–—-In my last blog, I started with Namibia and normally they all fly there straight away after the doors from the containers were opened.
I looked at the OLC and Weglide,…no flights and then on November 4 there was this message;
“Waiting for the overflight permits So far, we have almost always received the overflight permits for the gliders on time at the beginning of the season, without which we cannot take off. This applies equally to all gliding centers. For reasons that are incomprehensible to us, we all do not have these permits. Together with the operators of the other gliding centers, we are making intensive efforts, and in the meantime also at the highest political level, to obtain this permit. We are expecting a positive decision every hour. But the mood is good in spite of everything.”

About an hour later the permits were received. Hurray!!!

And,…you see waiting is NOT a problem in Namibia, though I am convinced the pilots want/prefer to fly!

And as Bitterwasser, Veronica and Pokweni, the Kiripotib pilots were happy on November 5;
“Season opening with perfect conditions and happy faces. We are looking forward to welcome you at Kiripotib!”
Marcus Frank and Ulrich Wuelfel flew in the ARCUS M 290 km. to get started.

Bitterwasser added:
“A 1000k to start with! It was a test of patience until finally the overflight permit for Namibia was available on Friday, November 5th. Numerous guests already gathered their feet in Bitterwasser, excited about the first flights over Namibia. Reinhard Schramme and Bernd Goretzki then went straight to the limit: at the end of the day, 1034 kilometers were on the counter of their EB28. Their flight took them first in blue thermals then under well-developed cloudy skies far to the northeast. And it went up high. Those who followed the first flights on the glidernet saw Bruno Gantenbrink in the late afternoon with his NimEta at 5700 meters MSL! Ten pilots and Arcus teams used this first opportunity in Bitterwasser for the excursion over the Kalahari.”
The first 22 OLC flights on November 5, were from Bitterwasser, Veronica, Kiripotib and Pokweni.
It’s all happening again, we can follow them on the OLC and WeGlide.

——From Namibia over to Australia were JoeyGlide ….the young ones over there,[as you know a joey is a little kangaroo]….announced the next news;
“We are very excited to announce that Joeyglide 22 will be presented by SkySight!SkySight is the industry leader in detailed and interactive soaring forecasts. Users have access to SkySight’s advanced modelling which provides easy, efficient and effective pre-flight planning. When preparation is everything, it can create an edge in a competition or the best out of your weekend soaring plans. With interactive control of a range of weather models, you’ll be able to utilise SkySight to fly further and faster! “
Visit: skysight.io to find out more and get started on your 7 day free trial.
Of course Matthew Scutter was a young one too. He won the Narromine Juniors WGJC. Matthew “lives” for gliding. Great job!!!!

–—More Aussie juniors are active for the soaring community.
The SKYRACE GP in Leeton between January 3-10 2022, ….at this stage already 32 entrees…..will be supported by another young pilot Andrew Maddocks, Andy for friends.
“The organizers are excited to announce our major sponsor for this coming event is …..Maddog Composites
Andy, Claire and the rest of the Maddog Composites team have been huge supporters of our event since the beginning but have taken their support to a new level this year. They provide ultra high quality glider maintenance, repairs and aviation painting services, and also have a web store selling a range of gliding related spares and parts. They are also Australian agents for Schempp-Hirth, LXNav and a whole lot more. Please help us out by liking their Facebook page, and checking out their website to see how they can make your glider better. http://maddogcomposites.com.au/
Andy’s partner Claire flew the WWGC in Lake Keepit. She is Matthews sister. All nice families!!!
Those Aussie young ones, former juniors Adam is one of them too, are doing an exceptional job to promote gliding

——Also in Australia but now NOT in the East but in the West, the Carter Cup was flown between October 31 and November 6 from Cunderdin in Western Australia!
The 15 pilots flew EVERY day, and tasks were set between 2.30, but mostly 3 hour AAT’s. Gliders varied between Hornet [handicap 0.945] and JS 3 [1.085]
Most day’s were 1000 points days as well.
Norm Bloch in his JS 3 won 6/6 days. A real WINNER.
5.726 points were his , about more than 100 than the runner up;4.712 points for the ASH 25 with the Geerling’s.
Greg Beecroft was 3din his LS 8.

The last day was cancelled but according to Lumpy [Paterson who was 4th] the weather was fabulous, so he showed you could have flown;
“Absolutely magic flight today …… the comp day was cancelled due there WX which looked very ordinary, then the clouds started to do different things. I noted on windy that there was an 180* change in the wind at 5000 feet and the clouds started to form into sort of lenticular clouds albeit at 5k …. so after some deliberation I pulled the glider out and went for it ! Clock work really, thermals up to near cloud base and out to the windward side from 5000 and away I went, climbing in 10.6 kts from 5 to 12k but it slowed down pretty quick after that. I had to search around to claw up to 16k mostly in 1 to 2 kts but worth it …. Wind strength at 16k was 36kts on the nose, going off the LX I was going forward at 8kts…. No jet fuel was used in this flight, done old school and what a hoot ….. it’s the highest I’ve been in shear wave …. imagine if the day wasn’t cancelled and you could start from here Great way to cap the week off .….
One day later on November 7 he flew 704 km [689.5 km. FAI triangle]

——The CENTRAL PLATEAU flown in New Zealand was between October 31 [October 30 was practice and a pretty good day…….A bustle of activity at Centennial Park today. A dozen or more gliders being rigged and readied under some promising-looking Cu’s. The runway is looking good after numerous mowings, the tow planes are out – let’s go!] and November 6 but less good weather than in Western Australia , to say it euphemistic, where they flew EVERY day.
In Taupo, the airfield I visited during my trip through the Nord Island of N Z. , they only flew 1 valid day out of 7.
Hugh de Lautour wrote in his blog about this comps on day 4;
“Today at least lived up to its promises ….. it promised nothing, and nothing was what we got. Wind too strong, cloud too low, wave too far away. With a miserable forecast for the next couple of days as well, many have headed home, so another victim of the day was our planned roast dinner at the Club tonight. Shame. Fingers crossed for at least one more good day before the end of the week.”
It was not happening, such a pity!!!!
“Today I can do no better than to reproduce the Contest Director’s morning message. “is what was mentioned by Hugh de Lautour.
“With the best will in the world, there’s no way to ignore the forecast for this afternoon; thick cloud and scattered rain showers. Rain radar confirms already showering. We can’t set a task in this.. Sorry but no choice other than to cancel today“
Most probably the weather was not good enough either, for a sight- seeing -drive around the beautiful Lake Taupo.
On the other hand, from Springfield Mike Oakley flew in his ASH 25, several good flights;434 km, 526 and 698 km.

——In Europe the Pyrenees gave wave ,when Gil [Souviron] not really expected it: 1.062 km. in the Stemme S 12, from Perpignan Rivesa (FR).
“The wind was very East with about 50° on all the flight.
Quite surprising to have waves in that conditions.“

–—-And to finish these fabulous pictures from Romain and the team. I am intrigued by their performances, so some extra photo’s after last week’s news!!!!SUPERB!!!!!

CU next week.
Cheers Ritz