Post 1.513 on July 21 2024

13th FAI JWGC at Ostrów Wielkopolski Michałków, Poland, in progress and continuing till July 26.

Looking back first; here is 1 of the pilots, this time Martijn from Belgium;
“Small update from the past 2 days. Yesterday we had a 5-hour AAT that both pilots flew well around! Again more than 500km was flown.
Also today there was given another 500km racing task which both pilots flew well around, although it was often not that easy with the cirrus clouds.
Probably tomorrow we will fly a 500km for a 4th time as the forecast is looking nice again.
Also the rest day has already been postponed to Tuesday, so who knows what it will be on Monday.”

The French [Pôle France Planeur ] looked back with mixed feelings. They found the races “long” maybe even too long ,as the lift died later in the day and the cirrus was thicker than expected. Their club class pilots however did well with a podium spot for Alexandre [1] and Nicolas [3] Good on them.

The British Gliding Team looked back on a great day too, specially in standard with Henry at the podium on the highest spot and George W in club, on spot 2.
“George Downing (LD) is no longer able to fly JWGC due to a combination of licensing and time for a repair on the glider. He is still in camp providing invaluable support with tracking alongside the TC.”
“A team result well earned!
Smiles all round, as everyone is glad to have made it back to the airfield. A few outlandings, with everyone safe and accounted for”

The Dutch juniors had a bit of an off day in club , with Tim and Lars back after 6 hours and 30 minutes on spot 31 and 33 and Wout JUST made it over/in the finish ring/circle but had to swallow some penalty points and was the last finisher. [spot 34.] They started, were not happy, flew back and started again …good choice…They flew well, even SUPER, 3 m lift,100/120 km./h average , but they lost ALL on the last bit of the task with that incoming cirrus ,when the air was dead. They choose for the safe decision when they reached the forest, left the gaggle ,but the gaggle found 2 m and they struggled.
Another split second decision!
Overall scores in Club after 6 tasks;
1. Nicolas Caudrelier [France] with 5.183 points.
2. Kim Toppari [Finland] with 5,106 points.
3. Martijn Eerdekens [Belgium] with 5,077 points.
4. Alexandre Fierain [France] with 5,027 points.
Everything is still possible.

Jasper in the LS 8 did very well with a 6th daily spot and 964 points, Niels and Noud ended on spot 11 and 13, but still with 931 and 889 daily points.[ Dutch Junior Gliding Team]
Overall scores after task 6 in standard class;
1. Nils Schlautmann [ Germany] with 4,725 points.
2. Niels van Nieuwland [ The Netherlands] with 4,683 points.
3. Max Maslak [Germany] with 4,672 points.
4. Thomas Greenhill [USA] with 4,623 points.
After such long distances scores are very close.

In club the 42 “left-over” pilots flew and 34 finished whilst 8 went “aux vaches” Also the 2 young American pilots , but only after 477 and 416 km.
In standard, 14 pilots finished and 9 did not…..BUT, they all flew over 500 km. Chapeau!!!

Yesterdays winners;

The standard daily winner Henry from the UK

Today’s news;

Task 7 on day 8 on July 21. Launches expected to start at 11.15 with good weather conditions, with a ceiling/cloud base at 1900 m..
Club class; 4.30 AAT….[348.53 km  /  740.98 km  (543.13 km)]… There was around 20 minutes time difference, between the starts of the pilots. Scorers do a great job as at 6PM scores were already in from 32 pilots and number 33 was “out”, after 231 km.
12.23 was the first start time , with Dutch pilot Lars, who flew 510 km / 112,60 km./h. at this stage good for a 5th place.
Florian Kraja from Germany in LS7WL has at this stage the 1000 points with 425 km/113.74 km./h. He started at 12.42
At 6.30 PM; 37 are scored, 2 are out and 3 not yet scored.
Overall scores are so close; Nicolas 6,156, Kim 6,023 and Martijn 6,003 points.

Standard class; 4.30 AAT….[378.28 km  /  766.42 km  (569.85 km)] All scores, except for 1, [glider LOT from Poland] IN/ on the scoring board. TOP!!!
Best distance was 582 km, but Lithuanian Titas used a bit too much time to be the daily winner[4.37]
For that reason 578 km/ 4.31 ,so speed of 127,62 was the best result at this stage from  Lukáš Kříž from Czech Rep..
2 Danish pilots, Jacob and Lasse were on spot 3 and 4, good on them.
Speed difference between number 1 and 22; 127.62 and 114.48. GOOD!!!!
Overall scores after 7 tasks [preliminary] ; Niels van Nieuwland/ 5,631 points, Nils Schlautmann/5,595 and  Max Maslak/5,539. Thomas Greenhill/5,532 points.

Of course all scores are preliminary.
When you can’t wait till tomorrow or want to see scores with your own eyes yo can go to; www.soaringspot.com that is when they are not overloaded with viewers.

Indeed PRELIMINARY!!!! My goodness me, I was downstairs ,but decided to have one more look at the scores. I see that Niels ONLY got 52 points because he violated airspace.
I am totally flabbergasted. Not because he is Dutch, but I would be for every pilot, who gets this awful news. Maybe there is still a “miracle”.
That means that he drops from 2 overall to 18!!!
That is very , very tough, but if it was a violation , that’ s what happens.
I am in writing about comps more than 40 years, but I can’t remember such a “drop”.
I still hope it is NOT TRUE.
Overall scores after 7 tasks now; Nils 5.601, Max 5.601,5, Thomas 5.536

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—-The French FAI SGP in Saint Sulpice [France] is one of the last opportunities in Europe to qualify for the final. “Expect fierce competition!” is what they say. Indeed with 4 former world champions it can be “HOT”.
The next ones from this series 12, are in 2025 in Australia,[Gawler Januar 5-11] the USA [ Seminole March 22-28] AND The Netherlands in Mai [ Terlet Mai 11-17] and in Poland.[Nowy Targ May24 -31] and the WORLD FINAL in France in St Auban ; August 24-30 2025.
The weather has not been too flash during the practice days let’s hope it improves from now on.
“ The forecast indicates favourable conditions for racing by mid-afternoon.” Todays forecast.
Follow the live race on https://www.youtube.com/live/ecQDRSVDWs0?si=nzKimmb7SUw7j2tf

Sunday; July 21…Race 1 158.28 km….the 16 pilots started at 17.40!!!!! LATE, but they have a race, I hope.
Congratulations to Adrien Henry for wining the 1st race!
Congratulations to Christophe Abadie and Jean-Pierre Bellec who complete the podium!

—–Over the last few days several 1000 km-flights have been flown here in Europe. I mentioned already in an earlier post ,where even “the young ones” thought it was a 1000 k-day.
Yesterday my Keiheuvel mates Bert jr and Dennis flew from Hausen Am Albis [Switzerland] and from Fayence, one in their Ventus 3T.

Enough news again, time for me to rest.
CU tomorrow with maybe 1 more day for the young ones ,as the prediction that Tuesday is a rest day , will be correct. Then they continue till July 26 Friday.

Cheers Ritz