges and who needed more fridge room,….no worries organizers would help.

Also later; a “wrap up” from week 1 here in Keepit.

3.30 PM;
Lovely lunch NOT at the pub …too much fat food….but at a lovely little cafe with superb food.
Not a lot of people here, they really enjoy their day off.
So no more news about the retrieves.
Get a lot of reactions on the blog, but here is a special one from Cal in the USA and not the youngest anymore:
” Having fun trying to follow all the ladies especially Sarah who taught me to fly gliders. Always special. Thank you for keeping us all up to date on the flying. ”

Looking at week 1 from this WWGC ;
With 7 out of 7 days, from which 1 day was cancelled in the air, it is a successful competition till now.
2 Days were ,in my opinion, too ambitious ….the cancelled day due to late weather chances and the mass-outlanding-day.
That day just started not strong enough, never reached the speed the task setter and weather man expected/hoped for and for that reason the task was just too long. Indeed easy to say in retrospect.
The organization in TOTAL, stands, the scores are fast, the “tuggies are the heroes of the skies” , the field runners in the blistering heat the “little heroes” and the radio and landing advises by Peter always cheerful, clear and safe.
Jacques takes care of the trackers and Gisela runs up and down to check all scores as juror and Frouwke as steward to keep an eye on everything.
Sean got the official site in perfect condition with news and videos.
The office is ran smooth, bills are in time to show you what you have spend and the food at Sport and Rec. is nicer than expected.

What more? Yes some of the girls were/are really tired , but fought, also on the last day, for the points. Great job!!!
“A girl has to do what she has to do ,….and she can”.

About Lake Keepit!
SO DRY,..SO SAD,….. but what great people!!!!!.
They all experience with this drought new situations in which they have never been before. They have to deal with them AND …..they do deal with them.
No water ,…they buy it.
Sand everywhere,..Wendy comes extra to clean.
No vacuum glider to clean the dust out of the cockpit,…bring your glider to the hangar.
No connection between car and trailer,…I find you one.
No car to travel…come with us.
I can give you a long list.
Everybody is cheerful , it’s a pleasure to be here between all the club members. They have very strong feelings for their club!!!!And ,..some are “worn out ” too, you see it ,but you won’t “feel / notice ” it.

Looking forward to the next week.
6 More day’s weather,smoke and dust permitting.
We can handle it!!!
By the way the member of team USA is back with the team again, his kidney stone is OUT!!!

Ready to make some pictures at the INTERNATIONAL NIGHT and to try some special prepared food.

CU tomorrow!!!

8.30 AM;

It’s all happening here in Lake Keepit.
Great soaring with bride beautiful clouds and an impressive sandstorm on one day! Even the locals called it quite spectacular!
The flying by the ladies was TOP. Their landings as well.
The organization was spot on with their forecast; be back in time. They all did, though the organizers were a tad worried, when some ladies really waited long to go to the start point.
At 5 the sun carefully tried to show her face again…. at 5.15 we saw red sand to the east of the field. ….At 5.25 the storm was here, blowing over chairs , gas bottles and BBQ’s.
The ladies and crew were having their drinks at the bar, but had to run for the red sand. Though the French men remained quite long in their chairs with their back to the wind and sand, before they gave up as well.

2 Gliders had slight dust-damage as far as I know now. Their canopy’s were blown open, but not off. Thanks to Diana who lay over her’s and Tim , who saved W8. So they have to clean the cockpit today and the instruments.
And yesterday evening their faces.

Back to the ladies and yesterday’s flying.
In the end when all scores were in Anne Ducarouge was the best in 18 m. flying 456 km in time 3.17 , so speed of 138.61 km./h. for 1000 points.
Alena was number 2 and Melanie number 3.
In standard class it was ” Czech -girls- above -all” . On spot 1 Jana, [1000] on spot 2 [999] Hana and on 3 Dana.[997 p] One of the pilots in this class came back with the engine.
In club class 4 from 5 in the top are LS 4. Still a great little glider. Celine, Chrissie and Jo [ASW 20] were the best . Amelie and Sabrina followed in their LS 4’S on 4 and 5.

Today’s task on day 7 with briefing at 9.30 and first launches expected at noon.
18 m;….570 km…..
standard;….446 km . ..
Club:…428 km. ….
Grid order ; 18 m….club and standard class.

Tonight is the INTERNATIONAL NIGHT.
Members of the INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY of the FLYING BROOMSTICKS invite to the BABAJAGA ceremony, 10 pilots will become members of the club. Ceremony starts at the end of the International Night.
Back after briefing.

10 AM:
Briefing is over. We have to drink was the most important message. Last night 1 team member was brought to the hospital with kidney stones!
I know the pain I had them too as well as gall stones!!!! TERRIBLE.

TOMORROW DAY OFF,…NO FLYING!!!! Lot’s of people will be more than ready for that!OFFICIAL REST DAY!!!!
7 day’s in a row of intensive heat , smoke ,sand and long-distance-flying ….it COSTS!!!!!
NOTE; no coffee- van on rest day and no dinner at Sport and recreation.

Today we fly TASK C!!!!!
Today’s sponsor is MERILBA ESTATE , a WINERY, donating the wines as prizes. Thanks.

weather; hot with 41 dgr. c drier air with winds from N. shifting to the W. Possible rain in weekend with S SW chance.
Today; early start…5500 ft at 12 am when they launch.
Cu’s later in the day!
Thermals 5/6 kts.
Long day til 6/6.30.Landing winds on ground 10/15 kts.NW
Pilots will be advised where to land. First time during this competition they come from the East [Manilla] they have been ‘Mentally’ prepared during briefing for a 32 landing or ….a 20 landing BUT only up to the intersection!!!!
Peter will advise ,as every day!

Tasks by Bruce;
C TASK!!!!!
Standard and club are quite similar but with each their own start point.
Some areas are close to restricted areas so LOOK OUT!!!!!

Scores as always fast in by Peter [Temple this time, to many Peter’s here ] His mate who scores standard and club class is not here but works “remote”.

11 AM;
Pretty busy here. French team is cooking for tonight. Their crews are taken care off SO GOOD with every noon lunch ; fresh and healthy prepared by Madame Bailleau ,[Anne Audier] as I call her.
Lot’s of people pass by and say they “want to be part of the French crew.”
They eat with great appetite with fresh fruit as desert!!! AND ,…they clean everything,..when they leave,… you don’t see that they have been here.

Off to the field for some pictures. Back later.

12.30 PM;
Back from the field and there is no real point in going there as gliders are empty till close for the launch and by experience I know you should not disturb them before flight.

18 M was up in a flash but the temperature was 4 dgr. lower than forecasted, so it took them 45 minutes “scratching” pretty low ,as we could see, to be at 1800 m.
Line opens at 12.45.
Clubbies have been launched as well and their line opens at 13.10.
Standard class launches in progress now.
WH [club] comes back for a relight at 20 at 12.55.

1 PM;
Standard class continues behind the tuggies. L7 just passed by as the last.
WH , relight, will be launched now!!![1.10 PM]
Standard line opens at 13.35.

Off for some food now!!Leaving you with some more pictures from the storm yesterday.
By the way all gliders were clean again , this morning. MM was cleaned in front of the hangar to be able to vacuum clean it.

4 PM:
Looking at the tracking,…it does n’t go really fast.
Club has done now 165 km still 192 km. to go but the day is longer than the day’s before. [15 minutes delay!!]
The 2 girls from the USA are leading here now on the way to TP 2.. When there they have flown 225 km.
Standard did about 140 k with 293 to go and ALL are in one gaggle.
18 m; some have done 125 km, and rounded the 2d tp, however most of them are still on the second leg on the way to that point .
So still 400 km to go at 4.20 PM..Mind the 15 minutes delay.
BUT,….at TP 2 Castletop to Bingara ….it looks better.
Though…looking to the tracker there might be 2 out and 2 back here in 18 m.
Have to check that.

Keep an eye open for you, whilst reading my book.
5 PM:
News about 18 m;
PT get’s an aerotow retrieve. XM just lands back here from a retrieve.
57 seems to have landed as well here with her FES….
Spirit here is a bit low,…they don’t expect anybody back. They still work hard for the INTERNATIONAL NIGHT….though……
Last light at 20.32 according to the task info.

As standard goes to the N. now ,they go further away from here. They are still not at Pine Station ,which would be 230 km. from the 435 set k.!!??
Some crews decide to drive with the car and trailer and follow their pilot.

5.15 PM;
One of the organizers just passed by and mentioned:”the task setter is hiding”.
Good news too; ZE leads 18 m . races all by herself from TP 3 to 4…. Good on her. A leg from 155 km.
But they are slow as said , an average of 70 k per hour.
Club struggles to TP 2, then they have flown 227 km from the set 417 k. Sylvia from the USA has passed it already, so is Kathryn. She is on her way up N for another 73 km to reach Narrabri ,which is 80 km NW from Lake Keepit by road. Then another 120 km back and she is home.
They fly 70 km./h average, so must have a bit better weather.

5.30 PM:
PT is back here after her retrieve. “long final 32.”
standard; still one big gaggle moving slowly to TP 2. They are nearly there and have flown then 230 km with 200 k to go. They go first N to Narrabri as well.

5.45 PM;
Clearly a distance day. MM has started her jet and flies home, after 212 km.
8 Still flying in 18 m!!!!They are halfway to TP 4 …Burren… about 250 k to go, to attend the INTERNATIONAL NIGHT.
BUT,…..they moved the night to tomorrow!!!!
So no international night today!!!

6.10 PM;
A different atmosphere here now as every other day. Trailers and car’s prepare for outlandings. I still hope that maybe 1 or 2 can come back, but I guess that’s an utopia.

Another nice event was the evening at the top of the mountain at Harry’s’ Got this picture this morning from Frouwke

A -KILOMETER-DAY!!!! So quite a lot of pilots fly as far as they can even when they are getting further from home, no worries it’s a WWGC.
So more trailers drive out to follow.
More Pawneys travel to Gunnedah to pick up some of the girls.

Busy day ,busy evening, CU tomorrow

8 AM;
What a superb soaring day yesterday! Enthusiasm all over!!!You can see that already at the bar area after flight. On a good day they like to see each other and talk, share moments!!!!

The Australians had a TOP-day! Winning in 2 of the 3 classes and with huge speed in 18 m. Also Liz from the UK had that speed …Awesome!
Looking at 18 m after 4 good soaring-day’s Melanie and Anne from France top the overall list with Alena as number 3. She lost a few points by being 9th yesterday.

In standard it was Aude Grangeray from France who was just a tad better than Ayala and Anna. After 4 day’s Sarah still leads before Anna and Aude.
In club it was Jo, Chrissie and Jenny who topped yesterday’s scores!!! Overall it is Jo, Celine and Chrissie but still a few day’s to go.

LOST AND FOUND;
Picture from Christian and Tanja;

Organizers message this morning;
Good morning welcome at day 6.
Standard …18 m..club is order at grid.

BE ADVISED THAT WE EXPECT FIRST LAUNCH AT 11 AM …by Mandy
No tasks yet!

Blog will be a bit different today ,as I go to the grid later to see the first launches there and to make some pictures.

News on the fires;
It seems that 1870 houses have been destroyed in Australia in the West, East and South and 20 people sadly passed away. Specially Kangaroo Island has been hit HARD. Poor animals as well
I miss out at all news here but, the disaster with the 737-800 from Ukraine in Iran is a drama as well. 176 People died as I read a lot from Canada.
What can I say!!!!!!

Tasks;
18 m…..3.15 AAT.
standard….3.30 AAT.
club …3 hour AAT.

10 AM;
Back after briefing ;
Sponsor today is GO SOARING.

Safety by Anita was longer today but necessary.
—safety is a system
first line of defense –the individual….
second line –the system
third ..assurance.. hazards can lead to failure.
—-landing-lines of defence
pilot..eyes out….don’t hit anyone ..execute well
Crew…eyes out same story.
system…we all do what is expected…it’s designed to minimize risk and provide predictability.
Yesterday the system was not always honored!!!

There will be technical infringements;
warnings and penalties for incorrect retrieves from the field or if you have no crew.
It all should be quick and safe!!!

Weather by Dave
smoke haze increased overnight with easterly airflow.
NW wind will “blow it away” during the day.
Very humid today.
Thermals 5/6 kts. up to 9000 ft.
Early finish between 4.30 and 5.
Wind light and variable.

Finish ring is today 20 km.
Mandy told me that the 30 minutes before the lines open are not always 30 minutes . Sorry for writing that, sorry for when I might have confused you.
Glad that I know now!!

THE WINNERS from yesterday! And YES,…Men at work was heard in the hangar again, accompanying the winners.

Now I was planning on going to the field today but my camera light was red , meaning it needs “food” desperately.
So tomorrow will be the day. A pity as I was fully dressed in long sleeves and long pants to avoid sunburn.
Now is pretty hectic anyhow because the tugs are already going to the field for the 11 o’clock launches.

10.45 AM;
15 minutes to go.
Just heard that there was a real lightning show in the S and SE yesterday evening. Missed it all ,…had a good and long night.
There is a small window in which they have to squeeze all gliders in today. They expect over-development later in the day.
Tracks are similar as before, but today they might overlap, so the pilots from different classes might meet “on track”.
SO KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN!!!!
Bruce finished with :” Have a wonderful day, it might be quite interesting.”

11 PM:
Standard class launching is in progress now for their 3.30 AAT with CC ,Claire as number 1.
Claire, sister from Matthew Scutter, the man behind SkySight , who created that beautiful meteo-software and every-day-sponsor here, was cheered on by the crowd, because of her brother, when David the weather man put her in the limelight.
This is Matthew when he just was crowned as the new JWGC world champion in Narromine.

11.20 PM:
All gliders from standard have been launched and 1B , Katrin was the first to go up in 18 m. for their 3.15 AAT.
She was unlucky yesterday by missing the TP on 500 m., which cost her points .[ 50 as I heard]. Katrin by the way was WWGC champion in 2007 and she is the current champion in 18 m.
It’s nice to see those heavy 18 m. gliders pass by here, as they do so at eye-height.
I see one glider return at 20….. now at 11.19. sounds Czech or Polish …LS 8 ….W8 , I just hear , with Jana Veprekova.
And XM , Alena, went out of the grid to start later. Alena was already WWGC champion in 2003.

11.40 PM;
Last glider from 18 m. is launched, they keep an eye on “early roos” running at the right site of the grid.
Club is launched straight after,…. with V 57 , Celine Rault as the first . They fly a 3 hour AAT.
Their launching finished , they do relights now. Alena was launched at 12.12 as the last for the day.
Line from standard opens at 11.45.
Line from 18 m. will open at 12.05.
Line from club will open at 12.30.

Great clouds popping up over the field.

1.30 PM;
Have to get used to this early time. Only an hour difference, still….
BUT ,..pilots are up high. Some reached 10.000 ft and words as “wave” are used as well as “I can’t find it”.
Skies looking good here , but it seems less good on track.
Some clubbies have started, they are on the way to their first circle.
Standard shows some pilots on their way to the start point.
18 m. is hanging to the east of the start point as well. They all got height there.
This all with 15 min. delay.

2 PM;
EVERYWHERE good looking clouds ,some strong willy-willies and a bit more wind from the W at this moment.Maybe created by the thermals.

Some nice pictures from Manilla, whilst you are waiting.

2.10 PM;
ALL sofa’s here are used “to the fullest”.

2.30 pm;
Lake Keepit from above.

4 PM;
Not much to say!! They are all flying , some are still high,… but some showers , one South of Gunnedah , are hanging around.
Everybody is awake here now and looking at the weather or G-track on their phones.
According to G-track, pilots in standard class are between 5 and 8000 ft and only CC is over 10.000.
Club “is busy” in 3 circles with 8000 ft as height and French Celine over 10.000 ft. so is Jo Davis.
18 m. is between 6 [Melanie] and 10.000[Diana]
All 15 minutes ago!!! And those 15 minutes “fool” me everytime.

4.05 PM;
Walked to the field and saw KW land, very fast with a bit of wind in the back!!! From Club class. IIC had landed already and Sylvia XJY, is at 10 k so arriving. Kathy is 10 k out.

4.15 PM:
The girls from the USA just landed at 20 with wind from 240 dgr. 10 to 15 kts.
First Sylvia then Kathryn.
Landing is possible on both runways 14 for straight in or long landing,but most choose for 20. Also WH Claudia from the UK .
BM has announced her arrival as well.[Sabrina from Germany]
CQL has landed as well [Chrissie from Germany]
The shower South from Gunnedah, I mentioned earlier moves to the East south from us, so passes by. Looks heavy from here , but has no influence according to Peter at the radio.
T 1 announced her arrival Kerrie from Australia.
They all come more or less in one by one.
4.40 PM:
V57 =10 k out. ….AJ…40…as well
J1 [Judyta] lands at 14,..

All traffic ; the wind has changed here to 180 dgr. still 10/15 kts. ….some blowing dust ,when it occasionally gusts to 25. Not often.
JO….10 k out……CQO…CC…
Safety officers Anita and Gregg are keeping an eye on the wind for advise of landing direction!!
So far ALL good.
UKE…57…LT…HS…J 7…

18 m is arriving soon too, as is standard class .
Go back to the landings.

5.12 PM:
Some more finishes;
57..P1..HS..L7..J7..PA..BY..XZ..51..XBY…MM..1 B..OG…FM..FQF…PT…W8..PO…PT..FE…1A…XM…
Some might be double, some I have missed by running up and down.
ALL ladies have finished!!!!

The sun is carefully shining again. Showers have passed by. All clear at the moment!!!
Just caught up with Indea ,lovely daughter from Anita with her 3 gorgeous children. They have a few really nice grand-grand parents as Hank and Lorraine and Tony and Jo!!!
I know them all. Blessed kids!!!

5.30 PM;

ALL Club class scores are already on ..preliminary.
Celine looks the winner today with 351 km in time 3.12.
Standard scores VERY preliminary at the moment; 402 km in time 3.38 for Sarah.
18 m; Looks like Elena did well again with 467 km in time 3.24
The 3 French girls still have to be scored and Stefanie.

CU tomorrow ANOTHER REAL GOOD DAY here in hospitable Lake Keepit!!!!!!!!
“A State Recreation paradise!”
Bit dry though .

8.30 AM;
Bit late for “good” reasons!
BIG news,….we had rain last evening. This time we could not count the drops ,…but it was real rain, big drops. Some danced outside under the shade- cloth as the cooler air and the cold rain-drops were very refreshing.
Looking at the radar there was more rain to the East ,so I hope it helped to settle the dust and “delete” some of the smoke.
On the way to dinner there was no dust, the red sand was darker and we could see the traces from other cars. First time since I arrived here on December 28.
For sure not enough rain, but every drop is welcome here.

A great flying/racing day yesterday. Speedy flights and 2 winners AGAIN in ONE class.
But first Alena in 18 m….. her second win . Looked at the tracking and she flies SO smart!!!!20 km more than the French ladies and we know they are good and 10 k faster.
4 x a JS 3 in the top. The first 6 pilots were all over 130 km./h!! Good job!!!

In standard class, a Polish lady was the best; Anna Piotrowska in LOT with a speed of 114 km that was just a tad faster than Sarah who was runner up and Ayala from the UK. Both 113 km./h.
In club class as said 2 winners; Elena from Italy and Chrissie from Germany. Elena flew 373 km. in time 3.35 in a Discus and Chrissie in a Tocumwal- LS 4 ,367 km in time 3.36. Handicap; 1.045 for 1.022.
The first 10 in his class overall are very close with less than 300 points between 10 and 1.

Happy faces at the bar yesterday and talks about “maybe a good day for tomorrow” =now.

Tasks for today January 8 are already on soaringspot…pretty long ones.
18 m…561.75 km..
standard…454.29 km
club …406 km

Off to briefing soon……it’s a crisp nice cool morning.

10 AM;
Prize winners first and here they are;

What happened more:
— The FAI flag is back.
—Sponsor of the day: Edwards Aviation from Brad.
—International Night…plans are for January 10 ..depending on the weather.
—Flights in the Dimona are available … see David Conway.
—new dinner list has been sent out.
—some club class gliders are …for what reason…too light you will be notified
—Protest time expires every day at 8 AM

Safety;
—Make your 20 km. call!!!!You can say;” copy the weather”if necessary.
—Make also 10 km call , depending on congestion, with landing intentions; center…right short…right long.
—remain predictable.

Weather; by David and sponsored by SKYSIGHT.
—early mid level cloud
—early start ..5000 ft at 11 AM
—reasonable landing conditions today;light and variable at 5 pm
—still the same weather pattern.
—Possibility for late showers.
—Cu’s through most of the day.
—37 dgr. C….9000ft.
—-early finish at 5.3
—late landings; possible gusts and outflows later [less chance than yesterday]

Tasks are to the NW and one of the legs from 18 m.is 230 km from the NW back to “home”.

COMPLIMENTS today for the scorers Pete Temple for 18 m and Neil Campbell for the other 2 classes.
They depend on the quick “send-off” by the ladies straight after the flight.
BUT,…it is pretty rare that scores are in SO QUICK after the flight at a WWGC or WGC …. GREAT JOB!!!!

11.30 AM:

5 or 6 club members who wanted to fly on this nice day have been launched already by 2 tugs. One of them Jacques.
First start at 12.
Get some pictures later from the tuggies and some of the volunteers.
Tugs …3 of the 6…are at the pictures.
Val is now the only lady AND the TUGMASTER!!! Doing a fabulous job. She not only flies but when she sees something she advises the other pilots too.

11.45 AM;
15 minutes to go for the first launch. Tuggies at the strip.

12 PM;
there they go 18 m. first for their A task from 561.8 km.
“full power,full power”
XM [Alena] is the first on tow. Followed by ZF.[Eva]
In between Prime News has arrived and….. I was offered a ride in an ASG 32 self launcher next week. It’s all happening here!!!!
Still blue skies!

12.20 PM;
All 14 gliders in 18 m. launched .Last one is PT with Stefanie.
Line opens after 30 minutes at 12.45
CLUB class launch in progress. First to go ; JO, another Tocumwal glider.
12.40 PM;
JY Sylvia from USA comes back at 20, with a problem with her wheel door.
Last from club has just been launched now… 12.20, line opens in 30 minutes at 13.05 .
Something wrong with my or their time. Will check.
Hope the USA girls Kathy and Sylvia find each other again, as they like to fly together!!
AND,…indeed Kathy waved yesterday. Pretty “cool” during landing!!!Top girls!!!
Standard towing in progress NOW.
Just saw SF.

1.PM;
Still blue here , but clouds over the ranches in the N.W. and East [ not interesting] . Looking good! As they all go to the NW.
Akemi just passed by.
Launching is over already. Pretty quick!!!
Just over an hour!!!
Clouds popping up NOW over field as well.
Relight JY ….she is launched now at 1.12 PM.
St class line opened at; 1.30.

CU Later; Having a little rest, after a poor night!!!

4.15 PM:
Did n’t miss anything. Everybody is happily flying, crews are checking the track of their pilots , the kangaroos have organized their selves under the trees in front of the club house where there is water for them in buckets and I first looked at the skies and to the NW it really looks nice as you can see.

18 m. is already busy with their LONG 230 K leg and all have rounded it already or rounding it now which means with the delay that we will have nobody stuck at 230 km from here!!!Speed from the “best” 143 km./h [Aussie girls]
Clubbies are busy with their 160 km.leg and are going fast with a few at 113 km./h.
Standard shows 128 km./h at this stage and they flew already 275 km and started their long leg from 148 km. so 170 km to go.

4.35 PM;
From the East some “milky stuff “is slowly approaching the field here, but still with nice clouds under it. Seems to be as I hear ” far away showers” to the east. It looks it’s not coming.

4.50 PM:
Clubbies are about 100 k out
18 m about 120 and standard less than 100 k. BUT,…there is still the 15 minutes delay. So they are closer by.
Finish line Radio just says that the first will land in approx.16 minutes so they are ready to welcome them.

5 PM;
wind is 160 dgr. 8/9 kts. Runway 14.
Some of the local pilots are landing now.
The German girls in club announce their arrival ; Chrissie and Sabrina.
IC , Jo Davis is arriving too.2 More coming, one is KE. AJ..

5.15 PM;GLIDERS ARRIVED
QL…BM…IC…KE….JO…40..WH…PT…KW..AG…QO…

18 M; 1B.. XM..MM…

5.45 pm; GLIDERS IN.
S 7….51…FQ…ZEV…MF…XJY…ZF…L 7…LOT…18…PO…SC…OGV…ET…P1..P..PV…XBY…CC…LT…w8…EJ

I might have missed a few but ALL scores will be very soon at soaringspot.
Nearly all club class pilots are already scored or in.

6.10 PM:
A REAL AWESOME day, 152 km./h at this stage for Ailsa in 18 m. I told you already those girls are on fire!!!Liz had the same speed and according to her UK mates she ” was beaming from ear to ear as she handed over her loggers, she was saying something about it was “outrageous that you could have that much fun”
At this stage 3 in standard with 129 km./h.
Club class with Aussie Jo, flew 121 km./h. that is at this stage 5 km faster , a than the runner up Chrissie who won yesterday. Jo,…the real “Speedy Gonzales”
So a glorious day here in Keepit and all girls seem to be back, with big smiles, what do you want more.
BUT,…..still a call for one pilot ,…but she seems close by, I heard from Bruce.
YES, she will be in soon ,…..XZ is ready to land. “Maybe a bit low”, but….kangaroos are chased and she is IN.
Anita;”Welcome back Kath” she answers, “It was a bit of a day”
“Damn good landing” by radio -man Peter Sommerfeldt
Great fun had by all, even here at the ground!!!!

Also by German crew member Tanya Ziegler who flew herself in Christian Werner ‘s ASG 32 MI. Sorry lost the picture.
Make a new one tomorrow.

CU tomorrow.

8.10 AM;
It was a special day and a special night!!!
Where to start…???
Maybe with the ladies ,…as that’s why we are all here.
They had a tough day yesterday. Long tasks not the best visibility at start and instead of improving it deteriorated.
I can tell you when they came back here, [everybody I saw was OK with the cancellation,] they looked worn out and all said they had been scared!!!
That ‘s where I leave it, as if I would tell you their full stories you might be “scared ” too. Mind you this was straight after the flight, so full of adrenaline and emotions.
Some were looking forward to a rest day, but that’s not going to happen yet , as the message this morning was ;
Welcome to day 4, grid order club, standard and 18 m briefing at 9.30 in the hangar.

The Australian Night was a different story; a success story!!!
I heard 150 friends had booked in , but there might have been even more.The food was good, the atmosphere great and Brad and Bill were on their best.
A pity Uys was not heard by all the girls, as he had some special words for them and wished them well on an evening sponsored also by Jonker Sailplanes.
Surely they will show this on a better time. He is on FB now.
As said Brad and Bill were in full swing and the songs from Ed Kilbourne always stay special for glider pilots.
I met him in 2012 in Uvalde where he performed on an Australian night over there. His CLOUD songs are sung by all involved in soaring.
A few pictures from yesterday evening as well.

Off to briefing.

10 AM;
Briefing is over.

Grid order;
Club; Task A …3.30 AAT or task B …2.30 AAT.
Standard; Task A…3.15 AAT.. Task B …2.15 AAT.
18 m; Task A…3 hour AAT..Task B….2 hour AAT.
First launch at 12 PM.

First about the situation yesterday. The organizers learned from it as well as safety officer Anita said. They will use the Dimona with Bruce in it more often to check the situation.
The official report:
” —We followed the special circumstances rule.
—We took information from many sources …forecasts, visual observations, reports from water bombers, reports from weather stations ,web cams reports from others at the ground elsewhere, reports from pilots, reports from the observer, reports from TC’s.
–we cancelled the day due to the updated smoke forecast ,observer observations, concern for the completion of the task.
They learned at the TC briefing ;
—-They will fly closer to the problem area,
—-observer will transmit on team frequency cancellation then on 122.025 safety frequency

You can put in a Flytool report and Speak with safety committee.
I realize that pilots straight after such a flight are still full of adrenaline and they will for sure be in the best condition again today.
It’s good to observe both way’s.

More briefing news;
AIB, a big insurance company is the sponsor for today. Thanks.
—-internet is slow/quite poor today. It has to do with the Australian infrastructure, not with the organizers. Less looking at pictures and video’s might help.
—all valuable info should be shared via the TC to the person in the organization who deals with that.

Weather;
The persistent weather pattern still continues. The HIGH in the Tasman Sea brings a Northerly air flow.
It looks like there might be more changes of rain in the next week, but also for clouds . “There might be hopefully clouds EVERY DAY!!!“
There is still haze, but it should disappear/”wash out” during the progress of the day due to the NNE-wind.
It should be a reasonable day with 4.5 /to 5 kts and higher in the SW.
BUT,…the day will STOP early is what they think.From 4 PM onward, when from the SE wind might come in and the outflow might be 20 to 25 kts.
Will be good to be back here at the ground at 5.

Tasks;
Are all in a similar area.
There is a small time frame . As there is still some smoke which might influence temperatures in the early hours, it’s waiting if they can start straight away.
As forecasted the day will/might be short.

You are up to date now. Back later.

12 PM:
After the tuggies drove to the field at 11.30 AM, , …..the radio’s were checked at 11.45 and when all had said “reading you 5” …..the show could start again.
All girls have left the cool club house and I am sitting here by myself now.
Club class is launched now and J 1 with Judyta from Poland was the first to go up. Their A task; 3.30 AAT.
I can see nice big CU’s over the field and it feels hotter than the forecasted 38 dgr. C. A different day in this paradise.
Visibility here is pretty good too, except for the NE, still smoke there, but that’s not where they go to.
Girls will be happy with the clouds ,as they don’t have to struggle today , they just GO UP so easily under them. No worries!!!I can see them happily thermalling.
Hope they don’t forget that they have to come down to 6000 ft MSL, as that is the pre- start altitude.
They have finished launching the club class already. [12.23 don’t know if my time is the same as theirs] But good and quick!!!!Line opens after 30 minutes at 12.50

12.25 PM; Standard -class- launching in progress for task A ;3.15 AAT.
16 to be launched. It’s going pretty fast today.
Just saw Lisa in LT pass by.
12.50 PM; last launch from standard class plus 30 minutes. LOT was the last on tow. line opens at 13.15
Now still 18 m to go…..14 pilots ; FQ went as first with French Melanie. They go for a 3 hour AAT.

13.05 PM; XM with Czech Alena just passed by in her JS 3 and her mate Eva followed in her JS 1c.
13.15 PM;MM just passed by and she is one-but-last. Now P should follow and it’s over in 1.15 minutes. That all happened,…so it’s over now. No relights …ALL GOOD!!!Line should open after 30 minutes.
Line opens at ; 13.40
FM , with Anne from France, was launched at 1.18 PM , just to let you know.
She went out of the grid.

3.30 PM;
Back from Manilla. Took a few pictures there, but first a picture from the lunch for some of the crew from the French team. Took it before I left.
They don’t miss out on anything!!!!

Manilla for pictures,…. as I like the little town. Quite a few people from here, live there in Allan Barnes motel, great spot full of native fauna and flora called “Ambleside ” . Great spot as I heard.
Here are some of the pictures from what I call it “an early settlers city”.

4 PM;
Looking to the SW, still gives a “good feeling” . Though not all reports from the girls on track are “hallelujah”.
Here at the field still some clouds but also overcast… overall still calm. Driving from Manilla to here the mountains are visible, still hazy though.

Here is the picture from above in the yellow gyrocopter.

4.30 PM;
Still some time to go for the girls but 5PM, was said by the meteo to be back here. “Very straight forward weather “according to Bruce, so we wait patiently till the are back home.
It looks like Sylvia from the USA [club class] is halfway to the last TP Rangari, which means about 50 /60 km. out with the 15 minute time delay and!!!
I just put the radio on; and they announced 20 km out. Go and have a look.

4.30 PM:
Rushed out and was sitting there in time.
Heard the USA girls Kathy and Sylvia talk to each other and help each other. “Remember to put your gear down”
11 km. OUT…..
“I have height , you pick what site you want to land “; Kathy.
Sylvia ; “I have some lift” , she was worried if she was s going to make it too. With the bit of lift it was OK.
A loud HAPPY YEL when they were sure they make it.
“Gear down.”…..”SAME”.
And there they were,… I applauded them and it looked as if Kathy heard it , she looked and waved!!!
So nice!!!
More landings ; QO,…AJ…JO…IC all club.
Later we know who had the most kilometers in the best time.
wind light..landing 14 long or straight in…310 dgr.
More club;
FX….J 1…. BI …VS7 ….EU…W8….J7…40…

Also in…..in 18 m; P., who was launched last this morning.

Off to the landings again.

At 5.10 :
a warning for a gust front arriving soon
5 minutes later ;” frontal- weather -close-by” warning!
Lot’s of gliders are in. I missed a few by running op and down.All classes.
PO…CC…XZ…LT…L7 …TQ…1A…L7 …S7…FM…57…LOT…MM…PT…XBY…51…ET…1B..

5. 24 PM;
The storm starts to race over the field…still not too bad!!!
ZE arrives ; wind very strong, but still good for landing is the message from Peter who does a fabulous job on the radio!!!!!!!He even manages to calm down everybody ,also at the ground with his voice and his remarks.

5.40 PM;
All gliders in safely the last 3 , ZE….ZF 2 girls from Czech Rep.and P1, Agata from Poland , had tough circumstances, but they dealt with it superbly at 5.30!!!
So the weather-forecast and tasks were set nicely within the limits.
A GOOD day, smiling faces and good soaring conditions!!!!
What do you want more.

AND,…WHAT A FLIGHT from Alena in 18 m. ; 446 km. in time 3.07 making a speed of 143 km./h!!!!
Standard; Anna from Poland with 379,83 km. in time 3.19 so a nice speed of 114 km./h just ahead of Sarah [USA] and Ayala[UK]
Club class; shows 2 winners at this stage preliminary:Elena from Italy and Chrissie from Germany.
Kathy and Sylvia did really well but finished in the end on spot 14 and 15. BUT,..they were back!!!

6 PM; CU tomorrow.

8.10 AM;
When I left you yesterday I was AGAIN amazed to see how quickly the weather can change here.
Still enjoying the beautiful and disciplined finishes, ….I looked up ,…. felt wind , ….saw red dust and ….smelled smoke. This all happened around 6.45 PM.
We raced in though some had to stay!!
Still some club class gliders out then , but they showed their skills by landing safely here,… even in turbulent circumstances. Well done !!!
One of the Aussie girls, Jenny, was out in 18 class [ after 234 km] and Sylvia [USA] could not make it back in club after flying 347 km.

It turned out to be a “French” day, winning in each class.
1 and 2 in 18 m. Anne and Melanie and Margot from Italy on 3….the 2 Audes on 1 and 3 with Cornelia from Germany in between ….Celine in club class, with Aussies Jo and Jenny on 2 and 3.

Last night the wind/storm was terrible till about 1 AM. Then it was more or less quiet again.The whole building here is red from dust, the toilets, the kitchen etc but Wendy is here to clean it all!!! Thanks!!!
This extreme dusty weather is created by the drought, so bad it is normally NOT here, I heard.

This is how the UK saw this seabreeze yesterday;
” Interesting conditions at #LakeKeepit in the #WWGC2019. #TeamGB‘s Claudia Hill having to land long to avoid kangaroos on the runway. All three British pilots are now home, but any late finishers and crews are now having to deal with the sea breeze bringing in a wall of dust “

Day 3 starts soon as the first launch is expected at 11.30 AM.
They grid at 32 and 18 m is up front with club and standard behind.
Briefing at 9.30 AM.

Here is the report from USA TC John Good with his permission, from yesterday task 2;
“A more difficult day today, especially for Club Class.  The forecast said very hot, very blue (except well to the southwest) and a possibility of lift shutting down around 5:30 near Lake Keepit, due to an easterly wind that could bring both marine air and smoke.

In the face of this and some decently long tasks, the right decision looked to be an early start, avoiding the chance of being caught short of home when the good conditions ended.  This is just what Sarah did in Standard class: started early and joined the three Australian pilots (repositories of local knowledge) in a group of four that made good progress around the 460-km task, found good lift to over 14,000’ well southwest of home, and were able to finish about 10 minutes before the 5:30 witching hour.  This smart and sensible scheme didn’t look quite so good when the troubled weather held off until around 6:45, allowing the late launchers to romp home in good conditions.  Yet their scores were still decent; sometimes the smart bet doesn’t produce the best results.

Only a couple of Club Class gliders decided to go with the “start early / play it safe” scheme.  All the rest delayed their starts, then discovered soaring conditions on the long task that would rarely allow good speeds.  All the class struggled on the leg home from the west; most finally got home, many with disappointing speeds.  Kathy put up a desperate fight, finally got the altitude she needed, and finished around 7pm, just as the easterly wind and smoke arrived.  Sylvia also fought hard, but couldn’t connect with the final climb she needed and landed about 30 km from home.  This is an area with good fields, but unfortunately not the best or most direct roads. She and husband Hugh are expected back around 10pm.”
For more you can go to
https://ussoaringteams.org/john-goods-report-for-jan-4-2020/

9.15 AM
Just spilled a full cup of tea over my laptop. NOT GOOD.
Hope I can continue, for now it looks fine.

10 AM;
Briefing is over. EVERYBODY talks about the red dust. People woke up in closed sleeping rooms with red dust on their faces.
White clean gliders were IN the hangars….this morning red instead of white.
But NO complaints as the fires and the devastation around Sydney and in the S of Victoria ,….are MUCH WORSE.
Perspective!!!!

Tasks for today are LONG
18 m;A task …5 hour AAT..B task..4 hour AAT.
standard ;A task …4.15 AAT…B task..3.15 AAT.
Club; A task…4.30 AAT. B task…3.30 AAT.

What was more up at the briefing?
Today’s sponsor is Jonker Sailplanes.

The prize winners from task 2.

About safety; a copy of steward Frouwke’s safety presentation has been posted to all for “your own self briefing.”
Further on;
—-after release turn RIGHT!!!
—-after a relight bring 2 traces!!!
—-2 tugs had a problem, during the last 2 day’s ,…react straight away on the wave-off-sign, ask later.
One had oil on the wind screen, a case of cleaning and checking the oil , the other a cracked cylinder which will be repaired today. Will take all day.
—-Australia night is free for all and sponsored by the GFA, the NSWGA and Jonker. Starts tonight at 7.30. Music by the 2 B’s…Bill and Brad.
—-Hardworking friends/volunteers Lynley in the office and David at the field are travelling back to Waikirie tomorrow, another 15 hour drive.Lovely people, as is their daughter Alannah, a real artist.
They showed both cartoons this morning at the briefing, still struggle to download them.
Lynley got a huge applause for all her efforts in the office.

Weather; sponsored every day by SkySight.
With the HIGH over the Tasman Sea , we have a continuous NW airflow.
Today will be only 39 dgr. C.
We have an early start as the trigger temperature only needs to reach 32 instead of 36 yesterday.
Due to smoke haze to the NE they had to change their task plans.
Day starts early and “stops” around 5.30 and might end around 6 again with incoming seabreeze.
Have seen that now, being back then ,….is the best one can do.

Tasks; are set in a rather small area but they are LONG. Some classes will cross each other.

It’s nearly 11 AM now, just half an hour before the first launch.
11.15 AM ;Tuggies are starting their engines on the radio “Launching will commence in 15 minutes.” All cars should be removed from the grid.
5 Tugs today!!!
Back soon.

11.30 AM:
And we started flying day 3!!
XM , Alena, from 18 m. was the first to be launched.
Followed by ZF with Eva and ZE , Jana, all 3 from Czech Rep.
57 With Margot from Italy and MM with Diana from Luxembourg.
Then after 5 launches there is a small delay and P was launched with Joanna from Poland. FM with Anne from France and 51 with Liz from the UK.
FQ with Melanie from France, J7 follows with Aussie Jenny after a “cable-problem” gave some delay.
Several gliders are below drop height at the drop zone, is what’s mentioned.
Good on them!!! Safety first!!!
HS is launched with Lisa Turner and OG with Ailsa, PT with German Stefanie is the last to go at 11.55 so line should open after 30 minutes at 12.25 .
Miss[-ed] one!!!!

11.55 AM; Club class follows at 11.55 with JO [Petra] in it.16 To go.
12.10 PM; They are not yet very high , between 1400 and 1800 m [MSL] and it looks pretty grey out side… BUT, strong thermals at the ground pass by with dust and speed. So there must be lift.
Just one, a big one, in front of the club house, making the visibility tempera-rely low.

12.20 PM:
Last glider in club class has started, line opens in 30 minutes at 12.50.
12.25 18 M line is open. “Welcome in this monster gaggle” was what one of the 18 m. pilot’s said.
They launch standard class now.

12.34 PM; several pilots ask agitated for MORE speed behind the tug, one wants less speed . Looking at the OGN the French and the German girls in 18 m. have left on track.
5 hour AAT seems a lot under the circumstances we can see now. For sure not the best visibility.
Good luck to all.

12.50 PM; Last of standard class has been launched now. Their line opens at 1.20 ! Line from Club should be open now!

1 PM; Some more positive news about the weather too, as some are really racing now!! Visibility remains POOR!!!!! BUT,….when on track it should be better is advised. Still not very high though, some at 5000 ft.!!
1.20 PM; Standard class is open now too.
CU later!!Good luck girls!!!

2.30 PM:
Visibility is still poor. On the tracking system is written” reduced visibility due to smoke.”
Standard has the worst visibility at this moment ,but it should improve and it should be still within the norms. It seems not all pilots do agree with this.
Club is busy with their longest leg from 191.8 km.
Standard as well but they have 3 long legs from 101, 122 and 158 km.
18 m. has 2 long legs as well from 260 and 142 km.
This means of course to the middle of the circle.
Now the 18 m. has flown 187 km with about 110 km./h. So still a long day AND we might have the incoming sea breeze at 6. Hope it’s delayed!!!
Bruce has gone up in a 2 seater to monitor the weather/ visibility from above.

3.15 PM:
The weather finally “cracked” and pilots have now more height to fly , even up to 10.000 ft. over Mount Kaputar.
I had a look at Wikipedia;
” a mountain with an elevation of 1,489 metres (4,885 ft)  above sea level located near Narrabri in northern New South Wales. It is part of the Nandewar Range and has been preserved within the Mount Kaputar National Park. The mountain is a prominent landmark for travellers on the Newell Highway as it rises abruptly from the plains .”
It is “the remnants of an extinct volcano that was active about 18 million years ago. “!!!!!!
At this stage it gives welcome-lift to the flying pilots there in 18 m.
The club class pilots have “used” the mountain already. They can be using it again on the way from TP 4 to 5,… they pass it then again.
Standard has the Kaputar to the SW in their circle. Most are on their way from the 2d to the 3 point/circle.
On the way back from TP 4 to TP 5 they pass the Kaputar again.

3.45 PM;
It’s clearing here. I can see blue skies and clouds popping up. Good!!!

But I hear that the task is cancelled for all classes!!!!”
It says on G-Track
“ Task cancelled due to smoke“

A pity from the smoke here!!! What can you do.
We are not the only ones,…..Also Benalla and Tocumwal have very poor visibility. Look at their web cam.
Narromine has about the same dust/sand storm yesterday as we had.

The weather forecast for today has changed as well . They will for sure explain later. It might be what I expected,.. that due to the slow speed the gliders coming back, might be hit by the seabreeze.
Will tell you later or tomorrow. Gliders return safely at the field now which is GOOD.
Safety FIRST!!!!

5 PM;
A big bunch of gliders arrived already home at 20 or 14 long and it was rather “congested” at the end of 14, as you can see at the picture shared by
British Gliding Team@GBGlidingTeam

4/5 kts wind….210 dgr.

5.45 PM;
The last 2 pilots are on their way back home. The nasty weather should come from the N. this time, and it is difficult already to see the mountains there.
One of the reasons and the bad visibility,…. to cancel this day.

One tug was sent out but had to return .
Tomorrow there is another day.

CU then.
Glad the laptop survived ” having a cup of tea.”

8 AM;
When I start at 8 ,a lot of people have started their day already earlier. I hear action already at 5, but I try to sleep a bit more then.
Today it was 43, but in Western Sydney I just heard it went up to 50 dgr. C. That ‘s a bit TOO hot!!!!
Yesterday was a superb first day.
Specially the Aussies, I heard some have been training for this comps already for 4 years, started fantastic.
Interesting as well ,that over 478 km. 2 girls gain 1000 points . Both Elena from Czech Rep. and Lisa [Turner] achieved this in 18 m. class.
Speed 145 km./h.
Ailsa was 4th and Jenny 7th.
In standard it was Sarah who smashed with her speed the others as she was nearly 10 km./h faster than the runner up; Aude Untersee from France;137.84 for 128.96 km./h.
Sarah straight away leads with 129 points, yes I know it is still day 1, but we celebrate EVERY day all good results.
The slowest, with respect, flew with a speed of 115 km./h.
In club 122 km./h was the best speed for 2 Aussies Jo and Jenny [Ganderton];1000 and 975 points for them.
Still a few warnings and penalty points on day 1 , hope this will get less in the future.

A nice visitor this morning for the president of the jury. In front of Gisela’s house was a nice Australian goanna.

10 AM;
Sponsor today Maddog Composites . On each table the “not to miss” stubby holder for nice cold beer.Or…a small bottle of water.

The winners from yesterday were called to come to the podium and when they stood there, the 3d hymn from Australia was put on. After the National song and Waltzing Matilda , the band “Men at work” with their ” land down under” , always giving me a HAPPY feeling, was put on. I guess it gave everybody a happy feeling as well, specially the winners.

Here they are. Yesterday’s winners.

What happened more in the briefing?
Anita with ; A few very important safety issues.
” do not fly over or under each other” think of wind gusts.
Be gentle with your maneuvers. p.e don’t pull up.

—-Collect trackers straight after briefing and bring them back before 7 PM, preferably by one person.
—-Australian Night tomorrow= free for the guests, “not for the Aussie team”. Starts at 7.30 with music by Brad Edwards and his brother Bill.
We all hope the French girls will dance!!!!

Weather is very stable also over the next couple of day’s, though today is slightly weaker than yesterday. Ceiling around 10.000 ft. with around 5 kts. No cu’s over Keepit, not when they leave not when they come back. On track they might find a few, certainly over the ranges.

Tasks;
18 m; A task..465 km…B task…350 km.
standard; A task..459 km….B task…336 km
club; A task…381 km..B TASK…274 KM.

STANDARD UP FRONT TODAY, THEN 18 M AND CLUB CLASS.
FIRST LAUNCH at 12 PM.

10.30 AM;
This morning 2 young very clever fellows, Cameron and Jeff, helped me with the whats app on my Aussie phone. Now I get the important messages.
The fine tuning was done by Diana.
By the way,…Did you see the nice video-interview, from Sean with Lisa Trotter after flying day 1… and with the other winners , if not have a look at
YouTube Gliding Australia

11.15;
Tuggies are preparing , pilots slowly move out of the club house, into the heat. First launches at 12.
Gyrocopter rides available ; 80 dollar for 30 minutes.
You see I am part of the WWGC what’s app-group now.
11.30; Tuggies are moving to the grid. Found my sunglasses and one of the tuggies the hat. First launch in time at 12.
One pilot is still doing ” touch and go’s”!!
Some of the Czech girls , leave for the field.
15 minutes to go and day 2 starts with ” new hopes and expectations.”.
11.45; The gyrocopter is making a video over the field.
It just started and created a huge dust cloud spreading over all clean washed gliders!!!!MMmmmmm……

12.PM; CC , from Standard, was the first to go with the A task in the pocket, followed by the yellow gyrocopter with the video guy in the back of the 2 seater.

12.20 PM; they finished standard now. Lisa Trotter was the last to go.
Start-line should open in 30 minutes at 12.45.
12.21 PM; Lisa Turner in HS the first of the 18 m. class.
12.21 PM;18 m. class is launched now. 51 , Liz, was the last on tow.
Line should open in 30 minutes. Opens at 13.10.
12.22 PM; launches from club class in progress now, after a very short break to let a thermal pass by. First to go was Amelie from France.
1.10 PM; Club has been launched now. Line opens at 13.40.

2.30 PM.
Most of the pilots are on track now. I thought some left a bit late, as the weather clearly is less than yesterday. Still large tasks.
No “booming” willy-willy’s in the afternoon and more smoke. We heard 2 fires reported over the radio close to Manilla, about 35 km from here to the NE.
Still a bit upset with the unofficial scores from yesterday.

Whilst waiting for the club to be totally launched I was told that the 2 French Aude ‘s flying in St Class, have been infringed the air space yesterday. One a competition airspace infringement the other at Tamworth. Quickly looked at the unofficial scores and yes, Aude Untersee get’s zero points instead of being runner up yesterday and the other Aude [ET] lost a few . That’s hard!!!!OUCH!!!!
1 PM. Peter, one of the tuggies mentions an engine failure. He landed safely. Very experienced guy both in radio calls and towing!!!

3 PM;
Of course we heard that one of the tugs had a problem this morning. Did not know that it was at 600 ft. with a glider on tow. The cylinder cracked so the tuggy had to wave her off , at that moment she did not know exactly why, but found out quickly.
“Cool” reactions from the tuggy and the Polish pilot. No worries!!!

3.30 PM;
looking at the G-track-live, club class has a long first leg from 133 km. They should be now there with still 250 km. to go.
Standard ‘s first leg is 209 km. to the far SW. Nobody seems to be close to the TP. Still more than 250 k to go.
18 m;still 330 k to go!!!!
In between Sean has updated the official site, which looks much better now. All actions from NOW, this moment , not anymore from 2 months ago. GOOD!!!
https://wwgc2019.com/

3.45 PM;
Good to see our ” future” finding each other in the club house.

4.30 PM;
Sarah [St. Class] is flying well again according to the G track live. They have started the one but last leg from 165 km. then still 23, to get home. Quite a few are 60 km. behind!!! But ,..they fly in the good area and have lift up to 13.000 ft.
Club class is busy ,still with 15 minutes delay, to conquer the 2d leg still having to fly one leg of 71 km and one from 57 to finish after another 23 km.
18 m; has a leading group from 6 working very well together.They have done half of the 191 km leg ,still 180 km. to go.They just reached 9000 ft after a great thermal.

5.15 PM;
I expected club first.
My finish radio is on NOW.
BUT,… it’s standard who races home first with LT and XZ up front Aussies Lisa [Trotter] and Kathy. Of course Sarah was with them too, or they with Sarah. She said she had a “funtime”.Don’t know when they started but soaringspot will tell us soon.
5.30 PM;
as said before looking at the tracking these girls were about 60 km. ahead. Very quiet now but JP announced her arrival.

6.35 PM;
Today I looked at the finishes at the field so no call signs here at this blog, but tomorrow I will do that again. There is a huge spread in arriving gliders so points will be not as close as yesterday.
They are still coming in NOW.
Looking at the scores from Standard, Aude took revenge straight away with 1000 points and a speed of 131 km.h in the Discus 2A. Good on her!!!!
In 18 m, the french girls did well too at this stage.
In club nobody is scored yet. They might come in now.
You can find the scores at www.soaringspot.com They are all preliminary of course.

Analyses tomorrow!!!! Long day off now.
Cu tomorrow.

Message; All who want O2; bring the bottle to the hangar now for overnight filling.Grant is away tomorrow morning. Just to let you know.

8 AM;

Ready to go for it!!! Today is the day. And,….a first day is always VERY important.
Everybody seems ready for it…pilots as well as crews and the organization.
If I see what effort they put in this competition , I can only say CHAPEAU!!!!!
After part of the day “off ” yesterday, they want to fly now!!!! Some stayed here , some went to Gunnedah for shopping and others to Tamworth. Quite a bunch of young people left for the movies in Tamworth and when I asked what movie it was STARWARS!!!!
We had a lovely dinner at one of the most high and beautiful points here, looking over the lake.
THANKS!!!!!

It ‘s all happening here today in LAKE KEEPIT and the next day’s till Friday January 17!!!!!!
Same evening is the farewell party and next day at 10 AM, 3 ladies will leave with a big cup and a medal, another 6 with medals. The rest hopefully with a great feeling on a good competition.

Well I hope for a safe and fair competition.
Briefing at 9.30. Here at the field, which gives a lot of “mental peace”, as I heard. One is “relaxed”…..but I guess HOT. It will be 42 dgr. C today.
Will be there for you.
Grid order today; Club, Standard , 18 meter.
DON’T FORGET the 5 S’;

Some pictures I found from yesterday’s opening:
Here is Akemi from Japan, ready to go for it with her crew David.

CU later;
10 AM;
tasks first
18 m; A task…478 km……B task…385 km
standard; A task…464 km…B task…361 km.
Club class; A task…422 km….B task …320 km.

Surprise, surprise!!!!The volunteers did a massive job to get the “new”- old -tug-hangar in good order!!! Compliments.
At 9.30 the briefing started and it was full.

It was NO mistake but on the white-board you could read; Practice day 4!!!
Not day 1. This way they wanted to take the day-1-stress away. Just the procedures they had already for 3 day’s.
Good idea!!!
Some messages from this morning.
—A good “bailing-out” program by Liz from the UK has been sent to the competitors.
—The FAI flag is already STOLEN. An always returning story!!!
BUT,…the webcam was put off and that “looked” in the direction from the flag. SO NO proof who did it or what happened!!!
—As pilots need their sleep they should be able to sleep between 10 PM and 7 AM. So NO noise .
—Dinners at the sport and recreation will be half an hour later; at 7.30.
—REAL/GOOD Coffee ready in the morning at 6.30.
— Helpers get the rope, your own crew hooks it on the glider.
— It is Mandy’s [CD] birthday today!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mandy!!!!

The weather; is about the same again. The air-mass is a bit dryer today the dew point lower.
No sea breeze or rain expected.
5/6 kts lift ,less where there is smoke or haziness. Top of ceiling today up to 13/ 14.000 ft.
Tasks are above …A and B tasks
First launch expected at 12 PM.

Team USA, Luxembourg and the Czech team had their team meeting here in the club house this morning. It was pretty busy here.
It seems tracking will be visible here at the TV as well.

Let’s begin!!! CU later.
Sean Young, editor from the Magazine Gliding Australia has arrived and wrote his first article yesterday after the opening ceremony:
“The opening ceremony for WWGC Lake Keepit took place on 3 January. The teams from the ten competing countries lined up at the launch point of runway 32 in sunshine and heat.
A Welcome to Country was given by James Hogbin of the Kamilaori Nation, the traditional custodians of the area. The Deputy Mayor Rob Hoke welcomed all the competitors and Lake Keepit SC president Tim Carr introduced each pilot. Gisela Weinreich officially opened the Championships for the FAI.
The three official training days had very strong thermal conditions with some high cumulus. On 2 January CB cells developed and delivered wind, dust, lightning and a very few raindrops to this parched land.
Today is a rest day. The first flying day of the Championships is tomorrow, Saturday 4 January. The weather forecast is for a temperature of 42° C, thermals up to 12,000ft and light north westerlies.

Watch Video of Opening Ceremony https://youtu.be/o7-qTb5Sfc4

11.40; FIRST LAUNCH will be at 12, was just announced!!!!
The 6 tuggies have started their engines and move to the grid.
Have my radio, so I can follow it for you , not from the field today but from the club house. Tomorrow I go to the field again.
One of the tuggies mentioned, when I asked if this was not a heavy job for him:
“I prefer this above field running“
Huge thermals create already big dust devils at the field.

11.55;All car’s, still 4 at the grid ,have to be removed NOW.
First launch in 5 minutes. Meaning to go for TASK A.

12.PM; Club class glider J 1 is the first to be launched during this WWGC.
With the words “full power, full power” to the tuggy, Polish pilot Judyta started her WWGC in ASW 19, with that honor. BI , Kinga, another Polish pilot followed.
They have to fly 422.3 km.
The 6 tuggies go up and down, nice to see how quick this goes. 2 Of them are female ,Val the tug master and Fran.
There are 17 pilots in this class. They pass by still pretty low here, so I can easily see the call signs.

12.25 One glider thermalled pretty low so tuggies were advised where she was.
12.30; All club class gliders have had their regular start. Line opens at 1PM.
12.31; Launching from standard class in progress . Just saw EU pass by with Czech pilot Hana . 16 In this class!!
12.35; Claudia Hill from the UK in WH [club] announced her return for a relight.
12.40 ;the 2 gliders which returned, will have their relight as quick as possible. Normally that could be straight after standard has been launched. 12.43; L 7 with Ayala [LS 8] just passed, by so they are still busy. PO with Serena from Germany just is launched as well.
12.48; Relight of club class glider happens now….WH.[ after minor technical problem] .
Meaning standard class has been launched. Line opens at 13.25.
12.55; 18 m. will be launched now!!!Margot just passed by in 57.
13.04 ;One pilot tries to get more speed. She is hanging behind the tug over sport and recreation with 60 kts.
13.20; launching from 18 m. still in progress . !4 gliders in this class.
13.22; They have finished NOW.
Line for 18 m. opens in 30 minutes.; 13.50.

Back later; French crew members are having their lunch here. Smells good, looks good.

3.45;
Was in Manilla, to do some shopping. What a lovely old town,… looks like a real Old Settlers Place.
Eye catcher for sure; the old Manilla Railway Bridge, what a beauty. Have to go back to make some pictures.
When I came back here , the tracking system was installed in the club house and a few people were checking it.
Mind you the delay is 15 minutes!!!
Heard the girls are up to 13.000 ft. and speed over 130 km./h over the first leg!!
That does n’t surprise me as on the road,we saw the most beautiful “willy-willy’s” rising high, like small but powerful tornado’s. It looks like a real good day here at the ground. Several nice clouds popped up , but the wind , has changed at bit and is now a more Westerly.

4 PM:
Have to find out about a few things and as the first pilots are expected to be back here around 6 PM, I do have some time.
Most pilots are reaching the 3d TP meaning 18 m. has to fly a leg of 219 km…standard 135 , but they just finished a leg from 146 km…club just finished 121 km and starts their leg from 175.5 km.

A bunch of young crew members “found each other” in the cool kitchen. Just having fun!!!!

5.15 PM;
In standard class it looks like Hana and Aude are only 50 k out. Take the 15 minutes off and they can be quickly here.
In club also only 23 km.
Have put the finish line on!!!
In 18 m;They need some more time.

5.20 PM;
And there they are..Earlier than expected...
Club class arrives at 14 …long…wind calm.
heard FX..AJ..BM..EJ..WH..40..ZC..V 57..KW…CQL …JO ..KE and a few more.
PO..standard class as well now!!Some land on 20.
More difficult to see.

5.50 PM;
18 m is arriving as well with LT..XM..PT….L7 ..FQ..MM…and more!!!
6.10 PM:
ALL pilots are safely back home!!!
It was a bit of a “fight” sometimes, chasing the kangaroos on the 4-wheel-drive [quad] , but the pilots were disciplined , listened well where to land because of some “cheeky” animals and happy, so were the organizers.

TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY!!!!!
THAT WAS DAY 1!!!!
Excitement enough,….meaning not a boring day!!!!!
145 km./h by Lisa Turner in 18 m. Not bad!!!!
137 km./h. by Sarah in st. class at this stage with a pretty late start at 2. 12 PM. The Czech team started at 13.35.
122 km,/ h. in club class by 2 Aussies , Jenny and Jo, at this stage
Looking at it tomorrow.

FOR ALL RESULTS FROM DAY 1;
www.soaringspot.com

CU TOMORROW!!!!

12 PM:

At 10 AM was the opening of the 10th WWGC here in Lake Keepit. As promised it was short, because of the extreme temperatures here at the moment.
Welcome words by several people , also in Aboriginal language completed by playing a didgeridoo.
BUT,….before all that, the 10 teams marched in accompanied by a cadet carrying the flag f the country.
Here they are;

The opening finished with morning-tea. The rest of the day everybody will be free, to go where they want to go. With a few we visit this evening one of the houses looking over Keepit on a hill. It seems to be spectacular.

12.15:
VOTING has been on the accommodation for the briefing room. One country was in favor of the spiffy air conditioned hall in the sport and recreation center and 1 had no opinion. The rest was in favor of the shabby, hot hangar where the 4 tugs live.They prefer being AT the field above “luxe”.
As the UK send a tweet out already earlier ; “ Stupidly hot briefing today. The organisation is experimenting with briefing on the airfield in a tug hanger, we are melting! The UK team will be voting for briefing to move back to the AirCon’d hall at our accommodation for the comp. “
I heard somewhere “BREXIT 2” !!!!
So that’s organised.
It seems the designated start will be not used straight away, may be not at all, as the scorers could not deal with it.
Same as in Tocumwal.
So that’s sorted as well.

A landing from the 2 local pilots in the dust storm yesterday evening was quite spectacular.Even for the local pilots here. The SW storm definitely came in quicker than expected.The dust took ALL visibility as the wind stood full and straight on 20.
For that reason Attila landed on 32 short, to stop behind his trailer to pack the glider in it straight away.
We had heavy wind all evening and had to eat inside, but had a lovely night and the steaks now “cooked on the BBQ” by Nick, were yummy.

Results from the short AAT’s yesterday:
18 m; 2 hour AAT won by Anne Ducarouge in JS 3 in 1.59,52. Speed 175 km./h. over 350 km. Melanie had about the same. Heard from Lisa [Turner] that they had 8 m lift at some places!!!She was still full of adrenaline after her speedy flight; 172 km./h.
Standard class; 1.30 AAT…good speed here as well;220 km. in time 1.30 makes 146 km./h.for French pilot Aude .Sarah did well as runner up.228 km in time 1.35.speed 144 km./h.
Club class; 1.30 AAT; 5 flew over 200 km and the best speed was by the French they had a real good practice period,127 km./h for Celine and 122 km./h for Amelie both in LS 4.

Some more pictures from today by other teams:

———————————————

As most , I take off the afternoon, but want to share for family and close friends, reading the blog as well, a short tribute to our son and brother Dennis, who died 32 years ago here in Australia after a fatal accident with his tug.
Dennis and his dad George flew together in the Benalla WGC in January 1987, as the first father- son combination in the very first allowed 2 seaters in open class; the Nimbus 3D.
Only one week earlier [ December 27 1987] our best friend Kees Musters [World champion in Hobbs in New Mexico] had a fatal accident in the mountains in France with his hang glider. Busy with his funeral , we got the message of Dennis. We never attended the funeral of Kees.
It was a terrible time.

Life continues
CU tomorrow for the VERY FIRST OFFICIAL DAY OF THE COMPS.