When I left you on Wednesday morning they were ready for short tasks in France, but even short was not good enough.
In Club, 3 from 13 finished, in Mixed 13 from 31…..The UK pilots did well in that kind of UK-weather.
Starts were mostly around 4 PM for club and around 4.25 PM for the mixed class. So a late window to fly in.

Club class;

Wednesday …Task 4…2.15 AAT;
The German and Polish pilots knew how to deal with this weather too. Uwe [Wahlig] and Stefan [Langer] started at 3.49 together and Uwe finished after 138 km in time 2.24. Stefan flew 147 km ,but seems not to have finished but still got 358 points where Uwe got 440.
Lukasz Kornacki and Arkadiusz Downar in SZD 55 and Pegase started together as well at 3.41 and both finished in time just over 2.30 and 140 km’s distance.

Thursday…Task 5…363 km;
That looks better….

But it was not really better….with what I heard, a pretty tough wind and on the tail during start, the pilots enthusiastically started their relative big task, BUT…..ONLY 3 finished. The wind on the nose at the last leg was just too much for most.
Uwe and Stefan finished,… good on them…. they started together at 1.46 and …finished around 6.50 PM. So over 5 hours in the air.
They were on a daily 2 and 3 spot ,…cause the UK has a good pilot as well; Jake started at 2.15 , finished at 7 and was number 1 with 877 points and a speed of 77 km./h
His UK mate Ge started at the same time, but JUST could not make it home missing out on a few km’s.
Belgium pilot Frederic de Groote is doing well in his St. Libelle and was on spot 4 missing out on 4 k.
So 3 IN and 10 OUT.

Friday….NO TASK! So 1 more day to go!!

Saturday …task 6...3.45 AAT !!!! LAST DAY!!
Weird day not only because the scoring system failed in the evening, just when it is important to see what’s going on.
In this class however, “things” were pretty normal.
The German toppers Uwe and Stefan , were together with Rasmus, the ONLY FINISHERS.
They flew all 3 over 300 km, …more did so, but did not finish…with the best speed for Stefan, 88.96 km./h., so he won the day.
Jake was out and lost points.
Then it was waiting for the scores till mid night. Sunday morning I had the final results, for the first 3 pilots.
1. Stefan Langer, moved from 2 to 1 with 3.961 points.
2. Uwe Wahlig moved from 3 to 2 with 3.936 points.
3. Jake Brattle moved from 1 to 3 with 3.776 points.

Mixed class;

Wednesday…Task 4…1.45 AAT;
Starts between 4.14 and 4.30….also for them a small window to fly in,…so small that 9 flew less than 100 km.
It really upset the overall scores as the “normally finishing” pilots as Sebastian and Lucasz were out as well.
So 6 pilots flew over 150 km.,among them 3 UK pilots, 2 from Italy and 1 from France.
For their efforts they got between 517 and 530 points .
The UK pilots Matthew John [Cook] and Howard [Jones] moved straight away from 7 and 14 to spot 1 and 2 overall, but scores are close very close.
My Belgian mates Jeroen and Dennis had a bad Tuesday. Their scores arrived only a day later. I noticed they had started 1 hour later than the rest and could not bring their gliders home.
So I wondered what had happened,…taking a risk for a late start…maybe rain and non way to depart…NO , they were not sure if they had a good start and flew back for a restart…now I wonder if their first start was OK.

By the way Benjamin had an other outlanding, but I was more interested in his comment;
“this time with my team mate. Still massive welcome from the farmer and his family. We will come back for sure just for the friendship !
Weather was like a « cucumber tart » and start line limited to 1400 m was just a joke many pilots paid by early outlanding… anyway welcome in Montluçon “

Thursday…Task 5….369 km;
That looks better and scores will be hopefully less upset. But,…..for some it was a “hell-of-a-day”!!!!
Though 1000 points were to be given.
They were for Belgium pilot Francois Delfosse ,who in his JS 3 flew the distance with a speed of 68 km./h. AND,…that say’s enough about the day with a real tough wind on the last leg.
Some were caught out by rain as well.
What about Sebastian, you look for him at the top, but no this time he was at the bottom!!Last spot ..41…with 163 points.
He started with Lucasz G. who was the last finisher on spot 29…but he “got” 836 points.
But we know what Sebastian can,…..no worries!!!

Friday…NO TASK!

Saturday….task 6…3 hour AAT ; LAST DAY!!!
And what a day it was!!!! Not only because of the scoring problem, but also because the changes in the overall scores….Let’s start with the day first.
Team Eric and Anne won the last day in the ARCUS T. with 333 km in time 3.10. A few more were scored and then it was waiting. Problems with the scores. I went to bed.
In the morning on Sunday, still the wrong scores as I knew that some pilots were scored as only km’s,…. but they had finished.
In the end the scores , who were all pretty close changed dramatically.
The 2 UK boy’s Matthew and Howard moved from 1 and 2 to 5 and 9!!They were 18 and 19 for the day.
The French boy’s Meric and Antoine moved from 6 and 3 to 1 and 2!!!!
They were 12 and 14 for the day.
Scores are still very close, that’s why I share the best 10.
1. Meric Morel in ASG 29 with 3.935 points.
2. Antoine Havet in JS3 with 3.928 points.
3. Enrique Levin in Discus 2A with 3.870 points.
4. Jacek Flis in Discus 2Awith 3.869 p.
5. Matthew Cook in Ventus 2Awith 3.844 p
6. Max Seis in JS 3 with 3.835 p.
7. Thomas Grove and Andy Lutz in ASG 29E and Ventus 3 with 3.831 p.
9. Howard Jones in Discus 2A with 3.830 p.
10. Peter Banki from Hungary in Discus 2A with 3.815 p.

I say often ” on a last day a lot can happen ” That happened here with scores SO CLOSE. Mind you…scores are ALL PRELIMINARY as they are still struggling with the system…but they claim that the numbers 1-2 and 3 are OK.

An interesting competition , …maybe TOO many outlandings… I had the feeling that for next years WGC the organizers have to do a few jobs . No worries, it’s practice for them and the pilots.
As I later read, most were volunteers and called on very short notice. The drought and covid-rules did not help either.

As said the Junior comps and Female comps were in La Roche-sur-Yon also in France.They had tough weather but great fun.
Here are the ladies, the best out of the mixed class…

And here the juniors from CLUB class with only 3 out of 7 days.

And the winners from the mixed class after 4 days of flying out of 7.

———————————————————————–

Coppa Citta di Rieti

With 21 pilots hoping to be the new Italian Open Class National Champion ,they started on August 15 in 2 groups like in the C.I.M.;
Group 2 counted 28 pilots, group 1 had 12 .
They had 7 out of 8 good days up to 500 km. and a few very fast ones.
Peter Hartmann [Group 2] flew on task 3 around over 381 km. [2.20 AAT] with a speed of 163 km./h!!!
One day later he repeated that with 162 km./h over a racing task from 394 km. flying his Antares 23T.
Saturday was the last day and Peter leaded the overall scores then in group 2 , ahead of the Bouderliques, Giancarlo[Grinza] winner from the C.I.M and Thomas[Gostner] .
Great to see Alvaro [De Orleans] did win 3 tasks [1-5-6] in his ASH 31 Mi 21m. A pity he did not fly on task 3.

On Saturday was their last day and in group 2 the winner was yes , Peter again, now with 129 km./h. over 393 km during a 2.40 AAT. So easy overall scores;
1. Peter Hartmann in ANTARES 23 T with 6.085 points.
2.The Bouderliques in the ARCUS M with 5.879 p.
3. Giancarlo Grinza in Ventus 3F with 5.795 p.

In Group 1 no surprises and great flying by Luca
1. Luca Urbani in Discus B WL with 6.128 points.
2. Team Scheiber from Austria in Duo Discus XLT with 6.062 p.
3. Lorenzo Fornari in Ventus A [500 kilo] with 6.015 p.
The rest was in the 5000 scoring.

SO ….also important ,…who is the new Italian Open Class Champion;
1. Giancarlo Grinza with 6.231 points.
2. Ugo Pavesi with 6.052 p.
3. Thomas Gostner with 6.007 p.
The rest was in the 5000 marge.

Congratulations to all. Rieti had a great time with many happy pilots during the C.I.M. and C.C.R.
I think, no I am sure that, CD Aldo’s mentality , personal interest and touch, have to do a lot with these great comps.
Not to forget a THANK YOU TO THE TUGGIES, always active in hot and sometimes not too easy conditions

——————————————————————————

—– Newsy news;
Liz Sparrow, the CD for the next WWGC ,flew a new UK gliding speed record; class….women’s open,20m and 15 m.!!
Congratulations Liz, this is some super flying. Liz’s record flight was on 11 July 2020. She flew a 400km triangle at 107.76 kph!
I add my congratulations as well. By the way she flew the record in an ASG 29/15m.
—-  regarding the rescheduling of the Multiclass Nationals in Australia, which had been planned for October 2020.
” The SDP (Soaring Development Panel) have agreed that a Nationals can not be a Nationals if all states can’t attend, or can’t do so without quarantine. So if the current interstate restrictions were to remain in place throughout the soaring season, we will not be having any Australian Nationals events in the 2020/21 season. “
They remain optimistic though…
—–The Kiripotib SOARING team , has cancelled with pain in their heart this upcoming season. So NO FLYING WITH THE CHAMPIONS.
There will be no containers from them, going to Namibia this season, but they are planning already for the 2021/22 season.
” We decided two months ago not to send our gliders, but in the background there were considerations and discussions about organizing a shortened season. However, the current Covid19 developments, especially in Namibia, have led to the decision to cancel everything. “
—–Bitterwasser had about the same message;”All hope in vain.
All the optimism of the organizers did not help: this year – due to the Covid 19 pandemic – there will be no hovering season in Bitterwasser! The Bitterwasser Board kept the decision open until the last minute. Now, shortly before the containers with the gliders should have been brought on the way, the decision had to be made. “
Travelling from and to Namibia at this stage,is impossible too, BUT ” The hope for a season in Bitterwasser has not yet been completely given up. If the development turns positive by early October at the latest, a shortened season can be organized. “
—-The Polish 18 m. Nationals [ 14 August 2020 – 23 August 2020 ] from Leszno , were won, like last year by Lukasz Wojcik in his VENTUS 3T.
29 Competitors in this “open ” class and 5 out of 10 days.
Janusz Centka was 3d in ASG 29 and team Wolfgang Janowitsch/Petkovic in ARCUS M was 6th.
—- Tassilo Bode had some super flights in the Ventus 3M from Puimoisson in France and shared some great pictures here is one of them.
Pretty busy there with 22 flights on the 21st.
One day earlier Lucas Blattmann flew a 1000 from there in his VENTUS 3T.

We finally had the last day of the regional heatwave last Sunday, pfff… 18 day’s is a pretty long time. On the other hand , we have today a REAL autumn-day,..this change is going to quick!!!AND,..again a lot of damage by fallen trees, but no casualties.
CU next Wednesday
Cheers Ritz

The Montluçon-Guéret International Glide 2020/ PRE-WORLDS with 60 pilots from 17 different countries is in progress.
16 August 2020 – 22 August 2020
One of the important messages was published on August 14 2020;
“Dear competitors
Due to the severe drought situation in France and particularly in the department of Creuse, measures to restrict the use of water have been taken by the authorities.
Competition will therefore take place without ballasting the gliders.
Thank you for your understanding.”
That will be very different, but less work in the morning and everybody has the same “problem”.
I heard not everybody was happy with this “on short notice” new rule.

A lot of well known and still young pilots in club class as , Rasmus Orskov from Denmark, Jake Brattle and Tom Arscott from the UK, as well as a bit older Ge Dale and from Germany their German coach Wolli Beyer.
Dutch WGC champion Sjaal Selen will attend from Holland and my Belgium mates , Dennis Huybreckx and Jeroen Jennen.
Toppers from Germany as Jan Omsels and Enrique Levin and from Poland Sebastian Kawa and Lucasz Grabowski.
Matthew Scutter former JWGC champion from Australia and Andy Lutz from Austria and many more!!!
So 2 classes CLUB and a mixed standard/15 m/20 m. class. Scoring for the standard, 15m and 20m multi-seat class will be with French FFVP handicaps. 
First official practice day after rain the day before, was on August 15 with tasks as 3.30 AAT for club [ 13 pilots] and 3 hour AAT for the mixed class.[43] In the 2 seaters of course 2, as Eric Napoleon with Anne Ducarouge in the ARCUS .
12 in the mixed class flew and finished ,2 were “out”. Winner was Sebastian with 319 km. and a speed just over 100 km./h.
The rest , as runner up Dennis and Howard [Jones] on 3 ,had under 100 km./h.

A few “girls ” flying as well. A quick look on the participants learns me : Aude, Diana, Anne and the Abadies share one JS 3.

Let’s start with this for sure interesting competition;
CLUB CLASS 13 pilots:
Day 1 ..task 1…2 hour AAT; CANCELLED
Day 2..task 2…297 km; won by the young “hotshot” from the UK, Tom [Arscott] with a speed of 80 km./h in the LS 7 WL; 865 points.
Ge [Dale] an a bit older “hotshot’ was runner up in a DG 200 and on 3 the other young “hotshot” Jake [Brattle] in LS 7 WL.
So a few “out” as well; 7 from 13.
Day 3…task 3 …3 hour AAT; OUCH…bad day for Tom…he was the only one out….after 238 km. and lost nearly 700 points, that hurts!!!!
Jake had a better day and was runner up, they started together, so something en route must have gone wrong.
Winner for the day Stefan Langer for Germany in LS 3A. [279 km.in time 3.09 for 1000 points] His mate Uwe Wahlig in the same glider was 3d.

MIXED CLASS 41 pilots:
Day 1…task 1…2.30 AAT; CANCELLED.
Day 2…task 2 …322 km; only ONE pilot/team flew over 100 km./h. so a difficult day; Yves Gerster /Hirt from Switzerland in the ARCUS M .
Max[imilian] Seis in the JS 3 lost 18 points as runner up as it was a 1000 points -day for them.
The Abadies sharing a JS 3 were 3d but fly HC ,so Matthew [Scutter] had a good day as number 3.[98 km./h]
Matthew mentioned;”Exciting climb up to final glide on the first flying day at the France Preworlds.[In the rain]
Easily the strangest competition I have ever flown in – water restrictions mean we are not allowed to ballast with water, but we’re still being scored with ballasted handicaps, so we have Diana 2’s in our class as low as 30kg/sqm and Arcus M’s at nearly 50kg/sqm, with 1% between them. I have the FES batteries in my Diana 2 so I am not suffering as badly as others.
A difficult day, with TP’s surrounded by rain and a storm for some on the last leg…then dead air!!!
From 41 6 were out. Most of them only 10 k out!!!Benjamin [Neglais] was out on 12 k, as you can see a “real aux vaches”, but still could smile;

Day 3…task 3…2.30 AAT; MUCH better day for Benjamin…19th for the day. It turned out to be a Polish day; Lucasz Grabowksi [ASG 29] was on 1 with 265 km. in time 2.40. Jacek Flis [Discus 2A] was runner up and Sebastian [Diana 2] on 3 with the other Lucasz [Blaszczyk ] on 6.[Discus 2A]
The 3 Dutch pilots were on spot 31[Robbie in LS 8] , 32 Diana [in JS3] and 33 Sjaak.[Discus 2A]

For today there is a 1.45 AAT-task for the mixed class and a 2.15 AAT for Club.
Scores are very close ,..but hopefully 4 more flying days to make the difference,…AND with ONLY ONE point more you are a winner too.

If you want to “follow” the pilots….they continue till August 22… look at; https://link.glideandseek.com/montlucon-2020

————————————————

At the same time they fly in France the JUNIOR and Female competition.
La Roche-sur-Yon in France, is the place to be for the juniors and the female pilots.
Also a mixed class [ 19] and club class.[ 22]
4 Members of the De Pechy family, with, I presume dad and one son in the ARCUS M., being runner up on task 2 but as HC and 2 young sons in the Club class with Clement winning task 2 and brother Anton with no points.

————————————————————-

—-Ricardo Brigliadori flew a stunning new European and Italian record ; 183 km./h.over a 100 km. FAI- triangle.
He flew his JS 1 …and/as …he is the Italian JS agent.
Ricky mentioned via Jonkers;” “the sky of Rieti is always the most magical sky of the world. Every day brings joy, fun galore and satisfaction for those who love our amazing sport: GLIDING! “

—-Talking about Italy AND Rieti the Coppa City di Rieti is in full swing with group 1 and group 2 and during this competition the Italian Open Class Nationals will be flown.
21 Pilots fly for the title. Quite a lot of the same names as the last Rieti CIM.
They had 3 flying days till now …yesterday had NO TASK….and in open it’s again Giancarlo Grinza [Ventus 3F/18m] who is at this stage leading the “pact”.
Ugo Pavesi [ASG 29] is just 16 points behind and Thomas Gostner is 3d in Ventus 3T./18m.
Yesterday Peter [Hartmann ] in his Antares 23 won the 2.20 AAT with 163 km./h. in group 2.

——————————————————————-

—-For my Aussie mates and for those who still hope to visit Australia for the 2020/2021 season here some news from the comps.
Qld state Comps
Registration from Thursday 24th Sept
Practice  Friday 25th Sept
Comp Saturday 26th Sept – Friday 2nd Oct
Presentation Dinner Friday 2nd Oct
Format will be Grand Prix style.
Club Class will be flown Dry
Sports Class will be ballasted.
Registration at https://darlingdownssoaringclubinc.wildapricot.org/event-3922221?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=9/18/2020

—-To finish some really “sad” news!!!!About Omarama, I thought the problems were sold but it seems to be more complicated!!!
“Sadly, Glide Omarama does not expect to be operating from the Omarama Airfield in the near future.
It has been an incredibly challenging six months for us on many fronts.
Many of you will know that the Civil Aviation Authority decided to discontinue our letter of exemption from part 115 of the civil aviation act earlier in the year. This decision, to enforce new compliance on Glide Omarama’s operations, was abrupt and unexpected and was made following extensive personnel changes within the Authority. Unfortunately for us, it fell in the middle of our season. Part 115 compliance for Gliding is unique to New Zealand and is a complex, lengthy, and expensive process. Requiring significant new levels of regulatory and administrative overhead it would have vastly increased our operating costs without adding any measurable safety benefits. It would also push many of our most experienced and talented instructors out of the industry.

Even as we began to tackle part 115 compliance, Covid-19 turned the world upside down. Despite some newfound local interest in gliding, many of our regular overseas clients and team are unable to travel here for the 20/21 season. We’re thinking of you all; whatever this gliding season brings it will not be the same without you.

A further hurdle has now been thrown at us by the Omarama Airfield Company. Despite our existing legal rights to an exclusive license to operate commercial gliding from the airfield, they have proceeded to advertise for new commercial operators. We have been attempting to work with them to resolve our concerns in a way which minimises impact on everybody else. Unfortunately, they have declined to engage with us around the issues raised.
As a result of all of the above, there really is no choice but to suspend operations from the Omarama Airfield until further notice.

I myself have retired and handed over the business assets and affairs to my son George in the hope that he can pull together new leadership and a future for what we have built over the last 22 years in Omarama.In the meantime, I am preparing all of the equipment for sale including gliders, tow planes, hangers, and ancillary equipment, as well as writing a book. So please watch this space for updates.

I am told that over our 22 years, Glide Omarama had grown to become one of the most successful gliding operations worldwide. It was certainly unique considering the skills and professionalism of our staff, our wonderful guests from around the world, not to mention the Omarama soaring environment.
I often said that the real reward from this line of work was the people we met and the adventures we shared. This is certainly true for both Mandy and me.

I would very much like to thank all our guests from wherever you came and our outstanding team. There is also a very special thank you which I would like to make to Rod Dew our General Manager; his outstanding leadership and steady support throughout these difficult times have meant so much.

Gavin Wills – Retired, Omarama

It makes me feel VERY sad again, as it makes me think back of how Sportavia had to be sold in 2005. It’s a life style you don’t earn a lot of money ,but it is great to meet so many mates and be there for them, share their passion as well as yours.
I feel for Gavin and Mandy but as far as I could see and hear they did a great job.
I still have a lot of contact with lots of our guests and friends from the SSC time.
I know they will have too.

Cheers Ritz

The Italian CHAMPIONS in 20 m.

The Italian 18 m. CHAMPIONS

The GROUP 1 winners from the C.I.M.

The C.I.M. GROUP 2 winners!!!

That’s it from the C.I.M.
It took me quite a while to publish the pictures , but after 3 hours I got it “right”.
Pictures were all published by Aero Club Rieti “Alberto Bianchetti”

CU on Wednesday, with some news from the French pre worlds in Montluçon-Guéret, France, … 16 August 2020 – 22 August 2020 …with 55 interesting pilots.
And I keep an eye on the next comps in Rieti.

cheers Ritz

“Rieti” is always such a great competition and this one, so to see and read is not different.
Not an easy one for pilots as I often hear [d]. It needs some experience to “deal” with the weather , specially unexpected sea breeze and the mountains, but,..when you are comfortable with that, it’s awesome.
The atmosphere is always good, from all 8 visits I only have super memories.

Here are the last day’s from the C.I.M.
They always confuse me in Italy, sometimes it is till the 13th, on other comps it’s the 13th included and that’s what happened in Rieti this year.
When I left you Wednesday tasks were not set for the one but last last day, but here it is;
Wednesday group 1…racing task 371.64 km.
145.88 km./h was the speed from the ARCUS M team Prodorutti & Pronzati , but for only 819 points. They started reasonable early at 2 PM whilst the runner up team Alberto left at 2.17.
All finished, but Fridolin [Hauser] in ASG 32 MI did not fly over the last 3 days.

Thursday ,very sure the last day!!!367 km;
Another FAST day; 144 km./h for team Alberto. Team Stefano was runner up with 139 km./h. They started at 14.43 which was as the last but one ,..anyhow 8 minutes after Alberto,..you have to try at the last day.
Team Prodorutti & Pronzati was 3d , the Bouderliques 4th and Katrin and Arnaud 5th.

FINAL results group 1;
1. Bouderliques from France in ARCUS M with 6.270 points.
2. team Alberto Sironi in ARCUS T with 6.198 p.
3. team Stefano Ghiorzo in ARCUS T with 6.176 p.
So very close scores!!!!
Number 4 had 5.954 …Katrin and Arnaud in the ASG 32 MI.

Italian 20 m. CHAMPIONS;
1.Team Sironi with 6.382 points.
2. Team Prodorutti with 5.599 p.
3. Team Brunazzo & Micheletto with 5.472 p.

Hopefully pictures next Wednesday!

Wednesday group 2…racing task 373.88 km.
Davide won another day…so 2 in a row….. now with 153 km./h!!! Good on him.Such a pity he lost around 500 points on task 2 .

Arne mentioned ;” Hot and fast day with friends and fellow competitors. Arriving on final across the mountains after intense 375km at 250kph+ raises the heartbeat a triffle but ground control and good discipline among the pilots and all was safe. “
I looked at the video from the finishes and they were quite spectacular.

Thursday ..racing task…413 km;
VERY interesting for the Italian title..this last day, as Giancarlo and Giorgio have only 30 points between them. Who is going to be the Italian National Champion in 18 m. class?
But first the CIM….
You are a former world champion,… you flew a few times in Rieti ,….you have been on spot 1 overall from the beginning ,…PRESSURE!!!????
NO not for Bert jr.
He “just” won the last day,…with 13 others he started at 3 PM and was back in a flash with 151 km./h on the “clock”!!!
Arne and Davide belonged to the same-time-starters, but were a tiny bit slower…148 and 147 km./h. Giorgio was 6th for the day.
5 Were out on this last day!

FINAL RESULTS of the C.I.M;
1. Bert Schmelzer jr. in Ventus 3T with 6.981 points.
2. Arne Boye Moeller in JS 3 with 6.836 p.
3. Giancarlo Grinza in Ventus 3F with 6.704 p.

ITALIAN CHAMPION in 18 m. class;
1. Giancarlo Grinza with 6.840 points.
2. Giorgio Galetto with 6.825….only 15 points!
3. Davide Schiavotto with 6.796 p. GREAT EFFORT!!!!
The “fight” was from the beginning between Giancarlo and Giorgio. Giancarlo leaded the overall list 5 x and Giorgio 3x.

For all scores have a look at https://www.soaringspot.com/

There are a few splendid video’s from this great competition on FB…have a look!!
Aero Club Rieti “Alberto Bianchetti”

The C.C.R [Coppa City di Rieti] starts straight after the CIM. 15 August 2020 – 22 August 2020

Hope I can add more pictures tomorrow,…it’s unfortunately not always working well.
CU then..

Cheers Ritz and CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL, the CIM winners, the National champions and ALL pilots who have flown in this competition.

The CIM, started as you know already with 2 cancelled day’s.
But then the weather improved and soaring was a fact in good old beautiful Rieti!!
They started carefully in both groups on Wednesday with
Group 1;
Task 1 …2.30 AAT ; in this class lot’s of 2 seaters as this is the Italian 20 class m. National Competition as well.
Daily winner; Maldivi/Ferrero in ARCUS T with 224 km. in time 2.30 at the dot, [89 km./h.] followed by 2 ARCUS M.
Task 2…279 km;
Alberto Sironi/Bassalti was the best with a speed of 110 km./h. Not yet the fast Rieti weather,….. but building up…..
The Bouderliques from France were runner up in ARCUS M and on spot 3 Katrin Senne with Arnaud de Broqueville in ASG 32 MI.

Task 3….3 hour AAT;
2 Italian teams up front with 2 Swiss teams following. Vitorio [Pinni] flew around over 326 km. Alberto over nearly 350 but they needed a bit more time.
In this class also 2 single seaters ; a Discus 2A [Handicap 11]and 2 bWL.[109]
Task 4…2.45 AAT;
” Today the temperature varies from 31° to 34° depending on the area. QNH is 1016hPa, 10/15 knots from the north-east. Cumulus bases at 2000-2400m, good thermals but broken by the wind. The air is humid but getting drier. Wind from the northeast may create wave phenomena (unfortunately) on the eastern side of the Apennines. “
A “mighty” distance of 324 km. for the Bouderliques in their ARCUS M; time 2.51!!!AND,…not even for 1000 points…946.
BUT,….climbing from 4 to 1 overall!!!!
The next best performance shows the difference; 287 km. in time 2.52 by the Stefano [Ghiorzo ]-team;805 points.
4 Were out ..among them Vittorio dropping from 5 to 10 overall.

Group 2;
Task 2…2.20 AAT;
You remember for sure that task 1 was cancelled but still flown by Bert Schmelzer jr with big speed.
He repeated this effort for points now ,winning the task; 296 km in time 2.39 in his Ventus 3T.
He was followed by the UK pilots Pete Harvey and Steve Jones with less kilometers but better time;269 and 265 km in time 2.24 and 2.26.
6 Pilots had an airspace violation even pilots from Italy who have flown a lot in Rieti. Luckily it was in the last part of the task.
Task 3…339 km.;
AND ,…a 1000 points day and those points were for Arne [Boye Moeller] from Denmark in a JS 3/18m. [112 km./h] Followed by Bert in the Ventus 3T[110 km./h] and the UK pilots Derren[ Francis] and Pete both in Ventus 3.
Bruno Gantenbrink in the ETA missed out on 1 km.; he flew 338.17 costing him 100 points.
4 Airspace violations in this class.
“It was fun and interesting at times and difficult flights. The landings were safe despite the north wind, Bruno Ganterbrick’s Eta gave us the spectacle of his landing from the south! “

Task 4…3 hour AAT;
For today they expected” a maximum temperature of 32 degrees , QNH is 1016, cumulus bases between 1600 and 2400m. In the north, thermals will be powerful but broken, in the south they will be weak and disturbed by some coverages. There will be beautiful convergence but also some rains. “
377 km. in time 3.27 was flown by young German Lukas Blattmann in the Ventus 3T.
The ANTARES from Peter Hartmann from Austria was on his tail but has a handicap of 124 to the 120.5 for the Ventus.
Alvaro [Spain] in his ASH 31 MI was the first “not-finisher’ and only 1 pilot abused the airspace.
Giorgio [Galetto] only lost 19 points on the winner as number 3 for the day.
After 4 tasks Bert jr. still leads but Arne is on his heels ; 2.749 /2.735points.

Task 5…3.10 AAT;
The best daily 4, flew around 360 km. around time 3.08.
2 Italians, Giorgio and Davide, and 2 Austrians Peter and Christian[Derold]
12 Were out, virtual or by airspace violation and maybe in “real”. Among them the 3 UK pilots, who were doing so well and the winner from the day before, Lukas after 86 km. That hurts….dropping from 4 to 18 overall.

“ Today, August 9th, is the Official Rest Day.
There will be an informal briefing at 10.30 with meteo info and.. personal considerations.
National rules say that must be a rest day after a maximum of 7 consecutive flying days.
We have a total of 5 more available days (9 consecutive).
Forecasted excellent weather starting from Monday.
Towing and operations active as usual under the 2 local clubs’ management.”

Looking at the overall scores from the Italian Nationals after 1 week;
Alberto leads the 20 m. class with 3.115 points.
18 m.class Giorgio with 3.615 points.

So with just 3 day’s to go, [ 3 August 2020 – 13 August 2020 ]as it seems the 12th is the last flying day, we continue with
Group 1;
Monday..Task 5 …372 km;WOW,..what speed over those kilometres . Team Stefano flew around in the ARCUS T with 154 km./h!!!
So no 1000 points but “only” 766.
Vittorio in the Duo Discus XL was with 148 km./h runner up and Katrin and Arnaud were 3d with 152.82 km./h.

Tuesday..Task 6…351 km;
Bouderlique-day again !!! Speed of 129.55 km./h over the set task. Team Alberto and team Katrin were runner up and on spot 3.
With one day to go the Bouderliques have 4.842 points , followed by team Stefano with 4.673 and team Alberto 4.593 points.
Only 64 points less for team Katrin, so a lot is still possible in this 20 m. class National Competition.
Looking at the scores for the nationals…Team Alberto [ 4.777] is more than 500 points ahead of runner up as team Brunazzi.[4.237]

Wednesday;task 7 last day!!!No task yet so an update tomorrow!!!

Tuesday…Task 7…401 km;
Davide in the JS 3 won the day ahead of 5 x a Ventus 3 and 1 Antares.Nice speed of 143 km./h.
The UK pilots Pete and Steve starting and flying together, were on spot 2 and 3.
4 Pilots did not finish and Alvaro did not fly .
Arne mentioned; ” Complex 401km day in Rieti. Decisions, decisions, decisions. As an afterthought the met man mentioned there might be a bit of cb activity. A bit? But man, is this fun and exhilarating! “
And;” heavy rain and lightening, the occasional adrenaline moments, blue thermals and sheer wonder that all this is possible. What a great day and kudos to the pilots who just blazed through.  “
With other words wet,wet,wet. They needed shelter after the flight.
Sorry,..the picture does not fit anymore, will try tomorrow.

With one day to go;Bert leads with a bit more than 100 points on Arne.
Looking at the Italian comps it is Giancarlo who leads with 5.226 on Giorgio with 5.180 and Davide with 5.098…the rest is far behind!!!
Exciting!!!!

Wednesday…task 8...no task yet. so see the update tomorrow!!

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The GLIDING INTERNATIONAL is as you now already a monthly “happening” now. I must say it is so much easier to read it digital now. Not flipping over the pages, but just a download and scroll down over the nearly 60 pages.
What’s in it?
—A very interesting story about Benalla, AND a fascinating story from there about a Grunau Baby in 1948...Had not read or heard this story before.
“The glider and pilot were sucked into a mammoth cloud that took them to a height of 13,000 feet. “
Of course having gone solo in the Grunau Baby the story got some extra attention.
—Jonker Sailplanes...the story of the success from the brothers Uys and Attie and Dr. Johan Bosman their Chief Aerodynamic Design Engineer .
—-membership…As I know John, the chief editor is very involved with this issue.
“My interest in this subject goes back well over 35 years. In those earlier times, we had 120,000 soaring pilots which has dramatically fallen to today’s estimate of 79,000.”
—-the international accident report from June and July 2020, does n’t make you happy.
—The best “tug undergoes major performance changes.” ..all about the Super Piper Cup.
— lot’s of aviation news , “thing’s with wing’s” ….. Lot’s of claims for new world records!!!! …..and much more!!!

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I do realize that a lot of the young pilots flying great distances at the moment, are having [temporarily] no job as due to COVID-19 lot’s of staff including pilots have been sacked at airlines all over the world. An awful time for many,…I wish you all lot’s of luck and hope you are having your job back when possible again.

Last Saturday a 2-seater crashed in Belgium, not so far from where I live , with an 57 year old instructor and an 18 year old female student, as I read during a summer-camp , it……makes me shiver, certainly because my own grand children fly now as well!!!!
SO SAD!!!!!!

We are still in a 9 day heat wave here in Holland with up to 38 dgr. C. In my garden in the sun it was 49 dgr.C.
It’s the 29th official heatwave since they started ….we have the 2d regional here already now in 2020.
No fun as most of us have no air co’s. Normally not necessary.
By the way this has NEVER happened before!!!!The hottest EVER period here.
I hear , experts say so, that we are going to a more French climate now here in Holland.

Cheers Ritz CU tomorrow with an update of the last day in Rieti and then again next week.
Do have some problems with space on the server. Good “old” Bill is looking into the case again.

It’s August now..so the month of normally long flights from Fuente and nowadays also Villacastin.
It is at least 20 years ago that I was in Fuente ,so things have changed ,but I do see a lot of the same names still flying there.
With the much better gliders the distances are getting longer as well.
What about 1.384 km?! Speed 150 km.p/h in an ARCUS M. from Villacastin.
And Guy from Luxembourg, in his Quintus M, who I met there that year, flew 1.265 km[ 911 triangle], his 9th 1000 km and the longest till now!!
2 More over 1200 km. flights!!!!Good day!!!

In between those long flights from Spain, 2 long ones from Holland as well!!! Tim and Casper Kuijpers …yes sons from Frouwke and Ferdie flew in a much less fancy glider in not so hot Holland nearly 1000.
Tim flew in the ASW 20 a distance from 961 km and Casper in a DG 800/18m. 951.
Tim flew his 1000 already from Holland and missed out on a declared one on about 280 m., but Casper is still in the running for his first 1000.
They declared a 1000 out and return over the Harz , but before the Harz it was a bit slow,…. so they turned short, to find out that the wind “on the nose” was not even that bad as expected.
They added some km.’s to make the 1000 but “that was not there”.They started at Malden and Tim finished there ,Casper at Terlet not too far from Malden.
My grand kids were there with many others to welcome him back.
By the way, I just read that today it is 3 years ago that Tim was “crowned” as the new European CHAMPION.Time flies.

Last Friday a few more good flights and Pierre [de Broqueville] flew a 1000 in the EB 29D from Bordeaux Saucats in France and according to his OLC comment it was the “ first 1000 from that airport “. 1.068 km. he “hopped” over the border , flying the Pyrenees, direction La Cerdanya and back.

Last Saturday, AUGUST 1, it was a 1000-day in Puimoisson in France[3] and Gilles [Navas] flew 1 from Vinon in an 18m. ASG 29.
Nephi and Minden had 1 in the USA.

Yesterday a TOP DAY in France;1.328 km. [1.092 FAI triangle] in the ASH 31 MI/21 m. by Baptiste [Innocent] from Fayence!!!!
From Vinon Gilles [Navas] flew one on August 1 [1.134 km.] and yesterday in his ASG 29 and from Puimoisson some young Germans are flying 1000 km. flights in the ARCUS M, also on August 1 and yesterday. Tobias Welsch even called yesterday one of his best flights with wave, thermals, convergence and “hang” and the Mediterranean Sea as back ground, what do you want more.
But also Holland had fabulous weather again. They say,….that today a new heatwave starts maybe even for 9 day’s!!!
Yesterday “we” had a 1000 from Hoogeveen by Peter [Millenaar] and 970 k. by young Jelmer Vis [ his longest flight till now in time and distance!] and over 800 by Tim [Malden] and Steven Raimond , 920 km by Alfred Paul [Alfers] and Bas [Seiffert] .[all from Terlet]

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It’s also the month of the CIM…in Rieti.
the COPPA INTERNAZIONALE DEL MEDITERRANEO.
3 August 2020 – 13 August 2020

Have been there several times …at least 7 times at WGC’s, JWGC and CIM’s….and loved each of them.
419 km. was set but,….Unfortunately day 1 had to be cancelled ;” Due to strong wind from ssw, the contest director and tow pilot chief decided, at 1pm, to cancel the task also for group 2: there are 13/14 kt from 220. After one hour in grid, all the glider are back to the trailers, relax for everybody! “
So there are 2 groups there and in both of them several top pilots from several countries,..so a real old fashioned CIM in Rieti.
A total of 30 in group 2 and 16 in group 1.
Group 1 (gliders with Italian hcap index between 0.98 and 117.5)
Group 2 (gliders with Italian hcap index = 118 and higher)

” We are proud to say that this year we have nine World and European champions among the competitors:
Louis Bouderlique, Bruno Gantenbrink, Giorgio Galetto, Stefano Ghiorzo, Steve and Philip Jones, Bert Schmelzer, Katrine Senne.
And around 10 pilots of this competition are in the first 100 places of the international ranking of sailplanes pilots! ” as said by Aldo [Cernezzi] who is the CD.
Even the pool is open and of course
“all participants, and in particular all the persons who require access to the “Pilot’s rest area” AKA Camping and Swimming Pool, must follow the national and local Covd-19 rules.”

The Italian national Championships of the 20m Double Seater class, and of the 18m class, will take place during the CIM. The results will be re-scored accordingly to national rules.
Only Italian citizens will be eligible for the Titles;
the 18m class will be scored with no handicaps, by extrapolation from the results of Group 2; the 20m class will be scored with handicap, by extrapolation from the results of Group 1.
The first mandatory briefing was on Zoom.us Meeting app.
Most paperwork [p.e. entries] is done and will be done on line.
All Daily Briefings in remote form will be via Zoom conference web based software.
The prize giving ceremony will take place in an open area.

Now you are up to date, so let’s see what they did on the day off:
” Competition day cancelled.
Decided to fly the task anyway: 419km with 165kph at only 48kg/m2 and not a single turn on the task “..as written by Bert Schmelzer jr, who clearly loves his wife Barbara BUT also his VENTUS 3T.
The ARCUS M flew 600 km!!!!
As Schempp-Hirth added;” When wind is blowing strong in Rieti, problem comes for towing and unfortunately organizers of the championship had to cancel yesterday for safety reason. “
Very true!

And yesterday for their first task.
BUT.….;” Day 2. Unfortunately, the situation is similar to yesterday for strong winds on the ground from south at about 12kts. In addition, very poor thermals, sparse precipitations.
So it’s no task today.
We have reason to think we will have good weather from tomorrow. “

So next week in the blog you get ALL the news.

No task yet so time to say goodbye
CU next Wednesday.
Cheers Ritz