Qualifying FAI SGP at VARESE.

Race 4; 253 km; was set on Wednesday….halfway through the GP…. Clear skies in the morning and clouds popping up, for sure better weather. They could go into the mountains [Alps] , now the weather allows it.
Who will win the 2 tickets for the FINAL in September??
Official news; “The sky looks great but a coverage is forecasted quite early in our area. That’s why the first launch is planned from 12.15.Today’s task will let the pilots fly more to the north, crossing the Alps of the Bergamo area. Cloud base should be more than 2000m and for sure it will be an exciting race!!“
What happened?
Start at 13.40.
2 German pilots in a Ventus 3 T were the best for the day; Mario [Kiessling] and “good old” Uli [Schwenk]. Followed by 3 French pilots in JS 1C [Didier Hauss] Gilles[ Navas] in ASG 29 and young Kevin[Faur ]in a JS 1.
Kevin is still a junior!
Speed 118 km./h.
Gilles still leads with 29 points but Mario and Didier are “at his heels’ with 25.

Race 5; a short task …..156 km…..as there was a forecast for thunderstorms at mid afternoon. First take of at 12 and at 13.05 was the start.
“The race has started and the pilots are at 10 km from the northern point of the task. 2 options already appeared with a group taking a straight route while the other going more West”.
With a speed of 124.7 km./h. 2 pilots came in first and they had not been at the podium till now. Werner Amann in his ASG 29 [ 1 hour and 15 minutes] and Aldo Pigni in his Ventus 3. Till now Aldo had zero points today he got 10!!! As did Werner. Aldo honestly admitted he “followed” Werner.
Werner mentioned he was lucky to enter straight away a good thermal and just went for it. Mario was 3d with 7 points. Didier had no points,..not good for his totals…but Gilles had 5.
The weather turned out better than expected, the task was a bit too short but you never know ahead.
2 more days to go!!!!
So Gilles still leads with 34 points followed by Mario with 32 and Didier with 25.

Race 6; 289 km …nice long task as the weather was good!!!
Official news:”Waking up the sky gifted us an amazing view of the Monte Rosa today. The pilots will fly a longer task, excellent conditions have been forecasted with only isolated thunderstorms that should not affect the race. Everyone will anyway overflight awesome landscapes. Take offs from 12.45 p.m. Two races to the end and everything can still happen!

An interesting flight/race with Gilles as winner [10] with 117.2 km./h followed by Katrin [8] with 117 km./h. and the French junior Kevin on 3 with 7 points. “We ” have to keep an eye on this young man.
Only 1 point for Mario, but he is still in the “race” with a total of 33 points.
Gilles leads and is already sure of a place in the finals….he qualified. He has 44 points now and that’s 11 more than Mario, who had a poor start today.
Katrin has 30 so has Didier.
A lot is still possible.

Race 7; 306 km…..good weather so a race to follow, as a lot can happen. They expect more instability, so they go again in the high mountains as well as passing the Lake Como.
A lot happened today! Only 8 pilots finished, several got penalty points but Mario won the 10 daily points, he was the only one with over 100 km./h speed, where Katrin turned a point wrong and was penalized and missed out on points ,whilst young Kevin got the 7 points for being 2d!!!!
He had a superb amount of 25 points being 6th overall from 15, during his first visit to Italy.
The QUALIFYING SAILPLANE GRAND PRIX was won by
1. Gilles with 50 points, followed by
2. Mario with 43 points and
3. Didier with 33 points.

Interesting; The pilots which were interviewed by Margot, mentioned that comparing a SGP to the “normal/ classic competitions ,they like “ the small amount of competitors and the regatta start when all depart in the same weather.”

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Buno Bonnevaux in France; 18m and open class Nationals
June 20-June 26.

They had 2 practice days before the event started for 23 French pilots in 18 m. and 4 HC pilots from Belgium, Dennis Huybreckx and Francois Delfosse and Denmark Henrik Breidahl and Arne Boye Moeller.
In open class 14 French pilots and 4 HC from Belgium [3] and Germany [1].

18 m. class
Task 1; 2 hour AAT …..but task was cancelled.
Task 2; 236 km. AND,…105 km./h was the best speed in a JS 3 by Anne Ducarouge. Good on her! Only 2 were “out” one an LS 6 c/18m who missed out on only 20 k.

Task 3; 1.30 AAT, this time ONLY 2 pilots finished. Arne won the day with 215 km. in time 1.59. He got 332 points.
His comment :”Constantly measuring up alternatives and striving to balancing risk in a potpourri of weather systems.”
He had at some places nice cu’s and then an unstable air mass, unexpected shear wind “pushing one up the wall of a cumulus” and with 46 km to go and “after 170km the plot thickens as expected. And the fun begins“. he went through rain,” the last chance for climbing to final glide 27km to go in strong winds now and very wet air…a surreal climb against the rising wall and pouring rain to final glide.” picture below.

Not always easy to find a good spot for an outlanding.

Task 4; after a cancelled day, task 4 was set and 255 km. was on the sheet.
Here is what Arne had to say about the day:
“So we waited amiably till after four in the afternoon under a sad steel gray sky with a solitary wisp of cu underneath to the east that we were towed out to. With 22kph wind the distance from there to the startgate in the west quickly became more than 25km and at least another 10km to any chance of climb. The task was cancelled which was very fair. I dumped my ballast in an attempt to reach the cu’s and set out the jet to accomplish contact. Climbed up, returned to start and flew the 208 or so km with 109kph.“
You can’t say they don’t try hard!!!!

Task 5 on flying day 3; 151 km……with a speed of 91 km./h Adrien Henry won the last but one day, followed by my Belgium mate Dennis Huybreckx. Anne was 9th loosing 100 points.
With one day to go “only” 1.084 points for leader Adrien .
3 Did not finish. Arne was one of them; “Kudos to everyone else that didn’t land out like I did. After starting late and nearly a hour later painstakingly catching up with the lead group after some 60km..most managed to scrape away towards the 2nd turnpoint except I. But the jet worked perfectly.“

Task 6; 2.30 AAT on the very last day. A pity about the weather!!!
CANCELLED. Pilots out of their gliders and water on the grass.
So it stays as it was;
With 3 out of 7 days the new National Champion in 18m is;
1. Adrien Henry in JS 3 with 1.084 points.
2. Christophe Abadie in JS 3 with 1.001 p.
3. Anne Ducarouge in JS 3 with 993 p.

Open Class;
Task 1; 154 km was set …not much for the big birds…but it was difficult, very difficult. Only 6 were in and best was Christophe Sturm with a speed of 58 km./h in a JS 1C/21 m. for 118 points, …but sometimes you loose with 2 points so every point is good!!
In this class gliders as ASH 25 ,ASW 22 and ASH 30 MI, Nimbus 4DM, EB 29 ‘s and of course ARCUS T and M.
Atleast they had a day 1.
Task 2; 237 km. and another difficult day, but this time the big birds “stood up” and showed why they are good; 2 EB 29 ‘s in this class and they were upfront. Team Pierre de Broqueville and Jean Luc Colsson [EB 29DR] were on spot 1, but they are from Belgium so HC.
Winners in EB 29D team Paris/L’herm with 89 km./h!!!! Normally they would not take out the EB for a ride on such a day.

No flying on day 3 and 4.
Task 4; 286 km.…..as you could read they tried hard but it was not meant to be.
Task 5; on flying day 3….200 km…and again the EB won the day with Pierre and Jean Luc from Belgium.[ HC] Not a a speed you dream of flying an EB ;96 km./h. but …..
Great job from Philippe de Pechy flying his JS 1C/21 m. to a runner up spot;95 km./h , BUT to a first daily prize for the comps. Eric had one point less [467 for 466]
All 20 who started flew the task.
Task 6; 2.30 AAT....last day!!!NO FLYING, so no changes.
With 3 out of 7 days the French champion in open class is;
1. Eric Bernard in JS 1c/21 m. with 1.137 points.
2.Philippe de Pechy in JS 1C/21m with 1.107 p.
3. team Bouderlique /Astrid Galaret in ARCUS-20 with 1.062 p.
In between was team De Broqueville in EB 29DR with 1.101 p.

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Omarama was closed after so many years, then Keith Essex took some gliders and a tug to fly from there for a season, as he loves it, but he lives in the USA. SO,… new life has been blown in Omarama now.
“Dear Friends of Gliding,
My professional gliding school, KahuSoaring, is open for bookings for the upcoming season.
I would like to invite you to discover this spectacular gliding site.
From September through April we experience excellent conditions, wave, thermal and convergence soaring – often on the same day.
Come and enjoy the entertaining puzzle of the elements, the crystal clear air and breathtaking scenery of New Zealand.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Milan Kmetovic“

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The new Italian 15 m. CHAMPION is Ricky Brigliadori, who won 3 days in a row out of 4 flyable days…AND he did not fly on day 1.
The new Italian Standard Class National Champion is Elena Fergnani in a Discus. She won 2 days out of 4. Since she became WWGC champion I did not see a lot in the media , but here she is again .
Both comps were flown from Varese, 13 participants in Standard class and 9 in 15 m.

More about the UK Nationals in St. 15m and open class flown from Lasham, next week. Till now they had, thanks to the weather, only 1 day, the first day of the comps. [June 26-July 4], but it was a 1000 points day.
15 m. class with 19 participants…328 km.; won by Andy Davis JS 3 [MD] and 7 finished. Andy was the only one with 100 km./h.
Standard class 311 km; NOBODY from the 19 pilots finished but 2 [ in LS 8] flew 252 km. for 1000 points each.
Open class; 370 km.;Richard Browne in JS 1C won the 1000 points with a speed of 96 km./h. Shaun Lapworth was runner up in the same glider.

The Swiss Nationals [June 26-30] in mixed open and mixed 15 m. suffer from the same bad weather. Grenchen is the place to be.
They had only 2 days till now; in open 320 km. won by Yves Gerster in JS 1C followed by Juerg Haas in the same glider.
AND,…a ONE hour AAT…won by Yves again;148 km. in time 1.07, so a fast flight …132 km./h. for 98 points.
Rainer Crohnjaeger was runner up for 88 points in the ARCUS. Jurg had 4 points less.
NO task yesterday. 19 pilots in this class.
In 15 m also 2 days….262 km. flown by 4 from 15 pilots. David Leemann won in an LS 6 with 88 km./h.
The 1.15 AAT was flown by 11 from 15 .The winner in ASW 28 km flew 128 km. in time 1.23.27 for 234 points.

The Slovak National Championship had definitely better weather. They fly from Nitra in 3 classes till July 2.
Club had tasks from 163 km till 308 and at this stage after 9 flyable days , it’s Tibor Fratik in a Pegase who leads; 6.907 points…when I remember well, he flew several times with us in Tocumwal… .
15 m; between 205 and 354 km. At this stage Miloslac Cink [LS8b] has 6.840 points winning 2 days and several runner-up-spots.
The combi-class pilots had to fly distances between 246 and 408 km. Best at this stage is Radek Krejcirik in JS 1.21 m.[evo] with 6.483 points.
During the 408 km task he started together with dad Petr [JS 3/ 18m.] ; speed 111 km./h. for 102 and they were 1 and 2.
Peter is now on spot 6.
TODAY all classes fly task 10 out of 11, a 2 hour AAT.
They had one day with NO TASK.
More next week.

That’s it for now,
Cheers Ritz

The Norwegian Nationals [ June 13-June 20] unfortunately missed out on the good soaring weather.
They flew in an open class with gliders between LS 6 [handicap 101.5] ASW 19 [94] and ASH 31 MI/18m.[106.5] and Nimbus 4DM [107.5]
16 Pilots , one female Rebecca Hansen.

Task 1 ;258 km…..won by LS 6 pilot Per Morten Lovsland with 87 km./h..Arne was 3d and 10 from 16 finished.
Task 3; after day 2 was cancelled now 350 k for the pilots. With 101 km./h the LS 6 won again. 12 From 16 finished on what Arne called “ a day with good conditions except for one area, where there was no lift to be found and I had to use the engine to get back. I wasn’t the only one to get in trouble there, but still annoying.”

Task 5 ….as day 4 had “no task”,…. showed a 1.45 AAT. Henning [Lassen] was the winner with 177 km. in time 1.54. Per Morten in the LS 6 was runner up with 188 km. but he needed 2 hours and 10 minutes.
10 from 16 were “in”.
There was task 6 , but the set task of 146 km. was flown but turned out invalid with as best distance 92 km. by Per Morten..
With the last small task 5, they had a total of 3 days and a champion.
1. Per Morten Lovsland in LS 6 with 2.393 points.
2. Marin Bjornebekk with Rebecca in the Duo Discus T with 2.106 p.
3 Henning Lassen in Ventus 2CM/18m. with 2.091 p.
With the win of the last day Henning moved up from 7 to 3 and passed Erlend Sorbye in the Nimbus 4DM with ONE point.
Arne Martin was 8th.

Arne Martin about the last days;
“Day 3 of Norwegian Championship had dry and difficult conditions. I was doing ok, until just before the last turnpoint, where I got very low, and lost quite a bit of time climbing back up again.
Day 4 was yesterday, and was an even more difficult day, where no one was able to complete the task.And with rain today, that is the end of the championship this year. My outlanding on day 2 cost me dearly, and I ended up in 8th place, which is my worst result ever in the Norwegian championship. But I was not helped by my glider ending up in a lake a month ago, and the most important thing is that it is flying again!Huge congratulations to Per Morten Løvsland for masterful flying, and another well deserved win of the Norwegian championship!

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The Spanish Nationals had 6 out of 7 days and were flown between June 13 and 19 from Garray.
They had 3 practice days for the 15 club pilots [plus 5 HC pilots] and for the 12 open class pilots including 1 HC pilot.
Difficult/ miserable weather here as well, definitely not the real Spanish weather ; on several days nobody finished.
Club started with task 1 ;167 km. flown by 2 pilots one in a St. Cirrus and in a Mini Nimbus.
Task 2 showed 160 km. on the task sheet flown by 12 pilots and 4 HC pilots.
Task 3 was a small AAT; 1.30.The St Cirrus from Jorge Arias Riera was the best again;151 km. in time 1.31.
Task 4; 1.30 AAT won by an ASK 21.
Task 5; cancelled.
Task 6; 1.30 AAT. ONE finisher Jorge!!! For 27 points!!!!|
Task 7 ; last day….1.30 AAT…flown and finished by 4.

Spanish Club Class Champion;
1. Jorge Arias Riera in St Cirrus with 1.250 points, that says ALL about the weather, after 6 out of 7 days.
2. Toquero & de Albert in ASK 21 with 1.151 p. Was 2 remains 2.
3. Sergi Puyol in MiniNimbus with 1.083 p. was 3 stayed there.

Open class sum up;
Task 1; set task of 324 km. and straight away 2 winners one in an LS 6 and one in a Ventus1.
8 From 13 were in.
Task 2; 310 km. but not flown by one of the pilots, best result 275 km in an HC Nimbus 4DM
Task 3; 1.30 AAT , best result 195 km. in time 1.35 in an ASW 27.
Task 4; 2 hour AAT and the winner was again Francisco Ortego in the ASW 27. He flew 194 km in time 2.02.
Task 5; cancelled.
Task 6 ; 2 hour AAT nobody in and 19 points for the winner.
Task 7; 2 hour AAT winner the ASH 25/26m. 172 km in time 2.15 for 167 points.

Spanish Open Class champion;
1. Rodriguez & Lanzieri in ASH 25 with 1.736 points.
2. Miguel Jurado Navas in Ventus with 1.558 p.
3. Carlos Gonzalez de Herrero in ASW 27 with 1.461 p.

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The postponed qualifying FAI SGP is hosted this week by the the Aeroclub Adele Orsi (acao.it) and flown from Varese with 15 pilots from 6 different countries, between June 20 and 26.
They fly in 18 m. class.
Official practice day on Saturday June 19, with some small cu’s appearing along the task in a highly covered sky.
In the end the first 2 pilots will be qualified for the finals at St. Auban France in September 2021.
One of the pilots is young Kevin Faur from France, who did so well in the French Nationals. This is his very first visit to Italy and his very first SGP. Good luck.

RACE 1; First flying day on Sunday with 125 km. …regatta start at 14.55 …..won by UK pilot Mike Young in the Ventus 3, [9 points] followed by Katrin [Senne 8] and Klaus [Kalmbach 6] both in JS 3 and both from Germany.
The weather was tricky and as rain appeared during the last 15 km. some outlanded and a few finished too low.
“Take Offs have started after 1 hour delay due to weather conditions. The sky is highly covered but anyway there are some cu‘s.”

Race 2; was more one out of “the gliding-book”.
157 km. was set with good weather circumstances and French pilot Gilles Navas won the 10 points in his ASG 29. Followed by Giorgio Galetto in his Ventus 3 FES [8 p.] and Mario Kiessling from Germany for 7 points.
The official news from day 2;
“Today’s race was a perfect Sailplane Grand Prix performance! The task was set to a limited distance, as the area providing the best thermal conditions didn’t extend to the East, further than the city of Lecco. Gilles, the winner, achieved a remarkable speed of 125 km/h. He covered the task in just 1hour 15 minutes, during which time he barely had the opportunity to watch the beautiful scenery, as any second lost to other than looking for the best and more energetic route would probably has cost him the first place for today. All the competitors were able to complete the task, mostly at speeds above 120 km/h. Real sailplane racing!”

Race 3; 195 km.
official news;
“Spot-on perfect forecasts, a tailored task and excellent pilots, that’s the recipe for a fantastic race and a lot of fun!.Most of the finishers flew faster than 118 km/h, rounding all 3 turnpoints in little more than 90 minutes. Today, 5 minutes late at finish meant Zero Points. The GP can be cruel, but the smiles on the faces of the early finishers was heartwarming..After 3 races, Gilles Navas is leading by just 4 points over twice WWGC Champion Katrin Senne, and 5 over Didier Hauss. We expect ever improving weather in the next days.“

More next week, but you can follow it on http://www.sgp.aero/italy2020.aspx

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News from Schempp-Hirth;
“We are very proud to announce that the 15m tips on Ventus-3T are now certified by EASA  These short wings rocks so fast!!! Thank all pilots who supported this development and the team here for this crazy design!!! We wish all users many more hours of fun with these “small ears” like we say in german .”

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And to finish , thanks to my brother in law Adrian, a link to a video with “weird” weather over Oklahoma. I found it scary and have no idea why somebody would fly there, but….we are all different.
www.youtube.com
Title; insane close encounter & intercept
link; https://youtu.be/1SnkxQSNj8

Talking about weird weather, we had a downburst in the middle of the Netherlands creating HUGE damage, hundreds of trees flat in one direction and beautiful houses collapsed, 11 of them are now inhabitable.
Belgium had the same problem.

CU next week…the longest day in 2021 here is already “history” ……but winter is still far away.
Next week also the FRENCH nationals for 18m and open from Buno Bonnevaux [June 20-26]
Cheers Ritz

Purjelennon SM 2021

THE RAYSKALA MASTERS were blessed with great soaring conditions, so the pilots had the time of their lives. “We” continue as they continued too.
June 9; after a cancelled day….a bit of rest for the pilots was not bad either… a better one, with good tasks again. BUT,….

Task 5; good distances till a thunderstorm “on track” spoiled the fun. A lot flew back to Rayskala.
Open; 507.47 km…it looks like good soaring weather for a Duo Discus. NOBODY finished the task but they flew 418 km. and with their handicap they beat the AS 33es with young Petri with 15 daily points.
13 From 15 flew over 400 km.
Racing; 456.19 km…the best 7 for the day flew all over 350 km. NOBODY finished. Scores for them between 600 and 573 points.
Club; 417.88 km…..5 over 300 km and no finishers.330 was the best distance

June 10; 4.30 AAT’S for all classes

Task 6;
Open; 4.30 AAT...Petri’s [Dad Martti’s] AS 33 is “fitting ” him like a glove and he flies the stars from the sky. He won with 500 km. in time 4.30 at the dot. He knows already how to plan that too. He was the only one with 500 km. and all 15 pilots finished,…a good day.
racing: 4.30 AAT..Kristian [Roine] flew 485 km. in time 4.30 at the dot , which was about 20 km. further than runner up Aku. 2 Were out.
Club; 4.30 AAT…..Tapio Turula….the name Tapio reminds me ALWAYS of Finnish TC Tapio, [Savolainen R.I.P.] who was flamboyant and so good,…..flew 441 km. All were in.

Task 7;Last flying day!
Open….504 km…a great distance to show what you can. Of course Petri who is on spot 1 overall, should be NOT nervous on this last day and keep an eye on the number 2 at this stage Tapio . That’s what he did. He started 3 minutes later than the Ventus 3 T and arrived 6 minutes later with 119. 81 for 116.97km./h as speed.
7 From 15 were in and 8 “punished” by hitting just a bit of restricted airspace.
Final scores from this very successful edition of the Masters in Rayskala.
Open;
1. Petri Sucksdorf in AS 33 es with 5.030 points.
2. Hanu Halonen in Ventus 3T with 4.877 p.
3. Mikko Nurminen in Ventus 2/18 m. with 4.357 p.

Racing class; 485 km. and Harri was 7 km./h faster than Kristian, so the overall scores changed on this last day. Harri moved to 1.
1. Harri Hirvola in Ventus 2a with 5.314 points.
2. Kristian Roine in LS 8 st with 5.269 p.
3. Aku Jaakkola in Discus 2A with 5.153 p.

Club; 460 km. nearly through the whole competition the overall scores were lead by Tapio followed by Sakari and Kim. That did not change on the last day;
1. Tapio Tourula in LS 7 with 5.546 points…great lead!!!!
2. Sakari Pyorre in LS 7 with 5.013 p.
3. Kim Toppari in LS 7 with 4.833 p.

Nice comps to follow.
As said I met Aku when he was still a junior.
“Great week at #rayskalamasters. Six days of long tasks with variable weather and nice speeds. Another podium finnish at nationals. Farewell run with my #discus2a. AlfaJuliet served me well for years. Now it is time for some 18m fun in #Ventus3!”
I wish all of them a great MIDSUMMERNIGHT!!!!

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US National 15m & Open class Championship in Minden, NV.

I was in Minden in 1990 at the Pre-Worlds,[ WGC later held in Uvalde Texas] and what I remember most was the heat, the little golf-cars driving around with oxygen and the huge Fire Bombers operating from the field when necessary, reason later to move the WGC from Minden to Uvalde.
AND,…of course the flight with the ALBATROSS and the landing at LAKE Tahoe with a picnic on the wings. Will never forget that.

Back to 2021;
Open class;
Task 1….3.30 AAT; Keith Essex flew in his JS 3, 563 km. with huge speed ; 157 km./h.
Jim Payne in the Nixus flew 536 km. but slower; 140 km./h.
13 In this class, one out.
Task 2….3.15 AAT; Jim Lee flew 588 km. with even bigger speed;174 km./h.
12 From 13 flew over 150 km./h the last one in an ASW 29 148 km./h.
Task 3…..4 hour AAT and it gets better and better…Dan Mockler in the JS 1/21 m. flew 792 km. with a speed of 151 km./h.
2 were out after flying 686 and 677 km.
Task 4…3 hour AAT; Dan won another day now with 477 km. in time 2.58 [speed 159 km./h.]
Good to see Dennis Linnekin as runner up in his ASG 29. Dennis was the USA Team Captain in Uvalde in 2012. Nice fellow!
Task 5…3 hour AAT and Jim was daily winner again;462 km. in time 3.30.
9 From 10 were in and 4 did not fly.
Task 6….492 km; Only 9 started and 2 were out, one of them Peter Alexander. He is a lovely fellow , maybe not the very -best-every-day-winning- pilot, but somebody who never gives up and his presence makes a competition “better/nicer”. He flew the new AS 33-es.
Dan won ,492 km. with 141.78 km./h.
Not too difficult to figure out the Champion in open class after 6 out of 11 days;
1. Dan Mockler in JS 1/21 m. with 5.727 points.
2. Jim Lee in JS 1/21 m. 5.702 p.
3. John Cochrane in ASH 31 /21 m. with 5 526 p.

15 m. class; more familiar faces in this class.
Task 1…315 AAT for 15 pilots in this class. 3 Were out.
Gary Ittner won in ASG 29;494 km. in time 3.38 [speed 136 km./h.]
Task 2….3 hour AAT ;and Rick Indebro raced with big speed over 558 km. in time 3.09.48 meaning a speed of 176.52 km./h!!!!
Task 3….4.15 AAT and a prey for Rick again; 775 km with a speed of 176.86 km./h That ‘ s flying in Minden!!!
Task 4…3 hour AAT; 509 km. for Gary[149.52 km./h] and runner up was Francois Pin in the ASW 27FES.[471 km. in time 3.09…speed 149.38 km./h]
Only 9 were “in”.
Task 5…. 3 hour AAT; 412 km. for Gary in time 3.10… speed 130 km./h]
Task 6….492.17 km; A new face at the podium Peter D Eane in JS 3/15m.. A consistent pilot flying himself every day in the top 5 .
Only 9 flew the task.
15 m USA Champion;
1.Rick Indebro with 2.996 points.
2. Peter D Eane with 5.817 p.
3. Gary Ittner with 5.769 p.

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In the past I wrote about the Sport soldiers in Germany. From these young guys/girls a lot made it to TOP- soaring.
My eye felt on this picture;

These young students all from the Military University of Air and Airspace in Munich learned, not only from lectures and theory lessons but also “moving” in 3D in a 2-seater and flew the/a glider to solo.
Great initiative.

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A DECLARED FAI-1000 from Hausen am Albis in a Discus 2CT by Bert Schmelzer jr;
“FAI triangle 1000 KM declared :-))))I’ve been planning this flight for years and finally could give it a try: Muri – Bellelay – Rocher de la Balme – Krummgampenturm – Muri and at the same time Tour de Suisse (and a bit of France): Swiss Mittelland – Jura moutain range – Chartreuse/Vercors – Wallis – Ticino – Engadin – Graubünden – Swiss Mittelland.
Not the easiest day: Blue start in the Jura. Only the western part around Genève was ok. Vercors beautiful as always, but tough to find the good climbs. The forecasted high cloudbase in the Wallis and Engadin never appeared. Lots of high clouds and overdevelopment during the last 400km due to the strong northerly flow. In the end the Discus and I managed to get back home thanks to some nice ridges, rotors, weak waves and late sunset.
In the end the triangle wasn’t properly closed, not due to lack of altitude, but due to lack of daylight (sunset+30 min was 5 minutes early https://weglide.org/flight/73318

This season is really a 1000-km-season!!! The weather is so good after a dip that everybody loves soaring long distances. Also in the USA.
Hot here, we are up to 33 dgr. C. BUT,…it’s SUMMER!!!!
Saturday; 2 x a 1000 in Switzerland.
Sunday; in the USA, Austria, France and Germany[2] and up to 800 k in The Netherlands.[ASG 29]
Monday; 2x a 1000 from Grants-Milan with Keith [Essex] in the ASG 32 MI and Moriarty .. by Ramy [Yanetz] who started his summer soaring trip there. This time he flew in his ASG 29 his fastest 1000 with a great speed of 171 km./h.
Yesterday; not wave but GOOD thermal activity in the Alps;929 km. from Koenigsdorf by Mathias Schunk in the Quintus M.
A huge amount of over -500 km.- flights last week.

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You surely remember the “water-landing” from Arne Martin’s glider , in the beginning of Mai, whilst he was up in a 2-seater. I spent quite some time on it.
Here is the latest as written by Arne Martin[ Guettler]:
“Finally came the day, when PS could back in the air after it’s water landing on May 1! Thanks to a lot of help from Lars Rune Bjørnevik the last week we managed to get PS ready at the last moment, on the first day of the Norwegian Gliding Championship.
Needless to say; I’m not well prepared this year, and among other things I had no time to test the water ballast system, so had to fly dry on this first day. But it was wonderful to get PS back in the air, and I took it mostly as a practice day, and did manage to complete the task in a respectable 3rd place!
The instruments and other electronic devices were still pretty good.
“Only radio died. All other electronics survived without damage (power was turned off before landing), the mechanical instruments were repaired. Luckily it was fresh water There was a little bit of physical damage: a wheel door and transponder antenna broke off, the canopy air scoop was broken too. But mostly the damage was very light. Most of the work to get it flying again was doing all the inspections and everything had to be re-lubricated.”
Great to read.

More about the Norwegian Nationals next week. They have pretty good weather and till now 2 days with tasks from 258 and 350 km.

“Less than 7 days before Varese Grand-Prix! For the pilots, it is the last chance to win a place for the 10th SGP World Final next September! Follow the GP of Italy here;”
http://www.sgp.aero/italy2020.aspx?contestID=22995
Will follow that SGP too.

CU next week.
Cheers Ritz

Life is nearly back to normal, at least here in the Netherlands 10 million have been vaccinated already and slowly the world here opens up again.
We still have high temperatures up to 29 dgr. C. and soaring in Europe is back to normal too, except for heavy thunderstorms.
A pity they had to cancel the WGC in Stendal, would have been a great comps!!!
Enough National comps at the moment ,…. the next TOP/class 1 competition is WGC in France [ Montluçon-Guéret,] and will be flown in August [7 till 21] with at this stage over 90 pilots.

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In Bailleau ; French Nationals for standard and 15 m class …female Nationals included…and for 20 m. class !!
When I left you on Wednesday-morning, there was no task for the small ships and 20 m had a 1.30 AAT ,….but just over 60 km. was all that could be achieved ….so no valid day either.
The heat created some tough thunderstorms there and we got them from the South here as well. My town was like a lake, with cars and houses ” sticking” out and cellars full of water.
The organizers in France really tried hard and” created” days.
15m./Standard had a 2 hour AAT on Thursday June 3 and task 5 was a fact.
Max Seis was the best in the JS 3 [ 197 km.] and Benjamin [Neglais] was runner up in the Discus 2A.[180 km.] Young Kevin Faur in the Ventus 2AX, is every day in the top 10 and I read,…to his own surprise.
He even is on spot 1 overall after this day.[2.612 points]
Benjamin has 2.561 p.

20 M. had a 2 hour AAT as well; 201 km for HC pilots Arnaud de Broqueville and one of the Bouderliques. 527 p.
Winner for the day the DG 1000….447 p.

No flying on Friday.
BUT….look at the weather for the last day…really French weather.

Flying again on the last day June 5 ,as their rain has disappeared there and arrived here with a SW wind!!!
15m/standard; 278 km…..the 45 pilots in this class [1HC] started and finished. Frederic Hoyeau, in his Discus 2A flew around with a speed of 104 km./h. and was number 1, whilst Max in his JS 3 flew around with 107 km./h.
The only 2 above 100 km./h.
And,…on this last day Kevin flew only 92 km./h good for a daily spot 19.
He dropped from 1 to 4, but I am sure he is proud on himself!!!
He should!
French standard/15 m. CHAMPION;
1. Max Seis who “climbed” from 4 to 1; 3.315 points.
2. Frederic Hoyeau who moved from 5 to 2; 3.298 p.
3. Meric Morel , was on 3 and stayed on 3.297 ONE POINT!!!!
So the last day had a huge impact on the overall scores. All possible because of close scores the day before.
Could not find the final results for the women, will try to find them.
AND …. found them….shared by Philippe Depechy …good on him;

20 m; 266 km…..The Depechy family won the last day with 106.72 km./h just a tad better than the HC pilots 105.61 km./h.
The FRENCH 20 m. CHAMPIONS are Phillipe de Pechy and I guess his dad Gerard ; 2.666 points.
THE WINNERS were Arnaud and one of the Bouderliques in the ARCUS. [2.802 p.]

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The Austrian Nationals in St Johan in Tirol in club and mixed class had good to perfect soaring weather and they flew EVERY day!
Club;
Task 4 ….On Wednesday , after I published my blog , the clubbies had to fly a 3.30 AAT.
The 1000 points were again for Peter Hartmann in his Libelle who flew 399 km. in time 3.32!!
Mario Schupfer in the ASW 15 was runner up again. All 14, who started finished as well
Task 5…pfffff…another 3.30 AAT for the small ships and off he went again , Peter, for his 4th daily win; 408 km in time 3.32.
No not Mario this time as runner up but Michael Rass in an LS 4 ;416 km in 3.31.
Task 6…1.45 AAT and Michael was in the mood, he won another day ;220 km. in time 2.14, so clearly not an easy day.
Peter was 3d and Mario 4th.

Final scores;
1. Peter Hartmann, National Champion in Libelle with 4.967 points.
2. Michael Rass in LS 4 with 4.854 p.
3. Mario Schupfer in ASW 15b with 4.767 p.

Mixed class;
Task 4….a 4 hour AAT and Eduard Supersperger flew 505 km. in time 3.58….1000 points for him and his Ventus 2B.
2 From 14 did not finish.
Task 5…another 4 hour AAT and Guido Achleitner [AS 33es] was back on track; 522 km. in time 4.05.
2 Were out and the more well known names all flew themselves to top-positions. Andy [Lutz] in Ventus 3/15m.was runner up ….Werner [Amann] in ASG 29 number 3 and Eduard was 4th.
Task 6…2 hour AAT.….262 km. for Guido with a speed of 121 km./h.

Final scores;|
1. Guido Achleitner and Austrian Champion in AS33es with 5.319 points.
2. Eduard Supersperger in Ventus 2b with 5.031 p.
3. Werner Amann in ASG 29 with 4.946 p.

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Rayskala Masters 2021 between June 5 and 12 ….flown in 3 classes.
PURJELENNON SM 2021

They started with that typical Nordic weather, clear, so great visibility and blue skies with great clouds .
Already on Friday a 1000 was flown from Elverum Starmoen in Norway by Henning Lassen, so the top weather was “hanging around”.
By the way I remember the 1000 km-pilot ,Henning, very well from the pre-WGC in Borlange in 1992. He was a nice very young guy then , pony-tail and Doors-t-shirt ,flying/practicing for Norway.

I also remember very clearly the European Championships in 2005, in Rayskala, where Silva was the CD and I was one of the stewards. On day 1 “we” set a 1000 km. flown by many in open class!!!!18m. Would have loved to have the same task, they said later.
Weather now looks about the same.

June 5…superb weather.
Open; …606 km….15 pilots , amongst them my “former boss” Silva [Juha Silvennoinen] and father and son Petri and Martti Sucksdorf. For sure, Liisa [mum, wife] is there to help.
AND,…young Petri wins the first day!!!! Good on him!!!!
All 15 started and finished!!
Racing; 506 km….9 pilots…and all 9 had GREAT fun! Kristian Roine in the LS 8st, won the day with a speed of 123 km./h.
Aku Jaakkola [Discus 2A] who I met when he was still very young…not married ,no children…was runner up.
Teemu Patja in the LS 6 needed 5 hours and 39 minutes , but was back home.[89 km./h]
Club; 422 km…..11 pilots and yes, yes all started and finished. Daily winner in LS 7 Tapio Tourula.118 km./h.

June 6; Another great looking day with tasks “belonging to the weather” ,but with the cautious mentioning of “may-be” showers developing.

open; 510 km.…114 km./h was the best speed by Mikko Nurminen in the 18mVentus 2.Petri was 3d with 112 km./h.
2 were out, one after 45 [34 points] and Juha after 203 km. Juha flies his LAK -20T.
racing; 439 km….The 3 pilots I still remember from Finland were the top 3 for this day. Harri [Hirvola] in the Ventus- 2a flew around with a speed of 127 km./h.
Aku with 115 km./h and Kristian [Roine] in the LS 8-st.
AND,..I remember that forbidden area Tampere as well, one pilot “hit” it.
club; 375 km…..10 from 11 finished . 4 LS 7 gliders in the top and the best Sakari [Pyorre] just flew over 100 km./h.

June 7; TOP weather again.

Open class; 3.30 AAT
After the pretty miserable day before, Martti Koivula [he was one of the 2 “out-landers” ] raced to a perfect win! 453 km. in time 3.27.Nearly 130 km./h.
A “whopping ” 23 km. further than runner up Mikko Nurminen.123 km./h. Petri was 3d with 117 km./h.
Racing class; 3.30 AAT.… I had to look twice, the same pilots in the top 3 as the day before??? Yes indeed same daily winner, Harri, with 416 km. in time 3.30 at the dot. Same runner up Aku, 391 km. in time 3.34 and Kristian with 398 km. in time 3.39.
The “poor” LS 6 pilot flew 335 km. but did “something wrong” ;zero points.
Club class; 3.30 AAT.…366 km. and another daily win for Tapio Tourula in LS 7. 10 started 10 finished and 2 flew faster than 100 km./h.

June 8; it can’t be “party-time” every day.
2 hour AAT’s in the 3 classes. They postponed the starts a few times but you have to be able to stay up to fly.
In the end the day was cancelled.

June 9 today and….the great weather is back.
Open; 507 km….
racing class; 456 km…
club; 417 km….

And to finish this blog one of those spectacular pictures finishing over the lake in Rayskala.

CU next week.
Cheers Ritz

The Belgium Nationals were flown in the really bad-weather-period in Europe. …too cold….too wet !!!!
Also last Wednesday NO TASK ….
No boring waiting…but precision landings when you were in for that.
But as said,….the weather improved .
The Danish Nationals , just before had the same bad weather but,…were valid, hopefully it will work out well now too.
May 28 and 29 to go!!! Weather looks OK….so 3 days would be possible.

Flying task 2 was finally on May 28 . The waiting was OVER,…and how!!!
Club; 248 km….later changed in 220 km…..and all 10 stating pilots finished with Frederic de Groote as daily winner in his St Libelle [handicap 0.994]
So 852 points in the pocket.
mixed 15 m; 354 km…later changed in 309 km….and all pilots finished with my 2 Keiheuvel -mates Dennis [Huybreckx] and Jeroen [Jennen] as the best for 923 and 918 points , flying both an LS 8.
mixed 18m/open; 413 km…later changed in 361 km!!!! And another “name” in soaring won the day here; Jean- Luc Colson….1000 points for him.
13 From 17 finished and my other Keiheuvel mates had not the best day. The Schmelzer family was on spot 8…Tijl in Ventus 3 T…Bert jr also in Ventus 3T on 10 and dad Bert sr. just missed out on the finish…he was in the finish ring.[477 points]

Flying task 3 , the last one, was a great race. When I woke up and looked outside, fabulous blue skies and great “fluffy” white clouds/cu’s. It looked like a PERFECT soaring day here in The Netherlands but for sure also in Belgium.
All classes had a 5 hour AAT!!!
Club; Thomas de Bruyn flew in his LS 4 , 484 km in 5 hour at the dot!!!!
A 1000 points-day, so not bad.
10 pilots started and 10 finished.
Thomas flew himself to spot 1 overall and is now Belgium Nation Club Class Champion.
Frederic missed out on 10 points overall BUT…. won 2 days! So a real a good runner up. On the last day he was also runner up but lost 90 points.

mixed 15 m; Pieter Daems flew 595 km. in time 5.03 ,nice speed of 117 km./h. in his Discus T. He went from 8 to 5 overall.
Runner ‘s up for the day Jeroen and Dennis with 586 km.
With Dennis cousin Tim, the 3 started and finished together.
Final result;
1. Dennis in LS 8 with 2.155 points.
2. Jeroen in LS 8 with 2.154 p. SO ONE POINTS difference! Ouch!!!
3. Daan [Spruyt] in Ventus 2AX with 2.013 p. He won 1 day.

mixed 18 m/open; Young Bert Schmelzer raced over 619 km. in time 4.59 to the 1000 points for this last day. Nice speed ;124 km./h.
Bert had a miserable first day , being “out”.[15 overall with 103 points]
On day 2 he was 10th and with only 3 ,out of 8 days , it’s difficult to win, even with a great last day.
The former WGC champion moved from 13 to 9 overall.
BUT, the new National Champion in this class is Jean Luc .Good on him!!!!
1. Jean-Luc in ASG 29 with 2.195 points.
2. Geert van Duyse in ASH 26e with 2.017 p.
3. Francois Delfosse in JS 3 -jet with 1.989.
Tijl Schmelzer was 5th [1.987…..2 points difference!!!], Pierre de Broqueville in EB 29 [1.919]was 6th and Vladimir Voltin in JS -jet 8th.[1.838 p]

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With the great weather , after those awful autumn conditions, we here in the Netherlands enjoyed sitting on a terrace or in the garden but soaring -at-high-level as well. “We” even topped the OLC list on May 28, with Peter [Millenaar] in his ASH 26e with 862 km [726 triangle] from Hoogeveen {N }into Germany and back.

Of course the expectations for Saturday were Sky-High!!!! And I was not disappointed, it looked like Bitterwasser results.
1814 Pilots added their flight on the OLC and 31 flew a 1000 k!!
2 Of them a 1000- FAI -triangle, one of them was Tilo[Holighaus] who declared this 1000 k.
The other one was flown from Neresheim by Gerrit Illenberger in an LS 8 neo, first Standard class 1000 km. so a bubble-shower for him. BRAVO!!!

From Germany, Luxembourg and Finland and 1 flight from the USA .[Minden]
Between those pilots great result for an LS 4 pilot with 947 km [796 FAI] CHAPEAU!!!!
By the way Robin Smit flew in his LS 4 WL in The Netherlands also 805 km [597 FAI]
663 in the St. Libelle is not bad either from Belgium.
Sunday was another good day and Michael Sommer saw that too .He took his EB for another long flight…..he flew 1.113 already on Saturday from Oberhinkofen; now 1.227 km.
A 1.187 km. FAI triangle!!!! Good on you Michael!
11 x a 1000 and 2073 added their flight to the OLC.
On Monday he still was not “tired” and went again now for 1.244 km. He topped the OLC-list again.
AND,…it continues…on Tuesday ,..no not for Michael, …..3.584 km. is enough for a weekend…. but AGAIN several 1000 km-flights in Europe.[Austria, Switzerland, Germany]
900 added their flight on the OLC.

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FRENCH NATIONALS 2021 May 29-June 5.

The French Nationals started on the 29th with 59 competitors in 2 classes; standard/15 m and 20 m . Within these Nationals they crown the best female pilot as well. Comps are flown from the well known soaring place Bailleau.
May 29 was practice on May 30 they started with 45 pilots in
15m/standard;
Task 1 with 297 km; only 4 were “out”. Some started early as did Frederic Hoyeau on 2.31 PM and some later….Adrien Henry at 3.11 PM.
Not that it really mattered as Adrian won the day with a speed of 112 km./h in his JS 3 and Frederic was runner up with 106 km./h. in his Discus 2A.
Task 2 with 311 km; not a fast day, by no means but Marilyne Abadie-Berard won the day in the JS 3 with 70 km./h and that was nearly 4 km faster than the next lady, Valentin Leleu-Lambour in the LS8.{66 km./h}
Looking at the “girls” Aude Untersee was 7th, Anne Ducarouge 10th.
At least 6 other girls were unfortunately out…. in total 25 from 46 were out.
Task 3 with 247 km....but nobody finished…a dip in the weather….Benjamin Neglais flew 225 km and was the best. These results are preliminary as not everyone has been scored a day later.

20 m. class; 10 teams and 3 HC teams.
Task 1 with 298 km. ; All flew the task and the local ARCUS T was the daily winner with 99.87 km./h. So a tough day!
Task 2 with 305 km; HC pilots Bouderlique and Arnaud the Broqueville won the day in the ARCUS . They were nearly home , missed out on 2 km, but nobody finished. The runner up/ daily winner in the DG 1000,was 20 km out.
Task 3 with 224 km….and in this class it was worse. The best team flew 71 km. so preliminary I say….not a valid day.
No tasks yet…more next week.

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Austrian Nationals between May 29 and June 5 2021.

Host is the soaring club from Sankt Johann in Tirol. Only 35 pilots are allowed to fly these comps in club class and mixed.
Club class;
Task 1;191 km….14 pilots started and 13 finished. Peter Hartmann, this time flying a Libelle [201b] won the day with a speed of 99.71 km./h.
Mario Schupfer was runner up in ASW 15 b ,with nearly the same speed.[98.94 km./h]
Task 2; 323 km….Again it was Peter who won the day now for 1000 points. And…again Mario was runner up.
13 from 14 finished!
Task 3; 293 km…..It was David Richter-Trummer[H-301] who was the fastest today though he and Peter had an “issue ” with their start.
It’s great weather in Austria, all “little ones” with respect finished and 5 from them over 100 km./h
Today …3.30 AAT.

Mixed class;14 competitors .
Task 1; 303 km…Guido Achleitner was the daily best in his AS 33es; 117 km.h. Other more well known pilots as Andy Lutz and Werner Amann were 4th and 8th in Ventus 3 sport/15m. and ASG 29.
Task 2; 452 km….The AS 33es is good as far as I heard and Guido is good too, I know from International comps,..so not difficult to guess…he won again. Speed 114 km./h and that’s quite a bit faster than runner up Bernhard Leitner in the LS8 with 105 km./h.
Task 3; 374 km….one airspace violation [49 points] but all were “in” here as well. Not Guido today but, Eduard Supersberger in his Ventus 2 won the 1000 points; speed 121 km./h.
Today…4 hour AAT.

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The BGA shared some news about their juniors;
“The British Junior Gliding Team are currently out training in Tabor, Czech Republic which is the host club for the Junior World Gliding Championships in 2022. After 4 scrub days, there have now been 2 racing days for the club class and 1 for the standard class. The results have been mixed but the learning has been extremely useful ahead of the Junior Europeans in Lithuania later this summer.”

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It ‘s June now. The meteorological summer started here with 27 dgr. C and today it will be around 28.
Our spring belonged to the worst ones, so better forget that quickly.
My mates in Tocumwal started their winter with minus 1 in the night, but “nice” temperatures during the day.
Yesterday it was Ingo’s birthday ,so I congratulated him in time.
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame congratulated him too.;
“Happy Birthday to #SAHOF Member Ingo Renner OAM (Gliding).Ingo Renner is a 16-time national gliding champion, having won seven titles in open class, two in the 15m class and seven in standard class. He has won numerous international events, including the Smirnoff Derby in 1977, Austraglide 1986, the Hitachi Masters of Soaring in 1987, and the Tour Lilienthal in 1991. He has held almost every Australian gliding record. Renner won the standard class world championship in 1976, followed by world championship wins in the open class in 1983, 1985 and 1987. He holds the Guinness World Records record for the 100km triangle at 195.3km/h. Ingo Renner was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1987 for his contribution to the sport of #gliding.Read more: https://bit.ly/3uEh9l5

CU next week.
Cheers Ritz